By Butch Maier
butch.maier@insidebiz.com
It cost $65 million to build. It will cost nothing to access.
And it's almost time for the public to check it out.
Inside Business was granted a sneak peek at Slover Library, located at 235 E. Plume St. in downtown Norfolk, ahead of its Jan. 9 grand opening.
Grand, indeed.
"Simply stated, Slover Library will be one of the finest libraries anywhere," Slover Library Foundation President Harry Lester said in a news release.
Outside the entrance, visitors can observe three centuries of architecture stitched together - the historic Seaboard building (1800s), the Selden Arcade (1900s) and a new six-story tower that connects them.
New Haven, Conn.-based Newman Architects designed the new 138,000-square-foot section that combines traditional library functions with technology, ornamentation and community spaces.
"Today's exceptional libraries are more than books, history and technology," Lester said. "The Slover provides our region with a centrally located, extraordinary place that will encourage community engagement and promote thoughtful conversations on issues important to our 1.7 million residents."
In one area interactive screens and touch tables - created by Savant Ltd., a Virginia Beach tech firm - allow library visitors to enlarge rich, digitized black-and-white photographs from the Sargeant Memorial Collection. Library personnel have been scanning images daily to make more and more available.
"No other public library has the mix of new collections, new technologies, services and children's offerings," Slover Library manager for support services Sean Bilby said.
Need to write a school paper? There are 160,000 books as well as 130 computers with Internet access.
Didn't get Xbox or PlayStation as a gift? You can play them at the library.
Can't afford a Netflix subscription? You can borrow DVDs from the library.
The library even will let a cat in the building.
Well, one specific cat, that is.
The Cat in the Hat will visit during the opening weekend celebration, which will feature Dr. Seuss-inspired activities and games.
The Cat will not be the only big name on hand.
The First Book Checkout ceremony, to be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 9, will be attended by Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, Slover Library Foundation board member Jane Batten - the widow of Frank Batten Sr. - and other major donors.
"Slover Library will become a new destination for the region," Fraim said in the news release. "We anticipate it will be a venue for social exchange and interaction and an invigorating place to learn about our world and our history."
The library hours for the weekend celebration are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 9 and 10, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 11.
In addition to books, Slover Library offers places to relax with a magazine or newspaper, places to catch up with a friend and a place to meet for lunch.
Cuisine at Slover, a 52-seat bistro, offers food to go along with food for thought - books discovered in the library.
Under one condition.
"After you check them out," Bilby said.
Slover Library also has rooms that can be reserved for meetings, screens that enable residents to research their family tree, and space and equipment to produce videos.
There also will be oodles of events.
"We pride ourselves on our early literacy programs and programs for teens," library public relations coordinator Lori Crowe Sharp said during a tour of Slover Library.
There are programs starting Jan. 12 geared for each age class - from babies to preschool to elementary school to teenagers.
Library cards are free for Virginia residents.
Even if visitors do not have a library card, they can use the library as a gathering place. There are study rooms and tables to congregate and work on projects together. But a card is needed to be able to use the library's computers.
Check out photos from Inside Business reporter Butch Maier's tour on Facebook.