The St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced the official grand opening of the new Hastings Community Center and Library at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. The public is invited to celebrate as a new chapter begins on Main Street in Hastings.
Following the official dedication ceremony in the morning, the Community Center and Library will formally open their doors to the public for the first time.
The 10,000-square-foot facility will feature a full-service library with a dedicated children’s area, drive-up book drop, meeting spaces, a seed library and an HHS satellite office. Inspired by the former Hastings Community Center, the new facility is designed to honor the community’s history while providing modern resources and spaces for residents of all ages.
“This new space is something that the residents have been waiting on for a long time. The Hastings Community Center and Library has a long-established presence in the community,” said Debra Rhodes Gibson, director of library services. “This facility not only honors the history of the area but provides a space for current and future generations.”
The new structure is located at 401 N. Main St.
“A community is stronger when help is within reach,” said Shawna Novak, director of Health and Human Services. “Embedding St. Johns County Social Services and Library staff in our neighborhoods means removing barriers of transportation, time and access. Ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to connect with the resources and services they need to thrive.”
As part of the move to the new Hastings Community Center and Library, the Hastings Branch Library and HHS satellite office at 400 E. Harris St. will be closed Monday, Nov. 9, and will reopen at the new Main Street location Friday, Nov. 13, following the grand opening.
Library patrons should also be aware of additional service impacts leading up to the transition. Computer and printing services will be unavailable at the Hastings Branch starting Monday, Nov. 2. The last day to pick up holds at the Harris Center is Saturday, Nov. 7.
During the closure period, no items checked out from the Hastings Branch will be due, and late fees will not accrue. Hold pickup deadlines will be extended by seven days after the grand opening. Book drops at both locations will be inaccessible, and donations cannot be accepted during this time.
The new building was made possible through a combination of funding from the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants, with additional support from the Department of State Division of Library and Information Services and the state of Florida.
