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| Library Expansion Planned |
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| News - Osawatomie | |||
| Written by Kevin Gray | |||
| Wednesday, 04 February 2009 09:00 | |||
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Plans are now under way for an Osawatomie Library expansion project and renewed focus on library programming for children, teens and adults. Library Board President Sarah Dorsett and Library Director Elizabeth Trigg explained plans over a breakfast meeting Jan. 24 in the library’s basement.  Trigg explained the funding needs and described what the library will look like when completed. “We are applying for a $400,000 grant, but in order to get that grant, we must meet a minimum of 25 percent matching funds, or $100,000, which we have already raised over the last several years,” she said. The $400,000 may sound like enough money to do everything, including construction and furnishing the library, she said, but there are some hitches. “The $400,000 can only be used for construction, nothing else. So, in addition to the $100,000 that we have saved, we are looking to raise another $100,000 through a citizen action committee. This will give us $200,000 to use to furnish the space that the grant will allow us to construct, including books, shelves, computers, furniture and so on,” Trigg said. Trigg told the audience how they may not have realized it, but there is as much space in the basement as there is on the main floor. Dorsett said the library already owned property behind the library up to 50 feet wide, so the main floor can be expanded in that direction. To make the library expansion possible, new changes will have to meet accessibility guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act, including metal stairs to the basement instead of the current wooden steps and an elevator, Dorsett and Trigg said. By moving the children’s section to the basement and expanding the area for children and teens, this would provide more space upstairs to expand adult programs, Trigg said. Dorsett described the small but adequate Abolitionist book section. “We could create space for a larger, separate collection ready for more acquisitions in this area,” Dorsett said. From the moment Trigg saw the basement, she could visualize a teen café space for teens to hang out. “Where do they hang out right now, but at Sonic? They have the Y, but this would give them one more place,” she said. Trigg said the children’s book collection would move downstairs, and there would be a variety of places for special reading programs. But to meet the library board’s goals, a committee called Building Excellent Local Library Service, a citizen-driven group, will have to convince those who control the federal grant money that enough interest exists in Osawatomie to make the expansion possible. By raising the additional $100,000, the board feels this would do just that. No longer would library patrons have to deal with low ceilings, narrow shelving, too few computers and no real wheelchair accessibility. The new space would be able to provide another location for public meetings, breakfasts, luncheons or dinners, family celebrations, or just a very useful place for people to go to meet their reading or research needs, Trigg said. By adding more space, the library can add more computers. “So many people find it hard to find open computers when they come here looking for job training information,” she said. The board members asked visitors to join the action committee. “We have a group who help get the word out to civic groups, to families, to the schools, to anyone who cares about the public library. We need help,” Trigg said. “The board and action committee only have a short window — Oct. 1, 2009 — to convince the feds of our commitment.” Pat Butler asked the visitors to imagine what could be done to furnish the library using an additional $100,000 over the required matching $100,000. Trigg said this would open the library to future generations. “We want you and people here in town to be able to brag about your library. We don’t want to lose the faithful, but we have to look ahead to the future, too,” Trigg said. Dorsett ended the meeting by reminding people that everyone doing a little bit will go a long way. “This will be worth it in the long run,” she said.
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Comments (3)
a guest: ...
I visit the library on a regular basis with my children. Typically I send them to the childrens section and then go around browsing myself. I would not feel comfortable sending them to the basement to browse from books knowing it's the new local teen hang out place. The library is a place I have taught my children to respect. But the teens I see in the library "playing" on the computers do not share that same respect. If they do this I would expect a library employee on duty on each level.
1
February 04, 2009
a guest: ...
I love our library and have had a library card since the 1960's. I give praise to the people that are working hard to raise money to make improvements and expand the size of the building.
Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best. Phil 2
February 05, 2009
a guest: ...
I think expanding the library is a wonderful idea, but asking the the people of our community to come up with the extra $100,000 isn't. Our comminity is stressed with people losing thier jobs everyday, our school system looking at major funding cuts and freezes, and the state of Kansas in trouble financially. Is this the best time to be doing this? What would waiting a year or two hurt? I hope the powers that be will take all of this into account when making their decisions.
3
February 06, 2009
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