The city’s fifth and largest branch library will open south of I-20 at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24. The Southeast Branch Library is located at 900 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd.

The 15,000 square-foot facility provides the south Arlington community with new recreational and educational opportunities. This $4 million project was funded with general obligation bonds approved by voters in 1993 and 1999. The Sid Richardson Foundation, Ruthie Brock, and Allan Saxe funded the Children’s Learning Center.

According to Library Director Rick Smith, residents in south Arlington have anxiously awaited the grand opening of the Southeast Branch Library. According to U.S. Census information, there are more than 94,000 Arlington residents south of I-20.

• The Southeast Branch Library opens Friday, Oct. 24. The Branch Manager is Sheila Smith.
• The hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library will be closed Sunday and Monday.
• Petrelli Associates of Arlington was the architect. Beck-Ford Construction, Inc. was the general contractor. Shelving and furniture were provided by Cultural Surroundings.
• The Southeast Branch Library opens with approximately 41,000 volumes of reading materials, which includes video tapes and compact discs. Its capacity is 70,000 volumes.
• There are 16 computer work stations for adults, providing Internet access and Chinese and Spanish-language browsers.
• A Children’s Learning Center provides elementary and junior high school students access to learning tools for school assignments and self-directed educational projects.
• A meeting room can be reserved for community meetings. The seating capacity is 100.
• Betsy Burson Drive provides east access to the library and was named for Dr. Betsy Burson, who was the director of the Arlington Public Library System from 1990 to 2001.