The new 10,000 square foot White Center Library to be built on 107th SW got off to a hopeful start with the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday March 19. Library officials, area students and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott were on hand for the event and all struck a positive and hopeful tone in their remarks before a crowd of around 90 people.

The new library will be larger and brighter, with more windows, more study tables, study rooms, dedicated spaces for kids and teens, more materials, more computers, better wireless, and a large flexible community meeting room that can be opened up for general use when not reserved for use by the community.

It is being built as part of the $172 million capital bond approved by voters in 2004 for the expansion and upkeep of King County's libraries.

Gary Wasadin, Director of the King County Library System was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Architect Nathaniel A. McDaniel noted in his remarks that the new building will have floor to ceiling glass on several walls plus glass skylights meaning that reading inside the structure will be possible by daylight.

Rep. McDermott noted that his own childhood was marked by his experience at the local library where his imagination was sparked by what he read.

The new library is expected to take approximately a year to complete.