This Presidents’ Day, the city of St. Petersburg plans to celebrate former President Barack Obama by announcing that it will rename the main library in his honor.

  • St. Pete to rename library after Barack Obama
  • Name change comes with extensive renovations

The name change will come with extensive renovations to the 54-year-old building located at 3745 9th Ave. North.

“The intention here isn't just to name the library the former president,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “It's also to create within the library a special place that doesn't exist in any of our other libraries ,where you can read books on all of our presidents.”

The project will include renovations inside the library, and even adding a café in the back overlooking Jargensen Lake.

The plan still must get city council approval, and funding would come out of the Penny for Pinellas initiative that voters passed last November, but the Mayor Kriseman is optimistic that in the next several years America’s 44th President and the city of St. Petersburg will forever be connected.

“To be able to be inspired by and see this name outside this library every day…” said Kriseman.  “We think it’s pretty special.”

City leaders will hold a news conference Monday at 11 a.m. in front of the main library to formally announce the project.