The first community library in Boca Raton was established by the Woman's Club of Boca Raton in 1923. Over the years, the library operated from several locations, including the Army Air Field and Boca Raton City Hall. Today, the Spanish River Library and Community Center is one of two libraries in Boca Raton. This library is a stunning 41,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility designed in the Mediterranean Revival style. The library officially opened on January 26, 2008, following the approval of a $19.8 million bond by Boca Raton taxpayers in 2003 to expand the city's public library system. The building is so beautiful that it even serves as a wedding venue and features a catering kitchen for special events. Beyond its extensive collection of fiction and nonfiction books, the library offers quiet reading and study spaces, meeting rooms, a snack room with vending machines, a children's area, an art gallery, and scenic patio seating. The Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1990, has raised funds for many major library initiatives, including the library's bookmobile, which brings library services to underserved communities; AWE Early Literacy Stations at both the Downtown Boca Raton Public Library and Spanish River Library; and the award-winning StoryWalk trails located in Boca Raton's public parks. Perhaps the library's most distinctive feature is its breathtaking lakeside setting next to the Pondhawk Natural Area. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide beautiful views of Blue Lake, creating a peaceful atmosphere for reading or working. A scenic loop trail circles the lake and connects to Pondhawk's 79 acres of paved and natural-surface trails, where visitors can spot native plants and wildlife. The trail also links to Countess de Hoernle Park and Spanish River Athletic Park, making the library the perfect starting point for a day of nature and learning. read more