Since opening in 1990 the Scarborough Public Library has seen a steady increase in its circulation, number of visitors and items in its collection.
To help alleviate some of the strain on the 12,300-square-foot facility, the Library Board of Trustees is planning a 12,000-square-foot expansion that is estimated to cost $5 million. As presented, the expansion will occur on both sides of the library.
“The current library was designed to meet the needs of a much smaller community,” said Matt Ward, a member of the board of directors and development committee.
This November, the library is planning on asking voters to approve a $2.5 million bond that would fund half of the construction. The remaining half of the cost will be raised through a library capital campaign.
“The resources are here, we can do it,” Ward said. “It’s only going to be done – that’s what the experts tell us – if we do it together.”
On Tuesday night library representatives presented their preliminary plans to the Town Council, which has the authority to place the bond question and a dollar amount on the ballot.
The plans were developed based on a number of surveys and studies performed by the library and various outside professional agencies. These studies have provided insight into what programming people want at the library, what current programming they want expanded, and how much support there is in the community.
“We are pleasantly taken aback of the high esteem this library has within the community,” Ward said. “It is considered one of the best libraries in the state of Maine and we want to keep it that way.”
One thing the library did learn during its research is that there is some community confusion over the library’s funding. Many people believe the library is fully funded by the town, which is not correct, although the town does annually provide 95 percent of the library’s funding. This year, the town’s contribution is $645,000.
At this point the library is still finalizing its expansion plans and could not provide specifics regarding the floor plans or the building’s faA?§ade. Representatives are confident the size of the expansion will fill the need of staff and residents both now and 20 years in the future.
The plans will expand areas that both patrons and staff felt needed improvement. A cafA?© type area is under consideration and the parking lot also is proposed to expand. In addition, the plans call for an expansion of the existing of the existing meeting room that sits 50 people to one that would seat 125 people.
The library also is looking to provide some quiet reading areas and also will provide for active areas for children and young adults, said Library Director Nancy Crowell.
The town’s two senior organizations – Senior Series and Senior Voices – also are trying to get a bond issue on the November ballot for the construction of a senior center.
Like the library, that issue rests with the Town Council, which will vote in September whether to put senior center on the ballot or not.
“I think there’s a strong need to have a senior center,” said Town Council Chairman Jeffrey Messer. “We need to enhance the quality of life for our seniors.”
The request for the center, which will be located on a piece of town-owned land next to Town Hall, is expected to be $1.2 million. While the building is expected to cost around $1 million, town officials built in a contingency to cover any unexpected overruns.
The seniors are looking to have their own center dedicated to seniors’ activities. Currently the senior organizations meet at Scarborough Downs and Hillcrest and are concerned that the meeting space may become unavailable at some point in the future.
Preliminary plans call for a building between 5,000 and 7,000 square feet. It will include a large meeting room and other smaller rooms for activities such as arts and crafts, computer use and exercise. There also will be a reception area and an office.
A conceptual drawing of the renovated Scarborough Public Library
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