For the week of February 5 - 11, 2003

Hailey Public Library finalizes remodel plans

Facilities to be reorganized and expanded

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Hailey Public Library officials this week commenced preparations for a remodel and reorganization of its entire site on the first floor of downtown Hailey’s Fox Building.

Ann Tabler, director of the library, said the project will result in the expansion of most existing facilities and the addition of some new services.

"This will give us growing room for three years," she said. "The entire library will change."

Trustees of the library on Jan. 21 approved plans for the project, which includes remodeling and moving some library operations into the facility’s northern section—commonly known as the Hailey Public Library Meeting Room.

The meeting room was formerly kept vacant, in part to provide a venue for public city meetings. However, the city vacated the site at the beginning of January to allow the library to make better use of the space, and has since been holding its meetings in Hailey’s Old County Courthouse.

Tabler explained that most of the changes approved by trustees were brought forth at a public workshop held Jan. 16.

She said the main elements of the project include:

• Moving the nonfiction book collection and reference library into the meeting-room space.
  
   
• Establishing a permanent "story hour" area plus additional seating and study areas in the meeting-room space.
  
   
• Enlarging the picture-book section in the main library.
  
   
• Adding a new young-adult section in the main library.
  
   
• Reconfiguring and adding to existing book inventories.
  
   
• Turning the existing reference room into a recreational reading area with some new computer terminals.
  
   
• Locating all books on tape and CD plus all VHS and DVD recordings in the hallway between the north and south sections.
  
   
• Adding some new bookshelves and replacing some old shelves.
  
   
• Adding computers to the children’s area.

"We’re saying, ‘By the time we finish this project, every item in the library will be moved,’" she said, noting that most of the changes are aimed at accommodating an ever-increasing demand for the library’s services.

However, the library’s front desk will remain in its existing place on the south end of the building, she said.

Tabler said the project will be paid for with funds provided by the Friends of the Hailey Public Library nonprofit group, a grant from the Idaho Community Foundation, donations provided by the public and possibly other grants that are pending. No city funds will be used for the project, she noted.

She said the project will likely be completed in the spring, and may involve closing the facility for "a few days" during the final stages.

The project will allow the library to make full use of the entire first floor of the Fox Building except for a small foyer on the east side that serves Hailey City Hall, located upstairs. The entire area encompasses approximately 8,000 square feet, Tabler said.

Tabler said the library will expand its inventory by 9,000 volumes over the next three years and may then need to relocate to a new facility.

"We’re seeing increased use all the time," she said.

 

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