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Grand reopening of East Waco Library to take place Saturday

Posted at 11:00 AM, Sep 16, 2016
and last updated 2018-07-24 21:30:25-04

The East Waco Library, which has been undergoing renovations since May 2015, will officially reopened Saturday.

There were dozens of people at the ceremony, including Waco City Manager Dale Fisseler and council member Wilbert Austin Sr. 

According to the Waco-McLennan County Library Director Essy Day, the library is 40 percent larger. A computer lab, a teen section and an expanded children section are just some of the features after the nearly $1.3 million renovation project took place.

The building also has two study rooms, a conference room and a medium-sized meeting room.

Day said the renovations were much needed.  

“The library was in sore need of some tender loving care. It was very small, overcrowded,” Day said.

With the additional room, Day expects to see as much traffic as the other libraries in the city-- between 600 and 800 visitors.

"Libraries in general have undergone a resurgence in the public's mind and especially here in the East Waco community. They’re trying to improve the neighborhood,” Day said. “We are part of the resurgence of this community and we are so proud to be a part of it."

Steve Veracruz, a resident of the Sanger Heights neighborhood, used to take his kids to the East Waco Library before the renovations and looks forward to bringing his family once it's finished.

"Because it has a new facelift, it deserves another chance of re-exploring, finding out and looking things over. Maybe seeing things you didn't see before” Veracruz said. "It's a place that we definitely want to show off to our children, to let them know there is a new library, let's go take a look. Just as eventful and fun as going to the park” Veracruz said.

He also plans to take his kids, who enjoy reading, to the grand reopening for some free books that will be available at the event.

The grand reopening will take place on Saturday at the East Waco Library, located at 901 Elm Avenue from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. 

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