We have been on what feels like a roller-coaster ride of ups
and downs recently on the Library Improvement Project; cost estimates for
construction that accompanied the construction documents came to us above our
preliminary costs estimates in January. We have been working with our
architects and their consultants to pin down the estimates to a much more
definable number, and we are within $168,000 of our preliminary construction
cost estimate from January of 2015. Our architects have worked hard to ensure
that we will have the quality and great design features that we have called out
for this great civic building.
Our additional planning with the construction documents has
impacted the dates for closing the library, moving to City Hall, conducting the
auction to raise additional funds and sell our excess furnishings, celebrating
the current library with the community at an “Hasta La Vista” party,
coordinating the many kind volunteers who will be helping us pack up our
remaining collection, and moving and storing those materials. With the help of
our library, City staff, Friends and volunteers we will make these many
adjustments.
Our revised timetable will have us moving to City Hall on
July 13, at which time we will begin packing the majority of the collection for
off-site storage. We would expect the project to go out to bid in mid-June, and
with groundbreaking to happen in August. However, we all need to stay flexible
with changes that may occur to the timetable, and remain positive and
forward-thinking.
What will NOT change are our plans to provide Children’s
Services and programming from the Bookmobile in City parks, beginning June 1.
We will still be doing this; planning for the Summer Reading Program (SRP)from
the Bookmobile was a major feat, and it would be disruptive to our young
patrons and their families to have the SRP start here but switch to the
Bookmobile halfway through the summer. Also not affected are our
other Outreach connections planned for this Interim period.
For now the library will remain open our regular hours; M-Th
9:30-8, Friday 9:30-530, Saturday 9:30-5 PM. We are now closed on summer Sundays, and will not re-institute Sunday hours until we open next year in our newly revised library.