March 10, 2004

 A New Look For the Library: Coming This Fall

The San Juan Island Library plans to remodel its facility in 2004, reorganizing the interior space to accommodate growth for the next 10 years.

The remodeling of the library is the culmination of the long-term project begun in 1994, when the building was expanded to double its size; a bond retired in 2001 financed that expansion. Since that time, the library has worked to build the Capital Facilities Fund for future needs.

Last year, Library Trustees hired Buffalo Design, a Seattle firm that specializes in architectural and interior design for libraries, to conduct a needs assessment and develop a conceptual design for maximizing use of the existing space. The trustees and staff were interviewed, current and projected uses were analyzed, and patron focus groups were conducted. "We're really excited about this chance to improve our facility and our services at the same time, serving the island's growing population," said Board Chairperson Tom Metke. The design firm's recommendations include:

• Placing quick browse items like new books should be next to the front door in order to highlight high-use and special collections a little better. Videos, audiobooks, large print books, and paperbacks will move to the area near a new Reference Center - a place for staff to be on duty to help with patron's research and reference questions. A comfortable "living-room" area, with a fireplace and easy chairs, will house the Northwest Collection and current magazines.
   

• Moving the children's area to more spacious quarters in the northeast corner of the building, away from the front door, will allow direct access to the multipurpose room for storytimes and other programs. Staff will be relocated to the area where the children's collection is now, providing much-needed expansion space. Adult non-fiction will move to the west side of the building, with Fiction next to the new Children's area. More computer stations, with wireless access, will allow better use of digital resources. Teen patrons will have their own place to use computers or do homework without disturbing other patrons.
   

• New carpeting and furniture, including earthquake-resistant shelving, are needed. The amount of shelving will be increased to accommodate projected collection growth of 3% per year for 10 years. Two-person study tables and pockets of comfortable seating work better than the current four-person tables.
   

• A new retail space for the Friends of the San Juan Island Library will allow them to conduct ongoing book sales and fundraising efforts. Shelving in the fireplace lounge area will be on casters, allowing easy rearrangement to accommodate lectures and other public programs.

            Drawings of the changes described are on display at the library, along with Needs Assessment Report. Library staff can help interpret the drawings and answer questions. Patron comments are welcomed, and a binder is available for this purpose.

Due to responsible management over the last decade, the Capital Reserve Fund has adequate funds to complete the project. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architects will be published shortly, with construction scheduled to begin in October. The project should be complete before the end of 2004, with minimal (one or two weeks) closure of the library. Please contact Lauren Stara, Library Director, for further information.