Then there’s accommodating technology: placing the plug-ins and such where there aren’t cords draping all over the floor, and in such a way that when technology improves, as it will, ceilings don’t have to be torn apart to make changes in wiring.
“Value-added” amenities can be added that provide multiple functions in one place: a small meeting room can host small conferences and at the same time house the local history room with its artifacts in locked cases. Outdoor spaces, canopied or not, can offer plazas to gather in and outside reading space.
“A community hub”
So what did this particular group of Highland residents suggest on this evening for their proposed library? Loud and clear was the desire for community space for all types of groups to gather. “Make the space a community hub,” said one man. “That’s the most important aspect to me. There’s no place to get together now.”
A bike rack, a large community bulletin board, historical wall murals, a good selection of CDs and DVDs, covered outdoor space; even, perhaps, a theater. Food-friendly was another suggestion. Sidewalks to get from the library into the hamlet, and parking: plenty of parking. (Handicapped access, another request, is actually not only required, said Mays, but an extension of a library’s role as “the ultimate democracy”).
Scale of the project
The size of the new library has yet to be determined, but there’s a general rule of thumb for that, Mays said, based on population. The architectural firm compared Highland to five other neighboring towns that have similar populations. Their libraries range in size from 5,400 square feet at the low end (Town of Ulster) to 13,000 square feet at the high end (New Paltz). In between are Marlboro, Fishkill and Esopus, whose libraries range in the 8,000-9,000 square foot range. Highland, right now, in its Church Street location? Just 2,900 square feet.
The size of the lot determines to some extent the size of the library that can be built there, but since cost will be a determining factor, plans can be set into place to design a smaller structure for now that will be expandable in the future. Parking should be planned to expand, as well, in that case, because the standard amount of parking to be allowed, according to Mays, is one space per 300 square foot of building.
The physicality of the site will play into the plans for it, too. The land has a lot of bedrock on it, and the library would be built on a slab, said Mays. A single-story building is the most likely outcome, with a second story called for only in the case of a 12,000 square foot or larger space.
But the space doesn’t have to be huge to function well, if it’s well designed. Mays pointed out that the firm designs the furniture that goes inside the library as well, and modular furniture that can be stacked or moved out of the way quickly to accommodate a variety of programs that use the same room makes the most out of a smaller space. Choosing the right colors and using lots of natural light will visually expand the library’s interior, making it feel more spacious.
In thinking about what elements to include, said Mays, it always comes back to the “project triangle.” One leg of the triangle is quality of materials, the second is the scale or scope of the project and the third is the cost and the budget. Two of those legs can be given priority, but the third often has to be sacrificed.
What will it cost?
Cost and the budget are certainly going to be paramount in the building of this library, so it’s going to come down to prioritizing either quality of materials used or the scope of the project.
Joanne Loewenthal, president of the Highland Library Board of Trustees, said there are no cost estimates at this point, “but it won’t cost what we can’t afford.” She’s in the process, she said, of seeking guidance from other libraries who have built recently or remodeled, asking them what they would do differently if they could do anything over.
The big picture
The architectural firm will come back to the community in September with preliminary plans and some initial idea of costs, said Loewenthal. There is no projected date for a vote yet.
The attendees at the workshop included county Legislator Herb Litts, Highland BOE president Alan Barone, board member Debbie Pagano and Schools Superintendent Deborah Haab. In noting her appreciation that the school representatives came out to the charrette, Loewenthal addressed the elephant in the room: How are the taxpayers going to feel about being asked to support both a new library and a new capital improvement project for the schools this fall?
Noting that the Highland Public Library is chartered as a school district library, she said, “We all have needs, and both are extremely important. We don’t want to have to choose, and we wish the schools good luck with what they’re doing. We’re sensitive to each other, but our plans don’t influence each other’s.”
The Highland Library Board continues to welcome comments by e-mail to library director Julie Kelsall-Dempsey at [email protected] or to the board of trustees at [email protected]. Updates on the proposed project can be found on Facebook.com under “Citizens for a New Highland Library.”
