MIDDLEBURG – The Clay County Public Library system is looking to expand operations into a new facility that will provide library access to the booming Oakleaf community in the wake of expected growth from the coming First Coast Expressway.

The county has set aside property at the future intersection of Blanding Boulevard and the multi-lane toll road to serve as the future location for a new library, which sits on the county’s list of future projects.

“We want to serve people to the south, and the Oakleaf population to the north,” said CCPL Director Pat Coffman.

The library would replace the current Middleburg library that could be larger than the system’s headquarters library on Fleming Island.

“We’re looking at something about 30,000 square feet,” Coffman said. “It would be slightly larger than Fleming Island [library].”

Coffman said the larger facility would accommodate the expected higher attendance that would come with placing a library along the beltway.

The larger location would provide more space for a variety of events. Coffman said the project would see several large meeting rooms built to provide space where the library could host conferences, as well as provide space for some of the system’s special programs which, due to the popularity of the programs, has left the Fleming Island library with standing room only.

The new library would be funded by state grants as well as funds from the county Capital Improvement Plan according to Coffman.

While there is no definite timeline on the library’s construction, the segment of the First Coast Expressway from Interstate 90 in Duval to Blanding Boulevard in Clay County is expected for completion in early 2018. Once completed, the county could have a clearer picture of where to move forward.

There are likewise no estimates on what the facility could cost yet, but the need for a new library closer to Oakleaf is clear. The closest library to Oakleaf is in Duval, so Oakleaf residents must drive to the Town of Orange Park to check out and return books or attend public events.

The new location would be roughly five miles closer to Oakleaf.

“We are aware of the need for a library in the western part of the county,” said Commissioner Mike Cella with the Clay County Board of County Commissioners. “Where that stands at this point in time – I’m not really sure.”

Cella mentioned that the commission has placed the library on a list of items to discuss at a future BCC workshop. A date had not yet been set by press time.

“We haven’t really discussed it in depth yet,” said BCC Chairman Wayne Bola. “We’re looking at a public private operation, and maybe bringing in a Starbucks. Libraries are no longer warehouses full of books.”

Through the addition of a coffee shop, community events and more space for meeting rooms, Bola hopes that the new library would become something more than a traditional library setting, where people go to meet friends and hang out.

In preparation for the project, the library system is looking to hire a new branch manager in the future for what is now the Middleburg-Clay Hill Library. Commissioners hope the new branch manager could bring leadership to the project as they begin planning.

For the time being, operations at the Middleburg branch will remain unaffected.