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ScribeBy: Deneshia Graham of The Post and
Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 12/12/02
Page: C1
A month after a construction bid was approved by Charleston County Council, a groundbreaking will be held for the long-awaited Johns Island Library.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 19, the groundbreaking will be held at the library's construction site, 3531 Maybank Highway, said Patricia Mocker, a county spokeswoman.
In the works for about five years, the one-story library will be nearly 16,000 square feet, containing rooms for children's programs, about 50,000 books, conference rooms and a meeting room with an 80-seat capacity. Also, 22 computers will offer Internet access with one computer in Spanish to serve the island's large Hispanic population.
The library is expected to open in spring 2004, according to Mocker.
After a lengthy bidding process that started this summer, County Council members approved accepting a $2.3 million construction bid from Harbor Contracting Group Inc. of Mount Pleasant.Group Inc. of Mount Pleasant.
Construction for the library was initially expected to begin by June 2001, with an opening expected in spring 2003.
However, a change in the International Building Code, effective July 1, 2001, delayed the project as architects had to make some design changes, William Crocker, deputy county administrator, said.
McKellar & Associates Architects are the designers hired by the county in 1999. McKellar also designed the main library at 68 Calhoun St., downtown.
The library will be located on land from Haut Gap Middle School, donated by the Charleston County School Board. The 4.85-acre site faces Maybank Highway near the intersection of Main and Bohicket roads on Johns Island.
The library's location will make it central to neighboring Wadmalaw, Kiawah and Seabrook islands.
"I think it's wonderful. We've been looking forward to a library on Johns Island," Kiawah Island Mayor Jim Piet said. "It's very much needed and will be a big improvement in the facilities for education."
It's planned as a regional library, twice as large as branch libraries, with longer hours, more resources and services, said Natalie Lawrence, spokeswoman with the Charleston County Public Library.
There are four regional libraries countywide, two in North Charleston, one in Mount Pleasant and one West Ashley.
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