Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  The new Foley Public Library is getting a boost from state grants and local donations as it prepares to open later this year. The two-story facility under construction on East Orange Avenue south of U.S. 98 will have more than 40,000 square feet of space. That's double the size of the current building, which opened in 1984. The additional space will allow the city to expand services and programs for the community.

The Foley City Council voted Monday, May 4, to accept several funding sources for the new library. One is a Library Services and Technology Act Strengthening Youth and Family Grant worth $20,000. The funds will help equip a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math lab in the new building.

Library Director Kate Norris said the space will serve an important educational role. "This room in the library will be used for learning. We're going to call it the Learning Lab," she said. "We already offer learning programs at the library, and this will help expand that."

Norris explained that the grant will add new technology to the library's programs. "We want to be smart about what we purchase. We want to make sure that it will be beneficial," she said. "We're going to get a lot of use out of it. We're super excited about this and it's moving very quickly."

The new library will also feature a sensory room designed to meet the needs of different users. The Foley Women's Club donated $19,200 for equipment in that space. Norris told council members the library would like to name it the Foley Women's Club Sensory Nook in recognition of the generous contribution.

Sensory spaces in libraries offer a range of environments for users. These rooms provide options for people who need to study, decompress, or relax. The variety of experiences helps meet the diverse needs of library visitors.

State Rep. Donna Givens also contributed $2,000 to the project. The funds will be used to purchase general technology for the new facility. Givens said she plans to make this an annual contribution.

"Y'all have an amazing library and you have a new one under construction," Givens said. "This is just something that I want to do annually. Thank you all for what you do. I appreciate each and every one of you."

The combination of grants and donations reflects strong community support for the library project. The funding will help ensure the new facility opens with modern equipment and specialized spaces. Upon completion, the library will serve as an expanded resource for education and community programs in Foley.