Creative library project underway in Wilmington to spur community and economic development
Library campus on North Market Street to propel economic development in Wilmington The News Journal
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Construction of $22 Million Library Facility Underway in Wilmington
The construction of a $22 million library facility on North Market Street in Wilmington is currently underway. The groundbreaking at the site took place at the end of February. The completed building will serve as a new community amenity called a Think. Do. Hub.
Location and Schedule
The future community center, known as the Think. Do. Hub, is being built on the city side of the border between Wilmington and New Castle County at 3905 N. Market St. The building is scheduled to open in summer 2025.
Library Campus and Educational Landscape
The Think. Do. Hub and the North Wilmington Library Branch will form a “library campus.” This project, along with the construction of EastSide Charter School’s STEM center, will shape a new and dynamic educational landscape in Wilmington.
Funding and Expansion of Library Services
The funding for the renovation of the North Wilmington Branch Library and the construction of the Think. Do. Hub was secured through the fiscal year 2022-2023 state bond bill and the American Rescue Plan Act funds. These investments align with the state’s goal of enhancing library services to meet the increasing demand for digital technology access and education.
Library Expansion Projects Statewide
The Wilmington library campus project served as a guide for other library renovation and construction projects throughout the state. The following libraries are currently under construction or undergoing renovation:
- Harrington Library – $5.5 million
- Milford Public Library – $900,000
- Georgetown Public Library – $250,000
- Newark Public Library – $4 million
- Rehoboth Beach Public Library – $3 million
- Friends of Duck Creek Regional Library – $7.8 million
- Selbyville Library – $7 million
- Lewes Public Library – $750,000
- North Wilmington Library – $11 million
A Library for Everyone
The Think. Do. Hub aims to be a place for family learning, digital equity, and neighborhood development. It will focus on community workforce and skill development for area residents. The existing North Wilmington Library Branch will continue to operate as a traditional library but with increased capacity for hosting meetings and events following its $6 million renovation. The library campus has the potential to drive economic revitalization and attract further investment along North Market Street.
New Castle County’s Role in Library Operations
The majority of operating funds for the Think. Do. Hub and the North Wilmington Branch Library will be paid by New Castle County property owners. The county provided funding for the operations of the existing Wilmington Public libraries, and additional funding will be allocated for the current renovated and expanded North Wilmington Branch Library.
Multiple Learning Centers in One-Mile Radius
The North Wilmington Branch Library, the Think. Do. Hub, and EastSide Charter School’s STEM center are all located within a mile of each other. These learning centers will offer various opportunities for education, training, and community engagement.
Partnerships and Amenities
The collaboration between the Wilmington Public Library, private sponsors, and public organizations will provide amenities such as meeting spaces, literacy programs, job training resources, digital technology access, and resources for entrepreneurship. EastSide Charter School’s STEM center will also include a student health center in partnership with healthcare providers.
For more information, please contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis:
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article discusses the construction of a library facility called Think. Do. Hub, which aims to provide resources for community engagement, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood development. This aligns with SDG 4, which focuses on quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. The article also mentions the expansion of the North Wilmington Library Branch and the construction of EastSide Charter School’s STEM center, which contribute to SDG 4 as well. Additionally, the project is expected to drive economic revitalization and attract further investment, connecting to SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). The collaboration between the Wilmington Public Library, private sponsors, and educational institutions also highlights the importance of partnerships for achieving the SDGs (SDG 17).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
- Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
- Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
- Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
- Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
Based on the article’s content, the identified targets are related to ensuring access to quality education (Target 4.1 and 4.3), promoting job creation and entrepreneurship (Target 8.3), developing sustainable infrastructure (Target 9.1), enhancing sustainable urbanization (Target 11.3), and fostering partnerships (Target 17.17).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:
- Number of girls and boys completing primary and secondary education (Indicator for Target 4.1)
- Equal access to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education for women and men (Indicator for Target 4.3)
- Number of jobs created through entrepreneurship and innovation (Indicator for Target 8.3)
- Investment in sustainable infrastructure projects (Indicator for Target 9.1)
- Improvement in urban planning and management for sustainable human settlements (Indicator for Target 11.3)
- Number of effective public-private partnerships established (Indicator for Target 17.17)
These indicators can be used to track progress towards the identified targets and assess the impact of the initiatives discussed in the article.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table:
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. | Number of girls and boys completing primary and secondary education. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. | Number of jobs created through entrepreneurship and innovation. |
| Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. | Equal access to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education for women and men. | |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. | Investment in sustainable infrastructure projects. |
| Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. | Investment in sustainable infrastructure projects. | |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. | Improvement in urban planning and management for sustainable human settlements. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Number of effective public-private partnerships established. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: delawareonline.com
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