FAYETTEVILLE -- The public caught a glimpse Wednesday of what could be at the Fayetteville Public Library should a referendum pass in August to help pay for a proposed expansion to nearly double the library's size.
Architect Jack Poling of Minneapolis-based Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle led a presentation outlining where libraries in general have been and where they're going and displayed early concepts of what designers have in mind at the Fayetteville library.
Expansion public sessions
Walker Community Room, Fayetteville Public Library
401 W. Mountain St.
• Thursday at noon.
• Friday at 8 a.m.
Source: Staff report
Polling sites
All sites will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 9. Voters can go to any of the locations listed below on Election Day.
Early voting begins Aug. 2 and runs through Aug. 8 at the Washington County clerk’s office, 280 N. College Ave., Suite 300. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Baldwin Church of Christ
4399 Huntsville Road
Central United Methodist
6 W. Dickson St.
Christian Life Cathedral
1285 E. Millsap Road
Covenant Church
4511 W. Wedington Drive
Mt. Comfort Church of Christ
3249 Mt. Comfort Road
Sang Avenue Baptist Church
1425 N. Sang Ave.
Sequoyah Methodist Church
1910 Old Wire Road
Source: Washington County election coordinator
The library's original designer, Jeffrey Scherer, also chimed in during questions, with assistance from David Johnson, the library's executive director.
Initial concepts add about 80,000 square feet to the original library, which stands at about 88,000 square feet and opened in 2004. Prominent features would be a two-story children's area, a roof garden, genealogy area, a multipurpose space and would be "a model of sustainability," Poling said. Everything presented at Wednesday's meeting is subject to change.
The old model of what a library should be -- stacks of books with a reasonable expectation to get shushed -- is out, Poling said.
"We all know that's not what a relevant library is in the 21st century," he said, adding the name of the game for a modern-day library is interaction.
Projected cost estimates are around $49 million. About $22 million of that would come from private donations, and $26.5 million would come from the millage assessment if it passes.
A special election will be held Aug. 9 in which Fayetteville voters will decide whether to raise property taxes to pay for the library's expansion.
The library's 1-mill property tax temporarily would be raised to 3.7 mills. The extra 2.7 mills would cost taxpayers an extra $54 per year for an assessed $100,000 of property owned. The levy eventually would settle at 2.5 mills once construction bonds are paid off.
Library staff have said repeatedly that the facility's demand has outweighed its space. The library's board has raised fees, frozen salaries and trimmed about $300,000 in maintenance, material and programs in the past two years in order to stretch its budget.
Acquisition of the neighboring land where much of the expansion would stretch is held up in court. The library's deal to buy the land from Washington Regional Medical Center for $2 million is waiting for Arkansas Supreme Court review after appeals by descendants of the family who donated the land to the city a century ago.
If voters approve the millage increase, and the City Hospital case is settled in the library's favor, the design process could begin in September, starting with a series of public meetings.
Bidding could start in 2017, with construction starting the year after that and finishing in 2020. If everything stays on schedule, the renovated library could be open by 2021.
Resident Joan Campbell said she's been to previous meetings hosted by Scherer, and she has a great deal of trust in the architects trying to build a library reflecting Fayetteville's uniqueness.
"We've got a wonderful, grand library, and I want it to grow with the community," she said. "I think that's something we all should be very proud of."
Shelby Carrothers, 22, commended the designers on emphasizing environmental friendliness, and particularly was interested in having more space for nonprofits and volunteers.
"I think having a safe place -- like an after-school snack program -- would be cool to have," she said.
Maxine's Tap Room on Block Street was packed after the meeting for the first fundraiser hosted by Build Fayetteville's Future, a civic committee whose goal is to raise money for the campaign to promote the library vote. The library can't spend public money on a campaign.
What do you think, Fayetteville?
What's your view of the library's requested tax increase and the proposed expansion? Write a letter to the editor to let others know your perspective.
About 150 people came to the event, including Mayor Lioneld Jordan, members of committee's board and library staff.
Libraries across the country have changed dramatically and are increasingly becoming an integral part of the community, committee leader Jeff Koenig said amid the clamor of the crowd.
"I think this reflects it -- how much it means to the community," he said.
Two more public input sessions will be held this week at the library's Walker Community Room.
NW News on 07/07/2016