The Lexington Public Library + the Lexington Public Library Foundation announced a $17 million project to rebuild the Village Branch Library in 2024. Thanks to a leading gift from the Marksbury Family Foundation, the space will be renamed the Marksbury Family Branch.

Plans call to demolish the current building at the corner of Versailles Road + Village Road, and replace it with a new two-story facility that will nearly triple the amount of space. The new building will house community and study rooms, a dedicated classroom, an outdoor reading area, expanded adult and children’s areas, and a drive-thru window where visitors can pick up and return borrowed materials.

This week is also National Library Week, with the theme “Connect with your Library” — highlighting the fact that libraries are a place to connect digitally, connect with programs and ideas, and most importantly, connect with each other.

Here are a few ways you can get involved with your local Lexington Public Library branch:
📚 The community-wide shared reading experience — One Book, One Lexington — is currently going on featuring Heather McGhee‘s “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.” Group discussions will take place at the end of the month.

📚 The Central Library, 140 E. Main St., will officially open the Kloiber Foundation STEAM Lab to the public today, April 5 at 3:30 p.m.

📚 The whole month of April the LPL will celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with a free concert every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. First up is Raleigh Dailey Solo Piano at the Eastside Branch, 3000 Blake James Dr.

📚 The Friends Book Cellar Spring Sale will open to the public starting Sat., April 9 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Central Library offering up all genres of books, DVDs, toys, and more.