Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  Foley is getting a much larger, more feature-rich public library at a new location on East Orange Avenue. The new facility will offer residents twice the space of the current building and bring a wide range of new services and programs to the community. A grand opening celebration is planned in August to welcome the public to the expanded center.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the new library at 230 E. Orange Ave. From 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors are invited to explore the building. Guests can participate in a scavenger hunt raffle and activities in individual meeting spaces.

The new Foley Public Library will be approximately 40,000 square feet, about twice the size of the current building on East Laurel Avenue near City Hall. The expanded space will allow for many new features and programs that were not possible before.

The new building includes a sensory room, separate activity areas for children and teens, and a STEAM-STEM lab. It also features a large multipurpose room seating 277 people. A second-story porch overlooks the Perry Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail and the city's Dog Park.

Young readers will have a dedicated space called the Children's Story Grove. The Children's Grand Opening will feature pop-up story times and crafts at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. in that space. Children can also visit the Maker Meadow for hands-on crafts.

The library is hosting a children's bookmark design contest throughout opening day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winners will be announced the following week. The contest is one of several activities planned to engage younger visitors on opening day.

The former library building on East Laurel Avenue closed when the move to the new center began. Once the new library opens, the old building will be renovated and repurposed for other municipal uses. The city has not announced specific plans for the old building's future.