Irondale Public Library
The Irondale Public Library is a city-owned public library serving the city of Irondale. It is a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) and thereby open to all Jefferson County residents. It is located at 1032–1080 Grant's Mill Road. The library director is Del Wilson.
The library got its start with the donation of 800 volumes from the Jefferson County Free Library in 1951. The city rented a space next to a barber shop on 1st Avenue. Emma Lee Heritage was hired as librarian on September 1 of that year. She opened the library for two hours on two days each week.
Once the new Irondale City Hall opened in 1957, the library, then holding 500 books, occupied the southern wing. Visitor hours were expanded to three hours on three days each week. The library was formally chartered under Alabama law on November 7, 1960. A $1,440 endowment from the Pearce estate funded the purchase of additional books. The updated library was open for 20 hours a week.
A site for a dedicated library building at 105 20th Street South, just south of the city hall, was selected in July 1968. Construction was delayed while the city awaited approval of federal grant funds. The new 5,000 square-foot building, similar to the 1961 Avondale Branch Library in Birmingham, was designed by Harmon, Moss, Garikes & Associates architects and opened on October 28, 1973.
A 3,000 square foot addition to the library building was completed in 1988, expanding reading and staff areas and also adding a public meeting room. The staff work area was expanded in 2021.
2025 building
In December 2022 the City of Irondale purchased the library's present 7.9-acre wooded lot on Grant's Mill Road to accommodate the construction of a new 16,000 square foot library building. The new building will support co-working and more community meetings, with a main meeting room sized for 100 people. The library will also have a computer area, a snack area with vending machines, and a history room.
The facility is intended to have the feeling of a "library-in-nature", similar to the 2010 Vestavia Hills "Library in the Forest", and includes outdoor program areas. Charles Williams & Associates designed the building and Renta Urban Land Design created the landscaping plans.
The Irondale Public Building Authority carried out the project, which was constructed by The Stewart/Perry Company for $8.54 million, with land and equipment bringing the city's total investment to around $10 million. A groundbreaking was held in April 2024, and the building is scheduled to open in 2025.
Directors
- Emma Lee Heritage, 1951–
- Del Wilson
References
- Byington, Pat (January 24, 2023) "Irondale to build new public library, seeking community input on Jan. 26." Bham Now
- Parker, Illyshia (April 10, 2024) "Irondale to break ground on first new city building in over 50 years." Birmingham Business Journal
- Basinger, Chris (April 16, 2024) "Irondale breaking ground on new library, ball park this week." Trussville Tribune
External links
- Irondale Public Library website
- Irondale Public Library on Facebook.com