Wylam Library Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for June 10

Update: Due to the threat of predicted rain, the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Wylam Branch Library will be held at the Restored Sight Christian Church, 4121 7th Avenue, Wylam, AL 35224.

The Birmingham Public Library and its Board of Trustees are hosting a Wylam Branch Library Groundbreaking Ceremony at the site of where a new larger replacement building is being erected. The ceremony will take place on Monday, June 10, at 1:30 p.m.

Elected officials from Birmingham and the Jefferson County Commission, Wylam area residents, and community partners are expected to join BPL employees and library board members at the event. The library's address is 4300 Seventh Ave., Wylam.

The old Wylam Library closed in early May and was demolished. Site preparation for the new building is under way. The old, 2,000 square foot Wylam Library building is being replaced by a new, 6,000 square foot facility with extra amenities, and is slated to open in January 2020.

"I'm happy to see this $1.6 million project finally become a reality. The residents of Wylam have waited a long time to see a new library, and I'm glad that we can provide it for them,'' said Mayor Randall Woodfin. "This new building will feature a covered, outdoor patio; a reading room; a meeting room; work rooms; and landscaping. The sidewalk will be replaced on Seventh Avenue and there will be a new parking lot."

On April 26 , BPL hosted a closing ceremony allowing community members to reminisce about the old Wylam Library. Its first location was at the Wylam Fraternal Hall in 1921. Later, the library saw other locations up and down Seventh Avenue and Huron Street in Wylam. The library relocated to its current location in 1962.

BPL Executive Director Floyd Council said the City of Birmingham, Birmingham Public Library and the Wylam community are "exceptionally excited" about the construction of the new Wylam Library.

"The community has long awaited this project for more than 20 years," Council said. "The new library location will continue to be the center of the small community and serve as a beacon to inspire additional economic development in the revitalizing area."

While  a new Wylam Branch Library is being built by the City of Birmingham, all 2019 BPL Summer Learning programs scheduled for the old building are being relocated. All Wylam Library Summer programs for youth will be held at Faith Chapel Christian Center.  Adult summer programs planned for Wylam are being moved to Ensley Branch Library.