Haydon Burns Library, Public library in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
Haydon Burns Library is a four-story public library building in downtown Jacksonville with colorful geometric tile patterns on its facade and large glass walls. The structure held shelf space for roughly 550,000 volumes and served as the city's main library branch until it closed in 2005.
Architect Taylor Hardwick designed the building in 1965 to replace the older Carnegie Library from 1905. This new construction represented a shift toward modern library design for the city.
A large mosaic mural called 'Momentum and Direction' wraps around the central elevator and stair tower, created by artist Ann Williams. This artwork became the focal point visitors encountered when moving through the building's interior spaces.
The building's main entrances are easy to locate from the street, and the large glass walls provide clear visibility of the interior. Visitors should note that the structure has been closed since 2005 and no longer functions as a public library.
The building housed a specialized theater space on the second floor that regularly hosted performances for the community. This performance venue was an important part of the library's cultural role alongside its book collections.
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