After four years of renovations and construction delays, St. Petersburg is finally ready to welcome the community back to its reimagined 61-year-old library.

The City has completed a $16.8 million renovation of the President Barack Obama Main Library at 3745 9th Avenue North.

Mayor Ken Welch will lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 27 at 9 a.m., followed by the public reopening at 10 a.m.

The library was originally designed in 1964 by noted St. Pete architect William Harvard.

In February 2018, the City announced the library would be renamed in honor of President Obama, and a sign was unveiled in February 2021.

At the time, the renovation was projected to cost $6 million, though most funding was not expected to be available until 2020. Since then, cost estimates have almost tripled.

When Welch, the city’s first Black mayor, took office in January 2022, he expanded the scope of the project to include additional public meeting and office space as well as new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) programming for children.

“The reopening of the long-awaited President Barack Obama Main Library marks a proud moment for St. Petersburg,” Welch said in a statement. “This modernized space will serve as a resource for everyone who lives, learns, and grows in our city, providing access to knowledge, technology, and opportunity for all.”

Funded by Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenue, the renovation includes a reconfigured interior with new program areas, additional parking, ADA-compliant restrooms, HVAC improvements, asbestos abatement, fire protection upgrades, and a renovated rear patio and outdoor gathering space.

Visitors will be welcomed by Looking Out, a large-scale art piece by Memphis artist Benjamin Butler inspired by Obama’s Hawaiian childhood and St. Pete’s waterfront.

Inside, the modernized library features the Obama Room and a Small Conference Room for flexible use, an auditorium for events, a café, and a bookstore filled with donated books and library merchandise.

Families will find expanded children’s spaces, a quiet room for parents and caregivers, and a STEAM workshop equipped for makers of all ages.

Teens will have access to a tech-forward lounge with gaming systems, computers, and relaxed seating.

A mezzanine with study rooms, printers, and a computer lab will serve as a collaborative hub for students and professionals.

“This space has always belonged to the people of St. Pete, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience how it’s been reimagined for today’s needs and tomorrow’s possibilities,” said Beth Lindsay, Director of Libraries.

Other upgrades include a new emergency generator to keep Wi-Fi and essential systems running during power outages.

The project was led by Clearwater-based Biltmore Construction and St. Petersburg’s G2 Design, with work beginning in 2021.

The library will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For updates on the President Barack Obama Main Library and other city libraries, visit St. Petersburg’s library website.