When it reopens, Deltona library will have a cafe

BEACON PHOTOS/AL EVERSON
The new and improved Deltona library — New facilities are being added to the original Deltona Regional Library, which is to reopen in October. The library's size is doubling from 25,000 to 50,000 square feet, and the new space will accommodate more patrons and include an environmental-learning center for the Lyonia Preserve, special collections of books and reading materials, offices, a used book store and a coffee shop. With help from the City of Deltona, there will be an amphitheater for outdoor events.

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jun 27, 2009 - 8:13:58am

The enlarged Deltona Regional Library will be like a modern bookstore, with a coffee shop to add to patrons' reading pleasure.

Volusia County Library Services Director Lucinda Colee said the flavorful hot spot will be a first for the county library system.

"We're excited to see how it's going to work out," she told The Beacon.

The Deltona Regional Libraryclosed last spring to undergo an expansion that includes an environmental-learning center, an amphitheater, a used bookstore and a gift shop, as well as the coffee shop.

The library's size is doubling, from 25,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet. It is supposed to reopen in October.

The coffee shop may be a pilot. Colee would not rule out adding cafes to other libraries in the county system.

"Well, we don't have the space in the other libraries, but that's not to say we couldn't find it," she said. "This is our first venture into that business. Certainly, we're going to look at it."

A private contractor will run the coffee shop.

Adding biscotti and beverages to book-borrowing could provide revenues in a time when other funding, especially property taxes and state grants, is diminishing.

The County Council was recently told usage of public libraries has surged as the recession has deepened, while revenue prospects have become quite bleak.

Part of the cost of the Deltona Regional Library expansion was covered by a grant of $500,000 from the Volusia ECHO program. ECHO is the county's effort to acquire or develop environmental, cultural, historic and outdoor-recreation assets.

The ECHO program is funded by a special property tax.

Colee's predecessor, Mike Knievel, floated the idea of having a coffee shop in the Deltona Regional Library.

"A library has never put a bookstore or video store out of business," Knievel observed.

The contractor for the expansion of the Deltona Regional Library is PPI Construction Management of Bunnell.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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