St. Marys Community Public Library Expansion Project Announced

ST. MARYS -- Architects unveiled plans for a $999,900 expansion of the St. Marys Community Public Library Monday, Jan. 10 at a meeting of St. Marys business and community leaders in the library. A bond levy of .6 mils will be on the ballot to fund the expansion and renovation project, which will add 6,000 square feet to the current facility.

The addition and renovation of the existing 8,900 sq. ft. facility is being proposed with the following features:
• Increase children's area for reading and activities
• Provide room for genealogy/local history
• Increased space for community meetings
• Provide more technology for community use
• Increase area for adult leisure reading
• Better reference area
• Handicap accessible
• New young adult reading area

The library has struggled with space problems for several years. Demands for audiovisual material, internet search computers, local history storage, public meeting space and a growing number of patrons has forced the library to limit collections and services because of space limitations.

Presently there is little space for children's activities, the public meeting room is consistently booked, local history materials are in storage, and additional shelving is needed for books, tapes and other materials. The facility also needs to be upgraded to meet handicap accessibility standards, while the heating and ventilating system and roof are in need of repair or renovation.

The Library Board hired MKC Associates, an architectural firm from Mansfield, which came up with a plan to add 6,000 sq. ft. for under a million dollars.

The proposed bond levy of .6 mils for 10 years, translates into a tax increase of about $21 a year on a home having a market value of $100,000. Other estimates for the cost of the bond issues include: $16.80 a year for a home with a market value of $80,000; $12.60 a year for a home with a market value of $60,000; and $10.50 a year for a home with a market value of $50,000.

The St. Marys Community Public Library serves 7,576 adult patrons and 4,162 patrons under the age of 18 years.

To find out more information about the bond levy or any of the services offered by library, interested persons are urged to stop by the library during regular hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.




	Artistic Rendering of Proposed Library Expansion
Library Expansion Plan Unveiled ST. MARYS -- Architects unveiled plans for a $999,900 expansion of the St. Marys Community Public Library Monday, Jan. 10 at a meeting of St. Marys business and community leaders in the library. A bond levy of .6 mils will be on the ballot to fund the expansion and renovation project, which will add 6,000 square feet to the current facility. The addition and renovation of the existing 8,900 sq. ft. facility is being proposed with the following features: • Increase children's area for reading and activities • Provide room for genealogy/local history • Increased space for community meetings • Provide more technology for community use • Increase area for adult leisure reading • Better reference area • Handicap accessible • New young adult reading area The library has struggled with space problems for several years. Demands for audiovisual material, internet search computers, local history storage, public meeting space and a growing number of patrons has forced the library to limit collections and services because of space limitations. Presently there is little space for children's activities, the public meeting room is consistently booked, local history materials are in storage, and additional shelving is needed for books, tapes and other materials. The facility also needs to be upgraded to meet handicap accessibility standards, while the heating and ventilating system and roof are in need of repair or renovation. The Library Board hired MKC Associates, an architectural firm from Mansfield, which came up with a plan to add 6,000 sq. ft. for under a million dollars. The proposed bond levy of .6 mils for 10 years, translates into a tax increase of about $21 a year on a home having a market value of $100,000. Other estimates for the cost of the bond issues include: $16.80 a year for a home with a market value of $80,000; $12.60 a year for a home with a market value of $60,000; and $10.50 a year for a home with a market value of $50,000. The St. Marys Community Public Library serves 7,576 adult patrons and 4,162 patrons under the age of 18 years. To find out more information about the bond levy or any of the services offered by library, interested persons are urged to stop by the library during regular hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

		Floor plan of proposed library expansion