After 14 months and $4.2 million in renovations, the Pascagoula Public Library will reopen to the public on Aug. 18.
As more than 42,000 books are reshelved, library staff are preparing for a ribbon-cutting and grand opening in October, unveiling new entertainment and educational amenities.
Angela Stewart, director of the Jackson-George Regional Library System, said many of the upgrades were necessary to maintain the 40-year-old building, which previously had a broken elevator, leaks and unreliable air conditioning.
“I felt so terrible about some of our locals — they would come in and they’d have to wear a jacket some days, and then the next day, it’d be so hot you couldn’t stay in here,” Stewart said.
Major improvements include a new roof, elevator, HVAC system, skylight glass, remodeled public restrooms, updated flooring and interior finishes, and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps. Stewart emphasized that the new climate control is especially important for preserving historical materials housed upstairs in the Singing River Genealogy and Local History Library.
“We have rare manuscripts, one-of-a-kind items, precious photographs … you just don’t want those types of materials in a bad environment,” she said.
Renovations also introduced an audiovisual lab equipped with 50-inch monitors, computer and microphone gear, and editing software. The space is designed to help community members create digital content for free using a library card.
“It’s great for local musicians, wannabe podcasters — even if you just want to put together a short video of your vacation footage,” Stewart said. “All for free … it’ll be one of just a few in the entire South.”
Upstairs, the children’s section will be expanded, with plans for a video gaming area and a pirate-themed play space in partnership with local businesses. Stewart said families frequently express a need for free, child-friendly spaces.
“We’re about to make it a showplace for kids to come in, and when they go to the library, it’s going to be an event,” she said.
Board member Laura Byrd Cooley has used the Pascagoula library since before the current building opened in 1984. Today, she enjoys exploring archives of coastal history and sharing newspaper clippings and photos online. She believes continued investment in the library matters.
“There was a very big misconception that people don’t read (print) books anymore … and that’s just not true,” Cooley said. “The library is so much more than that. It’s a safe place — in addition to being able to check out books.”
The grand opening is expected in October and will include the unveiling of a 1984 time capsule and items from the community will be placed in a new capsule.
The renovations are connected to a wider effort by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors to improve library infrastructure. The St. Martin Public Library, Ocean Springs Municipal Library and Ina Thompson Moss Point Library have undergone their own renovations in recent years.
This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at the University of Southern Mississippi.
