“It’ll be here before you know it,” council member Eric Boyce said during an Aug. 8 Cedar Park City Council meeting.
Sorting out the details
In preparation for the big move, the existing library—located at 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park—will have adjusted operating hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for staff training, Library Director Julia Mitschke said at the meeting.
The adjusted schedule will carry on through October, Mitschke said, but the library will continue to operate on regular hours Friday through Monday.
From Oct. 14-31, the library will be closed to move over 130,000 books and materials as well as transition staff to the new facility at 425 S. Parkwest Drive, Cedar Park, Mitschke said. During this time, over 100,000 digital items will be available to the community as well as customer service by phone.
While the library is closed to prepare for the Nov. 1 opening, Mitschke said drop-off services will not be available, and nothing will be due during that time. She said it will be best for everyone to hold onto their checked items during those weeks.
Zooming out
Cedar Park’s new public library has been under construction in the Bell District since January 2023, and once it finally opens, it’s intended to be a civic gathering space for community members of all ages.
The facility will feature a courtyard surrounded by large heritage trees with a fenced-in children's area, gathering spaces, group study rooms, an event space, an interior youth area, a teen area, two porches and a playground.
Mitschke previously told Community Impact this space will be 47,000 square feet, which is nearly twice as large as the existing library at 25,500 square feet. She said the demand for library services and programs has increased, and the new facility will offer more space and opportunities to accommodate the growth.
This summer has been busy for the library, Mitschke said, with 177,699 checkouts and 48,523 visits in June and July alone. She said the library has also had 175 events so far with 9,423 attendees.
Keep in mind
Mitschke said during the upcoming transition, the community can find important updates on the library’s social media pages and website.
