Library Board members discussed future steps related to a possible expansion or remodel of the Eudora Public Library during Tuesday’s meeting.
Similar discussions have occurred since early March, when the proposal for a new $4.6 million library failed in a city vote.
The board moved forward with a decision to conduct a feasibility study that would look at a potential remodel or expansion of the library. Gould Evans and MarLan Construction will examine these options, the same groups that worked on the new library proposal. The board will designate $1,500 for this study.
Library Board President Eric Magette said the design-build team will look at how the library complies with ADA and American Library Association standards, and how the parking lot functions.
“Those three things are going to give us a good indication of whether [remodeling or expansion] is even practical or not,” Magette said.
The board also approved a motion to begin negotiations with the ETC Institute, a group that would survey Eudora residents to gain insights into why the previous library proposal failed.
The ETC Institute submitted a quote to the board prior to Tuesday’s meeting. The group would send a survey to every resident, guaranteeing 150 responses. The total cost for this survey would be roughly $7,000.
“I think it’s important to get people who are on the line,” Library Director Carol Wohlford said.
Board member Amy Jankowski said she thinks it’s important to reach out to specific people who opposed the proposal and learn why they were against it. Board member Tim Pringle agreed, but said it might be best to wait to reach out to individuals until after a survey is conducted.
“I would say it’s a good idea, but will it interfere or skew any survey that would be conducted by this group?” Pringle said. “We could do it after the survey, and then when we have information, maybe approach some people who were against it and get their perspective.”
In other business, Wohlford announced the library will no longer require late fees for books, adding that this generated little revenue.
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