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The future of the Spokane Valley Library is shaping up a bit more - especially
with the passage of the Spokane County Library's District $9.4 million budget
next week.
But with the question of location still looming - though
the possibility of cooperating with a new Spokane Valley city center looks good
- it may be a while, yet, before the first shovelful of dirt is turned.
"We're
chugging along according to schedule," Mike Wirt, SCLD director, told the
library board of trustees last week.
Wirt's best guess for when voters
might approve a new library to replace the aging one at 12004 E. Main? Spring
2008.
"In the meantime, we have to figure out what we want,"
Wirt said.
It turns out, though, the library district and the city of
Spokane Valley want essentially the same thing: a central location with plenty
of easy access for both pedestrians and motorists. Property east of University
City - which used to house PayLess Drugs - has been eyed.
The board
of directors is attempting to schedule a joint meeting with the Spokane Valley
City Council to further cement the deal.
"Neither one of us are
totally clear on each other's plans," Wirt said.
Wirt told the
board of trustees that initial estimates on the size of the library have grown
from 50,000 square feet to about 70,000. While the reality of the building will
probably be somewhere in between, Wirt said there needs to be room in the library
for materials and services besides stacks of books.
"It sounds
simple, but what you have to deal with is that different types of materials take
different amounts of space," Wirt said.
Another challenge for the
district - and Integrus Architecture, the firm that has been chosen to design
the new library - is making the building accessible to walk-in visitors and those
in cars who could make use of a new drive-thru book drop.
"If you
have a drive-thru, you have to make sure it doesn't interfere with pedestrians,"
Wirt said, adding that proximity to the rest of the city's proposed buildings
complicates matters further.
Finally, even though the new library won't
open until probably 2010, it must be a structure that's made to last - both in
aesthetics and durability.
"It has to be a 2025, 2035 building,"
Wirt said.
The district's finance team has estimated it will cost the
district about $1 million more for each year the library isn't built. A budget
of $22 million has been discussed most recently. While a recent survey has shown
most Valley residents support a new library, that support dropped to about 46
percent when the price tag is factored in.
Still, some board of trustees
members said they're happy they haven't rushed in to anything and that teaming
with the city to secure a location makes sense.
"It's a big process,
but I think it's best that everything is on hold," said Ann Apperson, chairwoman
of the board. "I think it's worth it."
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By
Craig Howard
