Today is a red-letter day for Tifton and Tift County as the public library returns to its home downtown with its front door fronting Love Avenue once again.

The library moved out of the old Tifton Post Office building in 2006 so it could be completely renovated. In the interim, the library was in a temporary location at the old Wal-Mart on Virginia Avenue. This afternoon, the public will get its first look at the library's new Internet cafe, renovated children's library and adult fiction and non-fiction areas.

There is additional work space for library staff, a new boardroom named in honor of longtime library supporter Harriette Rowe and additional stairwells on each side of the building.

Anyone who remembers the old library will feel as if he is in a different building now because the change is that dramatic.

Since it moved into the former post office building in 1966, the library has been an integral part of downtown Tifton and continues to be one today. In addition to its traditional role as a gateway to printed material, the library has changed along with the rest of the world and is an important point of access for students and other folks who don't have computers at home.

Its location downtown draws traffic to businesses while keeping a beautiful, historic building in use.

Planning for the newly renovated library actually began in 1998 with discussions about the leaking roof. In 2001, voters approved a Special Local Option Sales Tax initiative, or SPLOST, which included $1.5 million for renovation.

Realizing that amount was not nearly enough, the Library Board of Trustees and members of the Tift County state legislative delegation worked to get another $1.765 million in 2005 from Gov. Sonny Purdue as part of the Georgia Library Capital Outlay project. Bonds were sold at the end of 2006 and money was available to begin

In 2006, voters approved SPLOST 4 which included up to $250,000 for the library.

The result is a beautiful, functional building for present and future generations.

The dedication is this afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m., with a brief ceremony at the front entrance followed by light refreshments and tours of the building. The dedication activities are being funded by the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation.

Drop by your library and see a great improvement for downtown Tifton.