Leading the Way, the strategic plan for the Library 2004-2007, included goals for re-examining space needs at the Library. Increased usage was driving this examination. Since the Library’s last renovation and expansion in 1996-98, circulation of materials has soared nearly 70%, program attendance is up over 50%, and visits are up nearly 60%.
The space may appear to be just fine at first glance. The ’96-'98 expansion solved much of the overcrowding that existed and created some wonderful spaces such as the reading rooms with river views.
However, in the nine years since the last expansion the Library is being used in new ways. It’s no longer an errand, but a destination. The average length of stay is closer to an hour, rather than a few minutes. And people use the library to meet in groups, to study together and to discuss issues. Not only do we have more groups requesting meeting rooms, but you’re likely to find the seats in the lobby crowded with people meeting together or teens studying for exams in groups.
Seeing these changing patterns, the Board engaged an architect, Robert Orr, to do a space planning study in 2004. His report indicated that the Library required an additional 43,600 square feet to meet current requirements. The increase was driven by increased aisle width for the stack areas and for display opportunities, as well as more meeting space. As an interim step, the Board authorized a “Phase I” renovation in 2005 which added three new conference rooms on the main floor, new computer furniture, new display furniture and additional lobby seating. A “Phase II” renovation started to gel as a long-term expansion and renovation.
To confirm that the Library needed substantially more square feet, the Board commissioned library space planner Elisabeth Martin of MDA designgroup to independently confirm the requirements of the first study. Her study indicated that an additional 33,800 square feet were required, driven primarily by more meeting spaces and to a lesser extent by stack requirements. Both studies pointed out the inefficient layout of the Library on three levels, which presented difficulties for people to find their way and for the staff to deliver services efficiently.
In the meantime, we’ve seen overflow crowds attend library programs. We’ve seen children get closed out of library programs – not because of too little staffing but because of not enough space. And we say "no" much more often than we should to people with space needs different from what the Library was designed to accommodate.
Responding to the two studies and to the trends that we’re seeing, the Library Board engaged architect Henry Myerberg of Rockwell Group to produce conceptual designs for an expanded and renovated library. He is passionate about libraries, and he has designed libraries as diverse as the Rhys Carpenter Library at Bryn Mawr College and elementary school libraries in New York. His other work includes performance spaces, hotels, restaurants and galleries.
The process is underway. The architect has met with our Building Committee and with Westport officials who are responsible for planning and for code enforcement. The conceptual designs should be available this spring, and we think they will provide an exciting new look at what the Library can be.
This blog can be a forum for questions and answers about the project, and we’ll update it frequently as we have news. Feel free to post comments and questions about your Library at any time.
Coming next: More information on architect Henry Myerberg and his projects.
