by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When Barbara Gubbin took over as director of the Jacksonville Public Library (JPL) system in 2004, she had a vision to take the library far beyond its traditional role in the community and change the way people think about the institution.
In November 2005, the Main Library on Laura Street between Monroe and Duval Streets opened. Included in its design was 20,000 square feet of meeting space totally removed from shelves, stacks and the Dewey Decimal System. While all neighborhood branch libraries offer rooms that are made available to community groups, not-for-profit organizations or for any other non-revenue-generating activity, the Main Library has the most extensive and well-equipped facilities.
Gubbin described the Main Library as “the flagship” and after its first anniversary said when she began her career in library science, “We didn’t have a sense that a library was where people congregated. Now, we’re actually marketing the Main Library as a place to come. It’s a great location and has become a gathering place.”
The Conference Center on the ground floor facing Main Street has become one of Downtown’s most-used venues and is used for more than 1,500 functions annually. The events range from City agencies holding public meetings to luncheons and awards ceremonies, live music performances, weddings and receptions. From gatherings as small as 10 people to the time 10,000 people were there for the debut of Mayor John Peyton’s Rally Jacksonville! early literacy program, the vision of making the Main Library a destination has come to fruition.
“The facility was designed for maximum flexibility,” said Conference Center Manager Mitesh Sangani.
He added one day, there were four events taking place simultaneously.
“We had a lecture series going on in the auditorium, a military ball in the Multipurpose Room, a wedding reception in the courtyard and a seminar in one of the conference rooms.”
Sangani is well-versed in the art of hospitality management. Born in London, he’s a second-generation hotelier. He came to the United States and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in political science, then returned to London to work at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and the London Elizabeth near Hyde Park. Sangani also worked for the Crown Group in England and supervised corporate suite operations at soccer stadiums. He brought that background and experience to the Main Library Conference Center.
“It’s all about hospitality and customer service,” said Sangani.
Will Daniels, the Conference Center’s events coordinator, also came to the library with a background in the hotel business. He spent 15 years with Hilton Hotels opening new properties and training staff members.
“Whatever you want to do, you can do here,” said Daniels. “We provide the room, the tables, the chairs and the audio-visual equipment. Whatever else you need for your event, just bring it with you and we’re ready.”
In addition to having a selection of spaces to accommodate any size group, the Conference Center is also equipped with the latest audio-visual technology. Each room has (for an additional $100 fee) a cart with a PC, digital video projector, document scanner and wireless microphone connected to the room’s sound system. There are also projection screens in every room that disappear into the ceiling if they’re not needed. Bring a PowerPoint presentation to a meeting and it’s as easy as plugging in the memory stick and pushing the button. There is also a full-time technician on staff to troubleshoot any last-minute technical issues.
One of the most unique spaces is the 391-seat Hicks Auditorium. It’s used for live music and theatrical productions including the JPL’s Intermezzo Series. With its 3,000-lumen digital video projector, the auditorium is used to screen children’s movies and closed-captioned films for the library’s Talking Books customers. It’s also a venue for the annual Jacksonville Film Festival.
The layout, flexibility and equipment make the Conference Center a popular choice – and so do the rental fees, according to JPL Marketing Communications Manager Stacie Bucher.
Two small conference rooms that will accommodate a group of 10 people can be rented for $100 for an all-day meeting. The entire Conference Center can be reserved all day or in the evening from 6-11 p.m. for $2500, including weekends. Non-profit groups and government agencies qualify for a 50 percent discount for events held prior to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
“Our rates are low compared to what you’d pay for the same space at a Downtown hotel, but the Conference Center has become a profit center for the library. It helps us offset our operating costs,” said Bucher.