The city of Hawthorne and the Alachua County Library District will celebrate the grand opening of the new Hawthorne Branch Library during the final weekend of April.
Located at 6640 S.E. 221 St., a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the Hawthorne Branch on April 25 at 9:30 a.m., followed by self-guided tours. According to a press release from the Alachua County Library District, construction on the new branch began in early February 2026 and is now complete.
The new branch is larger than the former location and includes several enhancements. The library district said its goal since the early 2000s has been to renovate, expand and construct new buildings in line with its 20-year capital improvement plan.
In addition to expanded space for collections and public computers, the new Hawthorne Branch features a Snuggle-Up Center, teen space, quiet reading room, two study rooms, a meeting room and a MakerSpace. The MakerSpace provides access to creative tools, cutting-edge equipment and technology at little to no cost.
“We hope the new Hawthorne Branch will bring more opportunities for patrons to participate, connect and discover all the wonderful library services the Alachua County Library District has to offer,” Library Director Shaney Livingston said.
Hawthorne Mayor Jacquelyn Randall wrote in an April 23 email to The Sun that the new library is designed to serve as a centralized community space that reflects what residents have been asking for.
“It’s more than just a building; it’s a place where children can learn, families can connect, and individuals can access the resources they need to move forward. This is what meaningful reimbursement looks like — supporting taxpayers while strengthening the community as a whole,” Randall wrote.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Hawthorne to celebrate grand opening of new library branch
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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