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A New Library, An Untold Story

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A New Library, An Untold Story

Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL)

Equity and Inclusion | 2025

Innovation Synopsis

On June 16, 2025, Gwinnett County Public Library opened a unique building to the public. Built on the site of Gwinnett County’s only school for Black children during segregation, the Hooper-Renwick Branch incorporates a portion of the original building into the new space. A shared library and museum space, this new branch is both a historical marker and a celebration of community resilience and determination. New programs and a new collection were established to support community education and dialogue related to the Black experience in Gwinnett County and the U.S.

Challenge/Opportunity

GCPL’s Lawrenceville Branch was over 30 years old and a new building was needed to meet the demands of a growing community. At the same time, the historic Hooper-Renwick School building, long neglected, was in danger of being torn down as the City of Lawrenceville’s town center expanded. The building is a monument to a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our community today. Former students of the school established the Hooper-Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee to challenge the school’s demolition and to find a way to use the building that would both respect the past and meet modern day needs.

Through conversations among county, city and library officials and former Hooper-Renwick students, a plan was developed to both save portions of the historic building and to provide a new space for the library branch.


Key Elements of Innovation

*Portions of the school building were preserved and became a shared space housing a museum and a library. The building is the first themed library in the Southeast.

*The building represents past, present, and future by honoring the history of the Hooper-Renwick school while offering 21st Century library services.

*The Hooper-Renwick Branch serves all residents of Gwinnett County and adds to the burgeoning arts, cultural, and educational amenities developing in the heart of the City of Lawrenceville.

*Community members were invited to donate cultural and historic objects and artifacts to form portions of the museum’s exhibits.
*The new building opened on June 16, 2025.

*GCPL launched the annual Hooper-Renwick Speaker Series to showcase Black voices and experiences.

*A Black Studies room was established in the branch and houses a new Black Studies collection for all ages.


Achieved Outcomes

The historic Hooper-Renwick school was saved from demolition.

The Lawrenceville Branch of GCPL gained more than double the square footage in its new building.

A successful collaboration between city, county, and library officials was launched.

The new library includes 1,500 square feet of community space, accommodating approximately 100 people and equipped with a sink and counter space for food preparation.

GCPL established a collection and recurring programs to highlight Black history and achievements.


Supporting Materials:


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