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Groundbreaking of Rose Hall at Marco Library

Marilyn Matthes, Collier County library director, says she could think of no better way to kick off the construction of the Marco Library expansion, called Rose Hall, than by enjoying a book. She held up 'Tell Me a Story Grandpa,' written by Bill Rose. Rose had donated $500,000 to the construction of Rose Hall, making the groundbreaking of the library expansion late Thursday morning at the Marco Library possible. Kelly Farrell/ Staff

Photo by KELLY FARRELL, Staff

Marilyn Matthes, Collier County library director, says she could think of no better way to kick off the construction of the Marco Library expansion, called Rose Hall, than by enjoying a book. She held up "Tell Me a Story Grandpa," written by Bill Rose. Rose had donated $500,000 to the construction of Rose Hall, making the groundbreaking of the library expansion late Thursday morning at the Marco Library possible.
Kelly Farrell/ Staff

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  • Breaking ground on the Marco Island Brach Library expansion, Rose Hall, Thursday. Marco City Council Chairman Rob Popoff, Collier County Library Director Marilyn Matthes, David Arent, the project manager with Boran, Craig, Barber and Engel Construction, which is building Rose Hall, Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, Bill Rose, who donated $500,000 to construct the addition, Ken Brown, chairman of the Marco Island Friends of the Library and Nan Suffian of the Friends of the Library ceremoniously dig into the dirt. See photo gallery of the event online. Kelly Farrell/ Staff
  • Marilyn Matthes, Collier County library director, says she could think of no better way to kick off the construction of the Marco Library expansion, called Rose Hall, than by enjoying a book. She held up 'Tell Me a Story Grandpa,' written by Bill Rose. Rose had donated $500,000 to the construction of Rose Hall, making the groundbreaking of the library expansion late Thursday morning at the Marco Library possible. Kelly Farrell/ Staff
  • File photo. Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala and City Council Chairman Rob Popoff applaud the Friends of the Library for raising money to build Rose Hall at Marco Library. Fiala said with the library, Rose Hall, Marco Island Historical Museum, which is also currently under construction, and Mackle Park, a new hub for Marco Island is being created with the Rose Hall groundbreaking Thursday, April 30.
  • Showing the power of reading and education TBE students perform 'Knowledge is Power' at the groundbreaking for an expansion on the Marco Library Thursday.
  • Marco City Council Chairman Rob Popoff, Collier County Library Director Marilyn Matthes, David Arent, the project manager with Boran, Craig, Barber and Engel Construction, which is building Rose Hall, Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, Bill Rose, who donated $500,000 to construct the addition, Ken Brown, chairman of the Marco Island Friends of the Library and Nan Suffian of the Friends of the Library ceremoniously dig into the dirt.
  • Scenes from the groundbreaking of Rose Hall at Marco Branch Library on Heathwood Drive late Thursday morning.
  • Nan Suffian, President of the Marco Chapter Friends of the Library, says Rose Hall at the Marco Library has been a long time coming. Bill Buchanan, president of the parent chapter of the Friends of the Library, also spoke at the groundbreaking Thursday April 30. 'In a perverse way, the economy helped us out because the bids lowered making this construction possible.'
  • Tommie Barfield Elementary's Morning Musicians led by Lisa Braren perform 'Knowledge is Power' at the groundbreaking ceremony of Rose Hall at Marco Library on Heathwood Drive late Thursday morning.
  • The addition, seen here in architectural drawings, will occupy some space presently used for parking. Paul Sebastian, treasurer of the Friends of the Library, explains that parking won't be a problem though because the library building and the Historical Society building will be completed at approximately the same time and the parking in the area across the street will be shared by both. Submitted

Rose Hall will provide an additional 4,000 square feet of meeting space and will accommodate 150 people. The $1.4 million project was made possible in large part due to Bill Rose, owner of Rose Marina on Marco Island. However Rose said the fundraising by others was even more important than his personal donation.
The building is growing while the hours are shrinking. Effective Friday, May 1, Marco Island Branch Library will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and closed Saturdays and Sundays.

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