Each year since 2001 as soon as the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra announces its new season Ed Lien, a librarian at the Main Library, has gone through the vast collection of CDs, DVDs, books and other materials to create a display on the third floor. It mirrors the orchestra’s entire season in chronological order from the first performance to the last. The special collection includes a life-size representation of JSYM Music Director Fabio Mechetti in full concert regalia. Lien said some of the most avid borrowers of the materials are the symphony’s musicians who like to hear a piece of music before they begin rehearsals.
The 391-seat Hicks Auditorium in the Conference Center at the Main Library was temporarily closed last week. Several important renovations took place, including the installation of a new video projector, a pair of remote-controlled spotlights and a new video camera to record the action on the stage. There’s also a new plasma screen in the entrance area that will direct visitors to the various events in the center and an improved wireless microphone system in the Multipurpose Room.
Conference Center Manager Mitesh Sangani said he’s particularly pleased with the new projector in the auditorium which brings the facility to the current state of the art “worthy of any event.” It will be utilized for the Main Library’s film series as well as during the Jacksonville Film Festival. Sangani also said the Main Library is the venue more than 500 functions annually including weddings, receptions and meetings. He added, “These improvements make the Conference Center an even better value.”
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