A crowd of Peninsula College faculty and students joined Franklin Elementary second-graders and interested peninsula residents on the Port Angeles campus Sept. 17 to celebrate the opening of the new library and media center and faculty administration building.

"Teaching and learning (are) at the center of what we do here," said college President Tom Keegan, addressing the crowd. "The library ... is the heart of Peninsula College ... physically, spiritually and intellectually."

State Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Lynn Kessler were on hand to help Keegan with the ribbon-cutting.

"Our community colleges are so adept at changing to our community's needs, to our workplace needs," Van De Wege said. "It's wonderful to see this building come to fruition."

The 25,000-square-foot building, several years in the making, is certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for promoting sustainable green building and development practices. The building includes 24 research stations with Internet access, group study rooms and geothermal heating and ventilation systems.

After shifting the library's books to several locations during construction, the new library holds more than 70,000 books and periodicals as well as having access to e-books.

"We are so proud of this facility," said Peninsula College Foundation executive director Mary Hunchberger during the Sept. 9 Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Hunchberger added that the public is free to use the college's facilities, as well.

For more information, call the library at 417-6280.