New Main Library
After 60 years in the downtown McAllen location at 601 N. Main St., the Old Main Library closed its doors on November 23, 2011. Ready for a new home, new look, and new direction, McAllen Public Library relocated to its current location at 4001 N. 23rd. St. on December 10, 2011.
Now an award-winning public library, the new McAllen Public Library is 132,000 square feet and as of construction, is the largest single floor public library in the nation. The next largest is the Johnson County Central Resource Library in Overland Park, Kansas, at 90,547 square feet.
On this page you'll find facts, photos, and videos detailing the new library's development leading up to its grand opening in December 2011.
| Old Main | Present Main |
|---|---|
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Opened: 1950 Size: 40,00 Square Feet Collection Count: 330,394 items Floors: 3 Public Meeting Rooms: 2 Public Study Rooms: 3 Public Computer Lab: 29 Special Features: ground floor atrium, patio, used book store |
Opened: December 10, 2011 Size: 123,000 Square Feet Collection Count: 355,794 items Floors: 1 Public Meeting Spaces: 16 Public Study Rooms: 14 Public Computer Lab: 116 Children's Computer Lab: 10 Teen's Computer Lab: 6 Genealogy Computer Lab: 2 Special Interior Features: Teen area, cafe, Auditorium, quiet reading room, self-check out units, art gallery, electronic classrooms, meeting rooms with audiovisual services, expanded children's area, used book store, automated materials handling system, themed wood ceiling and other special interior design features
Special Exterior Features: Extensive landscaping, Dewey Learning Trail, front mall area with one water feature, entrance canopy, drive-up book drop, exterior children's area, over 350 parking spaces |