Warsaw Community Public Library Board of Trustees heard an update on the library’s facility feasibility study during a meeting Monday.
The study can be reviewed online by visiting the library’s website and going to the “About” and “Board of Trustees” sections.
WCPL Director Heather Barron said the library’s administration is leaning toward renovating their current facility versus relocating elsewhere.
“So in the beginning, you will recall we did look at the (former) Marsh property, which was available at the time,” said Barron. “That site could potentially increase our accessibility with a one-story building, it would’ve increased the parking lot size significantly, much more square footage, and outdoor green space for programming. But it’s a non-starter because the floor won’t hold the amount of weight that we need.”
Some of the urgent needs listed within the study include the reconstruction and resurfacing of the library’s parking lot, and equipment replacement as it pertains to plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. A majority of WCPL’s existing equipment, such as its boilers and chiller, are past their median service life.
The study also includes schematic layouts that take into consideration both urgently needed projects and survey feedback from community members.
Barron noted WCPL’s physical book collection is one of the largest per capita of physical collections in the region. The study recommends considerations be made for how WCPL should allocate limited floor area between collections, open lounge space, meeting rooms and study rooms.
The study recommends that in addition to a full building system replacement, the entire structure of WCPL should be comprehensively reorganized and renovated to address the building’s needs in a singular project.
“Performing the system replacement and renovation work at the same time cuts library closing time in half and saves money overall as repair and replacement of some architectural elements would still be required when working on large systems above ceilings, behind walls, and under floors,” the study states. “Separating those scopes out would result in a significant duplication of work and spending.”
Next steps with the facility study include a meeting with bond council and selecting an architect for the renovations.
In other business, the board approved its slate of officers for 2025, with Chris Merrill, Cathi Zdenek and Ben Rice to continue serving as president, secretary and treasurer, respectively. Tim Keyes will serve as the board’s vice president.
Keyes will also serve on the library’s review committee for 2025, alongside Jen Hicks and Jill Beehler.
Following its regular session, the board held its annual board of finance meeting. Merrill and Rice were re-elected to the financial board as president and secretary.
During the meeting, Business Manager Renee Sweeny delivered the 2024 investment report. WCPL’s investments policy, which had no changes, was also reviewed.
The WCPL Board of Trustees’ next meeting is at 4 p.m. Feb. 10.