A proposed floor plan for a future library includes distinct areas for children, teen and adult sections, as well as a meeting room.
The library board gave input on a first draft of the potential new library’s floor plan prepared by Mar Lan Construction and Studio One at Tuesday’s meeting.
The board doesn’t know the specific square footage for the proposed library, but board member Amy Jankowski is estimating about 10,000 square feet.
“The space allotment and this usage of the space are the two things we really need to decide,” Jankowski said.
Executive Director Carol Wohlford said her biggest issue with the draft is that it doesn’t allot enough space for storage. She also asked why there were two administration spaces.
Jankowski clarified that one of the two administration spaces should be a storage space instead.
Wohlford said she was hoping to add a kitchen somewhere into the floor plan.
Jankowski said if they did add a kitchen, it would have to be more of a kitchenette due to the size of the library.
Jankowski asked the board if they thought this draft allotted enough space for the meeting area and if the meeting space was going to contain multiple meeting rooms or just one.
Board member Eric Magette said the board should focus on finding out the square footage of each section in the floor plan before discussing specific things like how many meeting rooms there will be.
The board is planning on asking Mar Lan about the specific square footage of the spaces, adding more storage and how to prepare for future expansion.
Magette clarified that this floor plan is a rough draft and the board will continue to make changes as they gain more input.
In other business, the board discussed putting together focus groups to gain feedback on the new library plans.
Magette said the groups will consist of four to six people, and they will have a facilitated discussion so the board can get more community feedback.
“It’s a great way for people to feel like they have input, and it’s also a great way to sort of feel out some of the issues,” Magette said.
Magette said they will invite groups from the community that will use the library the most like the school district. He also said they will try to get input from those who voted against the bond last time.
The board will put these focus groups together in a few months.
The board is also still working on putting together the building committee. This committee will be responsible for giving input on the library’s renovation and design process.
Wohlford said she developed a list of about 20 community members whohave expressed interest in joining the committee. Board members are going to narrow down the list and discuss it further at the next meeting.
In other business, Wohlford said the library is speaking to three candidates for the open children’s librarian position this week.
Mike Keltner and Tim Pringle were both reappointed to the board for another four years.
Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected].
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