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Library remodel plan needs some work
City workshop will inform, take comments
By Donnell Rubay
BENICIA, CA / November 15, 2007, NOON If you have any affection for the library you might be interested in attending the City Council workshop on this topic set for Tuesday, November 20--at 6:00 p.m. (The workshop is to be held BEFORE the regular council meeting)
For a look at the plans, go to the library's website.
I attach a memo I submitted to the City Council concerning the library remodel.
The primary issues discussed in this memo include:
- The lack of public notice so far;
- The plan to not use the First and Military entrance as a public entrance; and
- While public bathrooms and the conference rooms are separated from the main reading room, currently, the new plans propose cutting a stairwell in the center of the existing reading room, which will lead to public hallways outside of conference rooms (one the size of Dona Benicia) and restrooms.
Some additional concerns not mentioned in the memo:
Staff office space is increasing by a large percentage (maybe 30%? I can't tell from the plans made public so far.) Yet general library patronage (people who go to libraries for books, media and computer access as opposed to attending meetings) does not appear to be increasing. Certainly the space for general library patrons is decreasing under this proposal--I mention the creation of the stairwell above which will take away part of the reading room floor area. In addition, noise from the hallway surrounding the conference rooms and the bathrooms on the lower level--not to mention conference room attendees having to travel up and down the stairs--could make the reading room a noisier, more crowded and less pleasant, space.
Further, while current library patrons are served by a Circulation and a Reference Desk, the new plan calls for eliminating the current Circulation desk and having the current Reference desk serve both circulation and reference needs.
Hopefully, if you care about this issue, you will attempt to attend the workshop or will let a member of the council know how you feel. Until Mayor Messina asked for this workshop--the Library Director was proceeding as if the current plans were set in stone. Also, one of the challenges when dealing with a library issue (as I faced, and had to overcome, with the implementing of Sunday hours) is that with the library board, library staff, and the Friends of the Library--there are many who are ready to support the Library Director in whatever she might propose.
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