The Children’s Library at the Ponte Vedra Beach branch is undergoing renovations. Friends of the Library (FOL) President Mary Gebhart and Leslie Kleiman, Children’s Library renovation liaison and immediate Friends of the Library past president, spoke about the project and its impact.
“The Children’s Library renovation has really been years in the making,” Gebhart and Kleiman wrote. The community has grown and the way library spaces are used has changed over the years. They said it was the right time for an update.
Gebhart and Kleiman surveyed the community to ask families what they wanted in an updated children’s space. They formed a committee to include parents, FOL board members and library staff to brainstorm ideas.
“Planned enhancements include updated shelving and layout for improved accessibility, refreshed furnishings designed specifically for children, interactive learning experiences powered by enhanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) technology, new durable flooring and defined activity areas for early literacy, reading and family engagement,” they wrote. “The goal is to design a space that sparks imagination while meeting the real, everyday needs of families.”
This year, the Friends of the Library of Ponte Vedra Beach will host a themed “Golden Dreams Celebration,” to thank library members, volunteers and supporters as well as highlight the upcoming Children’s Library renovation. The evening will include whimsical, Willy Wonka-inspired décor. The event is inspired by “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and its spirit of imagination and possibility.
“There’s a wonderful idea in that story about turning dreams into reality and letting imagination shape what’s possible. In many ways, that reflects our vision for the Children’s Library,” they wrote.
It will be a fun night of community fellowship and a silent auction to generate additional support for the library. While the event is for members only, community members are welcome to join the Friends of the Library to participate in future events.
Robyn Carr, the Ponte Vedra Beach youth services librarian, spoke about why the library matters, especially for families.
“For many of our families, the library is a destination,” she said. Families spend hours there reading books, using the computers, participating in a variety of activities and making new friends. The library is a free, safe place where families can connect and make memories together. Libraries also encourage literacy and foster a love for learning, which can really open up the world to children.
Gebhart and Kleiman said that some ways to support the local library include becoming a member of the Friends of the Library, volunteering at Seymour’s Bookstore, purchasing at Seymour’s Bookstore and book sale events, donating to support library programs and attending Friends-sponsored events.
Friends of the Library has helped fund programs, materials and enhancements since 1985. “At its heart, the Friends is simply neighbors supporting a shared community treasure,” they wrote.
