Published: October 07, 2008 12:00 am            

Library ideas unveiled

Granary site, west, east branches discussed

Ideas for a new library proposal were discussed in a public meeting Monday in the Roosevelt Elementary School gymnasium to a small but appreciative crowd of a couple dozen attendees.

Renderings of how a new scaled-down main library might look where the old Rhodes Granary now stands were on display, along with floor plans that showed how it might be laid out.

Two branch libraries on the east and west sides of town are also under consideration, about 12,000 square-feet apiece.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said the three libraries would cost about the same as the $49.5 million library project that failed by a 280-vote margin in May.

She said there are several plusses to building a new main library on the granary site just north of Andrews Park, including the location relating to Andrews Park and the programming that could go on with Andrews Park and its proximity to downtown. Councilmembers voted to buy the granary site for $350,000 at the Sept. 23 council meeting.

"Voters are telling us they prefer a downtown location," Rosenthal said. "And it allows us to clean up an eyesore."

She said the new library also could be an intermodal hub, with its connection to the historic Legacy Trail to the south and continuation of it to the north to Robinson Street. Front Street would be taken through to the planned Robinson Street underpass.

Rosenthal cited a new University of Oklahoma poll on Norman library services that showed 88 percent of Norman voters believe libraries are important or extremely important to overall quality of life. The poll was done of "super voters," who typically show up to vote and was paid for with leftover campaign funds from the previous library referendum.

In the poll, 62 percent of Norman voters said they support or strongly support building new library facilities.

There were 65 percent who indicated they wanted to know the specific site of new facilities.

Only 13 percent of those surveyed said a parking garage was important to them, which was a feature on the previous library proposal.

Bob Staples asked if a North Base site would be possible. Rosenthal said the downside of the North Base is that it doesn't provide any of the economic benefits to the surrounding area, would be isolated and not as accessible.

The survey showed 29 percent of Norman voters said a North Base site to achieve more surface parking would be important or extremely important.

She said the North Base would also not be centrally located.

Steve Reynolds said the survey showed a percentage of those surveyed said they wouldn't use the library under any circumstances. Of that group, he said 86 percent buy their own books at stores like Hastings or Barnes and Noble and others use the Internet for information.

"To me that was the most startling question in the survey," Reynolds said. He also urged them to call the library a community center, since there are many other activities besides books in the library.

Richard Ryan, who has served on the committee working for a new library, said he thought it was more important to look at the people who go to the library. Attendance averages 8,980 a week, with 793,433 total items checked out last year.

Norman Public Library director Susan Gregory said the library serves the community "cradle to grave."

"We don't just serve children. ... We don't just serve seniors," Gregory said. "We have enormous diversity on age and backgrounds. ... We are doing an enormous business in 32,000 square feet."

She said in the past couple of weeks, the need for the library has become even more evident with the bad economic news.

"A lot of customers have told us in the past few weeks that they are rediscovering their public library," she said.

Masters said the cities included in the Pioneer Library System provide their own buildings. The PLS operates the libraries and provides resources that are shared by the entire system.

She said because of the passage of the millage referendum in May, the budget to operate the Norman library has increased by 86 percent.

"We'll have more books, more computers and more materials," Masters said.

East and west branch libraries are proposed at about 12,000 square feet apiece. The libraries would not try to duplicate the resources of the main library, but would be a place to pick up books on hold and provide some computer space.

Gregory said the branches would not have the computer training center.

"Naturally the libraries have become places where the community meets," she said. "The role of the library has been transformed from what we grew up with ... you have a different concept of a library. And this is a national trend."

Rosenthal said councilmembers are very sensitive to the national economy, as far as bringing a referendum on the library to the voters.

"We've got the same jitters you do," she said. But she said she wanted to be poised to have a vote on the library when the appropriate time is here.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com

        

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