LAS VEGAS – The digital information revolution is making the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s many resources more critical than ever for urban and rural communities, with free access to 2.4 million items and events that support learning, employment, cultural growth, and entertainment. In order to meet the growing needs of Clark County’s expanding population, the Library District is proud to announce the grand opening of its newly expanded Mesquite Library Campus, located at 160 W. First North St. in Mesquite, Nevada, on May 31, 2018, soon to be followed in the spring of 2019 by another much-needed library facility in East Las Vegas, located at Bonanza Road and East 28th Street.
The Mesquite Library Campus will serve this rural area’s burgeoning population, which has surged in recent years. At the same time, the East Las Vegas neighborhood is an existing, heavily populated area that is home to 14 elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools, which require a library branch that could be easily reached on foot or by bus. This urgent need in both communities meant that the Library District had to plan, design, fund, and build these two cutting edge library buildings simultaneously.
“It has been a very busy period for us, bringing both of these projects online at the same time,” Dr. Ronald R. Heezen, executive director of the Library District said, “but it was imperative that we fulfill our promise to both of these communities. We are also in the midst of a Master Facilities Plan that will see us renovate our existing buildings over the next several years.”
“Our mission is to build new libraries, and remodel our existing branches, based on the 21st Century library model,” Dr. Heezen said, “creating areas for civic engagement; art and culture; live music, theater, and dance performances; STEAM learning, makerspaces, free WiFi, homework help; and the newest technology and training needed to build the job skills for today’s careers. These two new facilities will bring all of this and more to thousands of adults, teens, and children in these expanding communities.”
Both the Mesquite Library Campus and the East Las Vegas Library complex will house Workforce Connections One-Stop Career Centers that offer one-on-one expertise for job seekers and entrepreneurs. The new buildings will also showcase local artists and performers, appealing to multiple age groups; and provide a hub for learning, economic advancement, and civic engagement.
Adding to the Library District’s heightened digital footprint is their new website, which easily and efficiently guides library customers through the millions of materials and thousands of events, classes, and live performances that are available in the District’s 25 branches throughout the year.
“Our redesigned web presence is smart, fun, and engaging, and provides our digital library customers with the same standard of excellence that they receive in our branches,” he explained. “We are always expanding our downloadable collection, too, which is just a click away on our site. To access our free materials in our branches or online, all you need is one of our free library cards.”
According to Dr. Heezen, the new site allows library customers to explore books (hard copy, large print, eBooks, and audio books), magazines, graphic novels, comic books, movies from all eras, downloadable music to suite any taste, plus research databases, and a calendar of classes, programs, art gallery shows, theater, music, and dance. The new site can be previewed by going to LVCCLD.org and following the prompts. The new site goes live on June 19, at which time the old site will be taken down permanently.
For additional information about the Library District’s commitment to building communities of people who can come together to pursue their individual and group aspirations, visit: http://www.thelibrarydistrict.org
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