June 1, 2007
- The Board of Trustees of the Paris-Bourbon County Library
announces completion of the first phase of a plan to prepare for
future library expansion. After giving serious consideration to
several options, including moving the library from its current
location, the Board recommends that the library pursue possible
funding sources based on renovating and expanding the existing
building, rather than considering a future move to a different
location.
The current building was built in
1904 as a Carnegie library and was last renovated in the 1980’s.
Maintenance and operation costs continue to escalate
exponentially as the building ages. The hundred-year-old
infrastructure is strained to and beyond capacity in many ways,
including floor load weight, shelving capacity, space for public
computer workstations and other technology, staff offices and
workrooms, public meeting rooms, access for the handicapped,
inefficient work flow patterns, and more. The state’s recommended
minimum standards cannot currently be met due to building
limitations.
An architectural firm, Brandstetter
Carroll Inc. of Lexington, Ky., was hired in 2006 to conduct a
feasibility study for the library regarding possibilities for
expansion or relocation. Their extensive research included public
meetings to solicit input from the community and evaluation of
several alternative sites. A telephone survey was conducted as
well. In early 2007, the library was able to purchase an adjacent
property, greatly expanding the possibilities for its current
location.
Recently the architectural firm
presented its findings, with several alternative building
sketches, to the Library Board. Regarding the possibility of
renovating the existing Carnegie building – the choice strongly
favored by public input – Mike Carroll of Brandstetter Carroll
commented that, though renovations have been made to Carnegie
libraries that involve adding on to the rear of the building,
expanding on this site would involve adding very visible
components to the front and side of the building and that it would
be a challenging project for any architect, but an exciting and
rewarding opportunity as well. Certainly any such renovation would
be designed to maintain the distinctive style and characteristics
of the original building to the greatest extent possible and would
allow it to be a centerpiece of historic downtown Paris while
adding expanded services and flexibility necessary to a modern
library.
The next step for the library is to
select an architectural firm to work on basic design, which will
begin soon, and to pursue all possible funding sources. Because
completion of this project is dependent on the state budget or
significant donations providing funds for the library construction
and renovation, the Library Board is hopeful that the state will
continue to make grant and other funds available.
Competition for that funding is fierce and the state requires
certain planning steps to be completed; the Library is furiously
working through all such preliminary requirements. Library
Director Mark Adler said, “Since funding is not yet in
place, construction activities are expected to be a couple of
years away at the very earliest. We have a long way to go.
However, this first step is exciting progress and is crucial for
the library to serve the future needs of our community. Library
board and staff members alike are delighted to know that our
historical building will continue in service well into the 21st
century.”
