by Carrie Resch
Staff Writer
For two years the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art has enjoyed being the main attraction near Hemming Plaza,
but now the long-awaited new Main library will soon be moving in right next door.
The library is scheduled to open in September and
JMOMA president Jane Craven is looking forward to her new neighbor’s arrival. The library should draw more visitors to Hemming Plaza, said Craven, and she expects quite a few of them will step next door after their library visit.
“We were kind of pioneers in downtown,” said Craven. “We got thousands of people used to coming downtown. They know how to deal with parking and it will be easy for them to visit the museum and the library.”
The new addition comes at a time when business is already improving for the contemporary museum. The gift shop should break even this year said Craven, while business has dramatically increased at the the museum’s Cafe Nola.
“There are lines out the door, and sometimes you have to call ahead for reservations,” said Craven.
Plans are in the works for the library to get its own cafe and gift shop but Craven isn’t worried about the competition. Craven expects the library cafe to serve to a more casual clientele than the upscale Cafe Nola and the gift shops will offer different items.
The museum and the library will share a common desire to offer Jacksonville an edgy, educational experience.
“We want to be relevant to the community and cutting edge,” Craven said.
The library will use new technology and areas splashed with color to appeal to a younger crowd.
With similar goals, the museum has begun talking
with library staff about joint programs. They have already
collaborated on the mural decorating the fence in front of
the library.
Literacy development is a strong interest of the museum. There are several existing programs that they would like to expand. They would also like to participate in exhibitions with the library’s regional gallery. Craven envisions
joint receptions and events that would spill out onto
Hemming Plaza.
Library construction has hurt museum business, but the administration was willing to put up with the noise and extra vehicles with the expectation of better business when the library opens.
“We knew it would result in a terrific cultural institution downtown,” said Craven.
The additional traffic and visitors in the area will be great for JMOMA, said Craven. “Visitors to both have the same thing in common, they want to learn,” she said.
Museum visitors will be able to use the Duval street parking deck when it opens. Craven expects business to increase dramatically and she thinks they will be able to send a lot of visitors to the library.
“We see our partnership expanding greatly when the library opens,” Craven said. “I can’t think a of single negative thing.”