Goodlettsville Gets New Library and Public Art

Local children help Councilman Rip Ryman, Mayor Karl Dean and Library Director Donna Nicely cut the ribbon at the new Goodlettsville Public Library.

This morning, a bluegrass band welcomed patrons as the doors opened at Goodlettsville’s new library.

It’s Nashville Public Library’s first new building since the downtown library opened a decade ago. It’s also a big step up for people who regularly check out books in Goodlettsville, like Lisa Lipscoe.

“The building, the old library is about as big as the entryway, so this is amazing. It’s nice to see something like this in this part of town instead of South of downtown.”

The new facility measures 16-thousand square feet–four times the size of the old Goodlettsville library. It’s also earned a LEED Silver Certificate, meaning the building is environmentally friendly.

Inside is another first: a public art installation that’s not in the center of the county.

Carrie McGee’s “Continuum” hangs above the circulation desk

Shay Brown looks up at the hanging sculpture. It’s made up of large, glasslike rectangles that are suspended in a circle over the library’s main desk. Some are just colors; the girl notes orange and green, black and white, and red. Others have pictures.

“There’s like families, helping each other, and houses. It looks kind of old, because it has, like, rust around the edges.”

That’s actual rust. And the pictures are old. Nashville artist Carrie McGee used historic photos taken in Goodlettsville.

Detail of “Continuum”

In recent years, council members have pressured the Metro Arts Commission to distribute public art projects like this one more widely. For eleven years, one percent of any construction bond issued by Metro has been set aside to pay for art installations. But until now, it’s all been in walking distance of downtown.

Detail of “Continuum”

According to the Arts Commission, the art hanging in Goodlettsville is just the first in a collection of midsize projects that will spread across Davidson County. Officials say a total of 25 new works should be finished in the next three years.