After closing Wednesday through Friday of last week for the final move, the Vidalia library reopened Monday morning in its new location at the back of the old courthouse on Texas Street.

“It was a long and hard project and it feels wonderful,” Library Director Amanda Taylor said Monday.

Taylor said the library board started working on architectural plans for the new library in 2003.

The new two-story facility covers 9,600 square feet and features a children’s reading room, an outdoor reading area and a new program room capable of seating 80 people.

The interior design is a Mississippi River motif from a Louisiana viewpoint.

“When we started developing our plans, the river motif just sort of evolved,” Taylor said.

The floor at the entrance of the library is made of cork and all of the bookshelves are made of bead board to give a riverboat effect, Taylor said.

Windows within the building are circular, designed like portholes of a ship.

The new children’s reading room also keeps with the river motif with light fixtures shaped like waves, stuffed animal fish decorating the bookshelves and chairs with carvings of different boats on the backs.

“(The children’s room) is everything,” Taylor said. “They’re the patrons of tomorrow. You have to develop young people at an early age to appreciate and love reading. You have to make it attractive and inviting to catch a child’s eye.”

The library also features new technology like a new sound system, camera system and 18 new computers for the pubic to use.

Taylor said funding for the new library was made possible by saving the money received from the taxpayers of Concordia Parish for nine years.

The total cost for the library was $1.7 million and is completely paid for, she said.

To celebrate the completion of the new addition, the Concordia Parish Library Board and staff will have a grand opening ceremony and reception from 2-4 p.m., Saturday.

“It’s really a reception for the people of the parish,” Taylor said. “They’re the ones who supported this.”

The ceremony will include a welcome from Library Board President Brad Lipsey, remarks from Louisiana State Library members and a greeting from Washington D.C. from congressman Rodney Alexander.