Dear Editor,
Have you been to the Orcas Island Public Library in the past couple of years? There’s a lot going on. It’s the go-to place for our community.
Of course, there are books, videos and CDs (did you know about the CDs?). Our library staff works hard to stock best-sellers, classics, local interest and things you haven’t thought of but should. We have one of the highest per capita library usage rates in the state.
There are little kids enjoying story time and getting their first library cards. There are students studying and tutors tutoring. There are people who don’t have computers at home who come to the library to apply for jobs and benefits. There are people using the library’s on-line subscriptions to all sorts of resource materials. There are WiFi seekers (remember the CenturyLink debacle? The library had internet!). There are chess clubs, classes, reading groups. There are meetings for various community groups and nonprofits. There is often live streaming of county government proceedings, and sometimes live videoconferencing capability. Amidst all of this crammed into our wonderful library building, there are also people trying to quietly read the paper or their favorite book.
Our library is stretched to the max providing space for all of these activities. The central aisle is jammed full of computers, the meeting room is often fully booked, and there is no truly quiet reading area. Check out the Lopez Library some time – their quiet reading area is really lovely.
Our library provides a gathering place, education center, communication hub and literary inspiration. In addition to space for more books, we desperately need space for more small community meetings, and some quiet reading and study space at the library. Our building has done its best, but we have expanded our use of our library in ways that were unimaginable when it was built. Please join me in supporting the library expansion project.
Thank you.
Moana Kutsche
Eastsound
I would like to see the Library expand (if it must) UP! I’ve often wondered if that was the reason for the very high ceiling. (future expansion) Lots of libraries have either second floors or Balconies. Can’t we do the same? It would certainly be better than expanding the Footprint of the Library! The cost, I suspect would be much less than expansion at ground level! Why add more building when the present one can accommodate vertical expansion? Doesn’t seem cost effective to me.
Eastsound is losing its’ Village feel. Why exacerbate the problem?
Spirit Eagle
Good question. Perhaps someone on the expansion committee could address it. From my experience, if a building has not been engineered initially for a future second story, it can cost much more to go up than out because of the need to reinforce foundations and structural elements. I don’t know about the design of our library building, but I like the airy feel from the beautiful wood ceiling.
I was on the Library Board in 2008 and 2009, when we last considered expansion, which we had to table due to the state of the economy. Going up is not feasible, not only because the building was not engineered for a second story, but because there would be the need for an elevator to be compliant with the ADA in order to make that space accessible. It was considered at that time.
One of the other major considerations is that because the Library is so important to the community, it is not feasible to undertake a construction project that would result in significant downtime for the current library. A number of other library projects that we studied at that time had another building or space available in which to recreate the library while they underwent extensive expansion and/or remodeling. There is really no option for doing that in Eastsound that would come close to maintaining present services.
The Library Board is in the process of gathering information about an expansion project that will responsibly and creatively enhance the existing structure. While all options are being considered, one of our core principles is that the beauty and character of the existing facility be maintained. The project will be funded through private donations and fundraising. The Board appreciates community involvement and is determined to keep the community abreast of developments as our process unfolds. We are grateful to the community for being the wonderful library users and supporters they are.