According to Jacksonville Today, the Hastings Community Center and Library officially opened to the public on Friday, providing a modern facility for the unincorporated community of Hastings in St. Johns County. The new building replaces the century‑old former Hastings High School, which will soon become a campus for First Coast Technical College.
The 401 N. Main St. location features a dedicated children’s room, meeting areas, and a Library of Things section where cardholders can check out games and a Dungeons & Dragons starter kit. The adjoining community center houses a food pantry operated by the St. Johns County Health and Human Services Department, extending vital assistance to local families.
Library Branch Manager Brad Powell, who has served for 16 years, expressed relief at the move, saying, “I think for 15, we’ve been working on a new location… We love our new building.” The ribbon‑cutting ceremony included St. Johns County Library Advisory Board member Mel Longo, who highlighted the importance of Friends of the Library groups, especially as Amendment 3 may reduce future library funding.
Longo noted that St. Johns County serves roughly 350,000 residents with six library branches, compared with Alachua County’s 12 branches for about 300,000 residents, underscoring the need for community support. He urged attendees to join the Friends of the Hastings Library to sustain the new resource.
Debra Rhodes Gibson, the county’s Library Systems Director, emphasized the center’s role in a growing Hastings, while LaKeisha Chestnut, director of the Christian‑based Carter Academy preschool, said the proximity of the library will enrich her students’ educational experience. “This is a resource that we’ve needed, and it just gives the kids something out of the day‑to‑day that we provide,” Chestnut said.
The library operates Monday through Saturday, opening at 10 a.m. It closes at 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, stays open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, and closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The Health and Human Services office shares the same weekday hours but closes at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and is closed on weekends.
Residents can now enjoy expanded learning and support services without traveling far, reinforcing family‑centered values and community cohesion in Jacksonville’s greater area.
Sources: jaxtoday.org
