LaFayette library reopens in temporary home – a former grocery store

Brothers Caleb, left, and Colby Taylor look at a book Monday at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library that opened in a former Food Lion building.

LaFAYETTE, Ga. — The New York City Public Library has two famous marble lions out in front of its doors.

The LaFayette-Walker County Public Library has two lions of its own, though they are smaller, two-dimensional and look a lot like the logo for grocery-store chain Food Lion, which owns the building now housing the library.

“We think we’re going to leave those two,” said Cherokee Regional Library director Lecia Eubanks, who nicknamed the logos Patience and Fortitude after their New York cousins.

Eubanks’ staff opened the doors Monday to their new temporary LaFayette branch in a former grocery store on Main Street. Books and other library items will be in the building for about two years while contractors renovate and expand the library on Duke Street.