Apr 27, 2005

INFORMATION RELEASE 
Media Contact: Heather O'Connell
                         (239) 461-2924 or hoconnell@leegov.com
 
Rutenberg Branch Library Closing - Lakes Regional Library Opening Scheduled
 
FORT MYERS, Fla., April 27, 2005 - Rutenberg Branch Library Closing is closing next month as the staff prepares for the Grand Opening of the new Lakes Regional Library.
 
The last day of service for the Rutenberg Branch Library will be Saturday, May 14. The library, which served the residents of South Fort Myers since 1991, will close at the end of its service day (5 p.m.) in order to begin the move to the Lee County Library System's newest and largest location, Lakes Regional Library.

Lakes Regional Library is scheduled to open Saturday, June 18 at 15290 Bass Road (on the northwest corner of Bass Road and Gladiolus Drive) in South Fort Myers, approximately 3.4 miles from the existing Rutenberg Branch Library.

At 40,000 square feet, Lakes Regional will be the largest library in the Lee County Library System. Lee County Library System Community Relations Coordinator Heather O'Connell says the small Rutenberg library (about the size of the new library's children's section) had been the second busiest library in the Lee County Library System.

"The new Lakes Regional Library will provide needed increases in space, staffing, collection and features to provide the level of service necessary for the increased population and projected growth in this service area. " O'Connell said.

During the move, the Lee County Library System Bookmobile will visit the Rutenberg Branch Library site each Wednesday and Saturday, from May 18 through June 15. Visits are from 10 a.m. - noon on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. - noon on Saturdays. Although books checked out from Rutenberg Branch Library won't be due until after Lakes Regional Library opens, bookdrops at the Rutenberg Branch Library site will remain open until Friday, June 17.

Lakes Regional Library will open Saturday, June 18, following a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at 9 a.m.  There will be activities and events throughout the day for patrons of all ages.

 More information about Lakes Regional Library is available on the Lee County Library System's website at www.lee-county.com/library . From the home page, click Lakes Regional Library to view pictures of the construction, drawings of the new building, a map of the new library's location, and answers to frequently asked questions.

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