Key Biscayne library begins new chapter with replacement branch groundbreaking
Miami-Dade County, Florida – A new chapter is about to begin for library service on Key Biscayne, nearly four decades after residents helped bring a permanent branch to the island.
On Tuesday, May 26, at 9 a.m., Miami-Dade County officials and community leaders will gather at 299 Crandon Boulevard for the groundbreaking of the new replacement Key Biscayne Branch Library. The project will rise on the same site where the current library has served the community since January 12, 1985.
That original branch was born from local determination. Before it opened, Key Biscayne residents relied on a bookmobile that visited the island twice a week. Their push for a permanent library led the Miami-Dade County Commission to approve a branch that became a familiar civic and learning space for generations of residents.
Now, the Miami-Dade Public Library System is preparing for a major transformation. The new two-story facility will cover 20,000 square feet, making it nearly three times larger than the existing branch. The larger space is designed to match the needs of a growing community, with more room for programs, gatherings, study, technology and everyday library services.
The replacement library will include a YOUmedia technology center for teens, a sensory-friendly space, study rooms, multipurpose rooms and upgraded amenities for residents of all ages. The project also keeps an eye on the surrounding environment, with plans for a preserved pond, improved landscaping, rooftop solar panels and a sustainable design targeting LEED Silver certification.
Other planned features include electric vehicle charging stations and golf cart parking, additions that reflect both modern transportation needs and the island’s local character.
The groundbreaking ceremony is expected to include Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado, Village of Key Biscayne Mayor Joe I. Rasco, Miami-Dade Public Library System Director Lydia Lopez, Florida Construction & Engineering President and CEO Johnny Dao, and Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library President Marylynne Schwartz.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2028. During the work, residents can continue using library services at the temporary Key Biscayne Branch Library at Key Colony Plaza, 200 Crandon Boulevard, #101.
More information and project renderings are available at www.mdpls.org/KBBranchDesign.
For those attending the groundbreaking, closed-toe shoes are recommended for safety on the construction site. Parking at the branch will be limited, with additional parking available at the Galleria Mall at 328 Crandon Boulevard.
