Archived News

Another new library will soon be open in DeKalb County.

The 12,000-square-foot Scott Candler Library is scheduled to open Aug. 20 following a grand opening ceremony Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.

The library, located at 1917 Candler Road, will have a 30,000-volume inventory, a 90-seat meeting room, designated areas for children and teens, 27 public access computers and self-checkout stations.

“This is a great achievement for the community and I am pleased to have voted to approve the construction of this state-of-the-art facility,” said Commissioner Larry Johnson.  

Designed by the Sizemore Group architectural firm, the new branch is part of a mixed-use development that also will eventually include a new senior center and senior housing. The contract for the construction of the new senior center is expected to be up for review by the Board of Commissioners at the Aug. 14 meeting.

Operating hours for the new facility will be 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

The Scott Candler Library will be the seventh new library facility constructed since 2009. Three libraries opened last year including facilities at Stonecrest, Salem Panola and Hairston Crossing.

The funding for the library construction comes from a $230 million bond referendum passed by county residents in November 2005. Of that revenue, approximately $54.5 million was allocated for library construction and improvements while the remainder was set aside for transportation improvements and parks and greenspace acquisition.

The library is part of Johnson’s renaissance initiative for the revitalization of Candler Road.

So far, the area has a completed streetscape project with benches, sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly lighting. A McDonald’s restaurant, located on the corner of Candler and McAfee roads, was built to conform with the overlay district standards in the area.