$2.85M contract OK’d for new library

RUSSELLVILLE — Construction of a new public library moved a step closer to reality last week as the city council approved a $2.85 million construction contract with Florencebased Brad Slater Construction LLC.

The facility, which will be known as the Norris Public Library, will be located behind Russellville City Hall on property the Norris family donated in 2020.

Funding for the facility is a $3.892 million grant received in September 2024 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

City leaders, library officials and community supporters broke ground on the project in July 2025.

“The council’s approval is incredibly meaningful because it represents years of hard work, collaboration and community support becoming a reality,” Library Director Joshlyn Bowen said.

Lead architect Jill Harper of CREATE Architects in Florence said the contractor must complete bonding, insurance and other paperwork requirements before receiving a notice to proceed.

Harper said the contractor will spend the coming weeks hiring subcontractors. Construction could begin by mid-summer, she said.

Once officials issue a notice to proceed, the contractor will have 365 calendar days to complete the project.

Bowen said the 6,945-square-foot library will address space limitations at the current library while expanding opportunities for people of all ages.

The new library will include a dedicated children’s area, expanded programming space, meeting rooms, reading and study areas, gathering spaces, and more access to technology.

“This isn’t just a building project. It’s an investment in education, lifelong learning, and the future of our community,” Bowen said.

Harper said no significant changes have been made to the design since the groundbreaking ceremony nearly a year ago, although detailed construction documents have been developed and refined during the planning process.

Shown from left are Mayor David Grissom, Lela Wright Ray, Library Director Joshlyn Bowen, and Council member Lonnie Freeman in front of a blueprint for the $2.85 million Norris Public Library.

She said the library will include a series of gallery walls intended to display community artwork and other exhibits.

Harper said the building will make extensive use of natural light through a combination of windows and open interior spaces.

A central vaulted area featuring dormer windows, limestone veneer columns and glued laminated timber beams will serve as a focal point of the library.

Dormer windows project from a sloping roof and help bring natural light into interior spaces.

“This library is going to have a lot of natural light,” Harper said.

Clerestory windows — windows positioned high on walls to bring daylight deeper into a building — will help brighten shelving areas and create an open atmosphere throughout the facility, she said.

“Another area I’m excited about is the children’s area,”Harpersaid.

The space will feature built-in seating, as well as specialized shelving, and unique flooring elements, she said.

Mayor David Grissom said he is pleased to see the project advance to the next stage.

“I’m excited to get to this phase of the project and will be even more excited when the new facility is completed,” he said. “This is something the people of Russellville will be proud of and will enjoy for many, many years to come.”