The plan is long-range, but the need for additional square footage, materials and meeting rooms is immediate at the Jackson-Madison County Library – according to a feasibility study – which was revealed at the Library, Wednesday.
“The Jackson-Madison County Library is a very innovative and progressive library, “Dinah Harris, director, Jackson-Madison County Library said, “We have only been held back because of a lack of space. I sincerely hope this study will assist us in obtaining the space we need to serve the citizens of Jackson-Madison County on the level they deserve.”
The Library’s Long Range Strategic Plan includes employing an architect to analyze the current building and recommend a design based on the results of the consultant’s findings.
Harris said the need for additional space was great before the pandemic and will be even greater post pandemic.
“We know it’s going to even more so because people are going to be so ready to get together,” Dinah said, “We have people asking for study rooms … where they can be on the phone and computer at the same time … we need a space like that.”
Results of Feasibility Study were conducted by Anders Dahlgren – Library Planning Associates, Incorporated.
“The recent feasibility study of service goals and space needs indicate that the library needs to increase square footage in order to meet the minimum standards for public libraries and to meet the community’s need for more materials to checkout, more technology, more room for reader seating, and more meeting/study rooms,” Dahlgren said.
(PHOTO: Amy Dietrich, chair, Jackson-Madison County Library Long-Range Planning Committee, left, and Dinah Harris, director, Jackson-Madison County Library)
