Osceola County and library leaders broke ground Wednesday on what will be a technologically-leading digital Tech Library on the grounds of the former Johnson University Florida off Bill Beck Boulevard. (Photo/Ken Jackson)
In just over a year, it will be possible to go to the library in Osceola County – and not find any books.
A Tech Library – complete with career services and telehealth kiosks to AI and coding, 3D printing, virtual reality, and a growing list of programs that will evolve with the needs of a digital world – is coming to the area.
County officials broke ground Wednesday on a site at Bill Beck Boulevard and Fortune Road. The location is just a mile down Bill Beck Boulevard and NeoCity Way from the growing campus that includes semiconductor research and manufacturing facilities.
At a total cost of just over $7 million, construction is slated to start later this year and be completed as early as October 2026. The county was awarded a $4 million Multipurpose Community Facilities Program (MCFP) grant from the Florida Department of Commerce last year to build and develop the tech library. County Commissioner Chair Viviana Janer said the county is working with Congressman Darren Soto’s office on a federal grant to cover the rest of the cost.
“I pushed hard for this initiative because it reflects my commitment to fostering technological literacy and providing equitable access to resources for all our residents,” said Janer, whose District 2 includes that property.
The county calls the 10,820 square foot space a “civic space built for innovation, collaboration and opportunity” where “Technology and creativity meet to spark new ideas.”
Officials say the new facility will use flexible spaces inside and outside of a transparent glass façade to host workshops, cultural events to “invite residents to explore, learn and connect in ways never before in Osceola County.”
Planned features include digital literacy classes or other online learning experiences, with areas where residents can access telehealth appointments or meet with a healthcare provider – something never before connected to a library.
“This will be unlike anything Central Florida has seen before,” Janer said Wednesday. “We’ll be able to put technology and innovation at the fingertips of every one of our residents. This is an investment into diversifying our county’s economy.”
The facility is being built on the former campus of Johnson University Florida, which closed in 2023 and was purchased in 2024 by Osceola County for $28 million. The library will be a new building on the property, not utilizing the existing buildings on site, which include an administrative building, athletic complex, gym and dorm buildings. County officials on hand at Wednesday’s groundbreaking said there is no plan yet for using – or razing – those buildings, as informal talks with groups have taken place without anything materializing yet.
