Clay Library Receives Grant To Expand

Expansion on the way to the Clay County Public Library, as the facility has received an estimated $2 million grant from the state.

Library Director Alecia Burns said the expansion will add 3,000 square feet to the library. Burns said the plan is to expand the children’s area which will be a big benefit to the community.

“We like to be able to do things for the children in the community,” Burns said. “But it’s also going to upgrade our technology and add up to I think up to 11 more computers. We will get a large sign outside so we will be able to advertise our events to the community.”

Burns said the library is working with County Mayor Dale Reagan and the Upper Cumberland Development District to acquire an architect and begin planning the project. Burns said the project should not drastically affect the operations of the library.

“As far as being able to access the library until they have to tear the inner wall down to connect the two buildings we will be open fully functional and our back parking lot will be blocked off,” Burns said.

Burns said the added space will address the problem of not having enough space for events.

“That is our goal is anything we can do to get everybody in here and just be able to give back to the community,” Burns said. “We had a big event this weekend “Hot Cocoa With the Grinch” where we had about 50 people in here and we just don’t have the space to accommodate. We would like to have more space to be able to do that.”

Burns said the library will look to expand its catalog of classes for the community. Burns said one of the classes will be a computer class to help people learn how to create and use an email address. Burns said the expectation is to break ground on the project sometime during the summer.