NEW FRISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENS MARCH 4 FOLLOWING RIBBON CUTTING; CHECK OUT SHUTTLE SERVICE, ‘KNOW BEFORE YOU GO’ WEBPAGE

(March 4, 2023) The new Frisco Public Library opens March 4 in a new location with three times the space. This ‘adaptive reuse project’ converted warehouse space -- which once housed a rocket parts factory -- into a high-tech public library for future generations.  

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m.  Henry Hill, Deputy City Manager; Shelley Holley, Director of Frisco Public Library; and Mayor Jeff Cheney will make comments during the brief ceremony (approximately 15 minutes). The Open House will immediately follow until 5 p.m.   

After the ribbon cutting, guests will be welcomed into the new space spanning 158,068 square feet, compared to its previous facility of about 50,000 square feet. Blackland Prairie inspired the architectural and interior design. From the native landscaping to interior carpet, colors, and Storytime ‘starry night sky’ lit ceiling – library décor, inside and out, is a nod to the Texas prairie.  

Tech amenities include self-checkout by scanning; online reservation system for conference and study rooms, confirmations confirmed via text and accessed by code; and AR/VR holographic computers.There are 93 wi-fi access points, 210 computers and 77 screens (flat, touch and projection).   

The Ready to Read Railroad returns but is now stationed at Tiny Town, where children will also find a pretend veterinarian clinic, construction site and market. The library’s new centerpiece is Rexy, a 22’ tall, 42’ long model of a tyrannosaurus rex.  Rexy was named by library patrons following a ‘naming contest’. Of course, there are plenty of books and other materials.  The library’s collection has 284,000 items; about 22 percent is digital.  

Know Before You Go (webpage): Watch the Check It Out video series. It shows you more of what to expect and tells the stories of the planning involved. Today’s video is about How To Use the New Library.   

Shuttle Service (Open House only): Parking is limited, and we anticipate a larger number of patrons for the Open House. Consider riding a shuttle beginning at 8 a.m. Free parking is available in the garage at city hall, George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd. and at the city’s municipal court building, 8450 Moore Street. Service will run continuous, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Here’s a shuttle map at this link.  

Special Events: Check out the Know Before You Go webpage for ‘demo’ times, schedule  

-Community Event Room: Dallas Zoo, BollyX the Bollywood Workout 

-Creativity Commons: Cooking Demos with Chef Nic (15-minute demos) 

-Makerspace: Equipment Demonstrations 

To date, the $62 million project, paid for with voter approved bonds, is the largest expenditure for a city facility.