The outdated and overcrowded Clearwater Countryside-area library will soon be replaced.
A groundbreaking was held Friday at the new location on Sabal Springs Drive at Countryside Boulevard. The new, $6.25-million facility will replace the current library located on State Road 580. The current location will remain open during the new building's construction.
Library Director Barbara Pickell said the new facility will have new features and services for the public.
"We’re going to have a drive-up window," Pickell said. "And we think this will be really good for people with young children or pets in the car that don’t want to get out. You can call, have your book ready and just and drive up and pick it up. We’re also going to have a separate children and teen area that we don’t have in our current library."
Beyond books, the new library will offer more computers and technology for patrons. At 22,500 square feet, the new facility will have an additional 6,500 square feet of room and additional study and meeting spaces.
The new library should be open by September 2015.