After
years of planning and an ambitious construction project that took
the Deltona Regional Library out of service for more than a year,
officials and library patrons together celebrated completion of the
transformation of the complex at an October community open house.
“This is a magnificent project that is the result of extraordinary
collaboration,” said Lucinda Colee, director of Library Services for
Volusia County. “Our goal was to create a state-of-the-art library
that fulfills its role as a community gathering and learning center
and that does so with a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
The project is a collaboration of Volusia County Government, the
City of Deltona and the Volusia County School Board. The project has
increased the Deltona Regional Library space from 25,000 square feet
to 50,000 square feet. It includes the addition of the Lyonia
Environmental Center and a 1,000-seat amphitheater in the beautiful
natural surroundings of Lyonia Preserve. The amphitheater is
situated next to the library and serves as a venue for community
gatherings and educational instruction.
Groundbreaking for the expansion was in the summer of 2008 and
construction cost $11 million. Volusia County Council members, city
officials, school board members, library board members, patrons and
residents returned to the library Oct. 17 for an open house to
celebrate completion of the project. The program included the
dedication of environmental classrooms in memory of longtime Deltona
educator Dr. Alice E. Cross. Community groups performed and
Caribbean Crew offered a free concert, the first in the new Deltona
Amphitheater.
Guests strolled the expanded complex in amazement, admiring new
features, getting a free look at the Lyonia Environmental Learning
Center, where Volusia County’s ecosystems are showcased. There were
booths, tours of Lyonia Preserve, a youth treasure hunt and the
opening of the Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State
College Photography Gallery. Interactive entertainment included a
workshop conducted by local artist Sang Roberson and a mural
creation by artist Alberto Gomez with assistance from area children.
Most of
the funding for the project came from the Library Fund. The project
got a boost from a $500,000 Library Construction Grant from the
state. Other funding sources included two $500,000 grants from
Volusia County’s ECHO program for the Amphitheater and the Lyonia
Environmental Center, which will be managed by the Volusia County
Parks, Recreation and Culture Division. The City of Deltona has
contributed $2 million toward the project and will pay $250,000 in
maintenance and operational expenses annually for 10 years. The City
of Deltona, in cooperation with the Volusia County Council, named
the amphitheater the Deltona Amphitheater at Lyonia Preserve.
With the Deltona Regional Library being among the county’s busiest
libraries, logging nearly two million transactions, the expansion
will serve this growing region well in years to come. The expansion
includes an enlarged computer area, auditorium and children’s
sections, as well as a new teen area. A two room meeting suite is
designed for community groups to meet during and after library
hours. And the 4,000-square-foot Lyonia Environmental Center will
encourage discovery and exploration of Volusia
County’s ecosystems and will encourage conservation efforts. The
center also has two classrooms, exhibition space, a workroom for
guest scientists and researchers, a coffee and gift shop. Deltona
Regional Library is near Galaxy Middle School and convenient for
teens who enjoy visiting the library. The library is also within
walking distance of Timbercrest Elementary School.
It is noteworthy that the complex is a candidate for the coveted
LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
from the United States Green Building Council. The certification
recognizes buildings that are environmentally sound, healthy and
safe places in which to work.
Additionally, the landscaping incorporates Florida native plants
that thrive in local conditions and require less maintenance and no
irrigation once established.
Volusia County Library Services maintains a system of 16 public
libraries. It offers a free library card to all Volusia County
residents, which is valid at all branches of the public library. Its
mission is to provide citizens and visitors with exceptional library
services that facilitate personal growth, economic development, and
quality of life in a manner that strengthens community pride while
fostering a countywide identity and partnerships.
