The Children’s Library at the Lady Lake Library has already been busy for months, ahead of an exciting event taking place later this month.

The expanded youth space quietly opened to the public in June 2025 following a major renovation designed to meet the needs of a growing community. Since then, the response has been immediate and measurable, with families filling programs, children cycling through books and the library functioning less like a quiet corner and more like an active gathering space.

Between June and the end of 2025, the library hosted 210 youth programs that drew 10,391 attendees. Children’s book circulation reached 24,787 titles, with an additional 3,734 teen books checked out during that same period. Overall, the Lady Lake Library served more than 16,000 registered cardholders and welcomed approximately 175,000 visits in 2025.

The expansion added 3,000 square feet to the youth library area, creating more room for reading, learning and connection. The Children’s Library now includes additional shelving, expanded reading areas, a larger story time room, a multipurpose room and more study spaces. 

The project also included an expanded lobby, a new public elevator and a landing area leading to the second-floor Children’s Library.

Library Director Aly Herman says the project was shaped by community use and long-term planning, with children at the center of every decision.

“We are extremely excited to be able to offer this new youth space for the children and families in our community,” she says. “So much hard work went into this project, and every decision was made with children in mind.”

Aly says the expanded Children’s Library also reflects how libraries have evolved beyond traditional expectations.

“Many people still think libraries are just a place for books and being told to ‘shhh,’ but what they may not realize is that we offer so much more,” Aly says. “In addition to books, we provide DVDs, public computers, programs for all ages, take-and-go crafts and access to a wide variety of online databases.”

Accessibility also remains central to the library’s role in the community.

“Most importantly, we remain one of the few places in the community where everything is truly free,” Aly says. “Being a free and accessible resource is incredibly important to us, and we take pride in serving everyone.”

To formally welcome the community into the expanded space, the Town of Lady Lake will host an open house at the Lady Lake Library on Mon, Feb. 23. The event begins at 9:30am and will include refreshments, remarks from local dignitaries and guided tours of the Children’s Library. The open house is sponsored by the Friends of the Lady Lake Library.

Funding for the Children’s Library portion of the project included a $1 million Lake County Library Impact Fee grant, awarded based on population and service reach. The Town of Lady Lake funded the remaining costs, which also supported an expansion of the Information Technology Department and the addition of a Growth Management annex.

The project was designed, built and furnished by Dickerson Architects, Inc., McLaughlin & Company and Library Interiors of Florida, Inc.

Lady Lake Library / 225 W. Guava St., Lady Lake / 352.753.2957 / ladylakelibrary.com

Photos: Provided