An enormous new state-of-the-art library has just opened in Frisco after two years of construction. Located inside a warehouse built in 1998, the $62 million project is now Frisco’s only library as the city’s previous library closed to prepare for the transition to this new 157,000 square feet space.
With 40-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the new library is swamped with natural light and boasts a terrace, a second-floor mezzanine, a community event room, quiet reading rooms, and plenty of other gathering spaces for different ages and purposes.
One of the library’s most exciting new features is its striking centerpiece “Rexy”, a full-size model of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that greets kids in the children’s area.
According to friscotexas.gov, the new facility measures approximately 158,068 square feet which is the sixth biggest library in the state. It is also more than three times the size of the original library which spanned about 50,000 square feet in the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center.
“Tech amenities include self-checkout by scanning; online reservation system for conference and study rooms, confirmations confirmed via text and accessed by code; and AR/VR holographic computers,” reads the city news release. “There are 93 wi-fi access points, 210 computers, and 77 screens (flat, touch, and projection).”
In addition to its numerous tech amenities and a collection of 284,000 items, 22 percent of which are digital, the new library has several charming features for all ages.
The Ready to Read Railroad has returned and is stationed in a section called Tiny Town, where children will find a pretend veterinarian clinic, construction site, and market.
There is also a pond area with themed décor for toddlers, a puppet stage, a robotics arena for elementary-aged students, gaming and study booths, and much more.
Membership is free for Frisco residents and includes all possible amenities while residents of Allen, McKinney, Plano, or The Colony can sign up for a card online via the library’s website. Cards cost $50 a year for all other Texas residents.
The new Frisco Public Library is located at 8000 Dallas Parkway in Frisco and is open 9 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, from 9 am to 6 pm Friday and Saturday, and from 1 pm to 6 pm on Sunday. More information can be found at friscolibrary.com.
[Featured image courtesy of Frisco Public Library]