By Dave Fidlin
With an eye toward harnessing all that the 21st Century has to offer, leaders and consultants behind the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library are in the midst of an extensive visioning process.
Representatives of Library Vision Inc., an Elgin, Ill.-based company, discussed the extensive planning process April 29 at a Whitewater Common Council meeting.
One of Library Vision’s top tasks was to create a vision statement as a means of helping library staff and Whitewater city officials plan for the future. The goal, according to the company, is to offer a plan that suits the community’s needs into the future.
While some of the future planning is focused on the library’s overall collection of books and media, Library Vision officials also emphasized attention should be placed on the facility’s use of internal space.
“The existing library facility has provided Whitewater residents with good library service for nearly 25 years,” said Rick McCarthy, president of Library Vision. “Since its construction, the nature of library services has changed radically.”
As is the case with many libraries across the country, McCarthy said the Irvin L. Young facility is straining to keep pace with the times.
“We believe a building addition will be required to provide Whitewater with an appropriate level of library service,” McCarthy added. “The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library has tremendous potential to offer Whitewater a whole new level of service … (and) become a true destination point and a hub of civic activity.”
Throughout the recent presentation and the detailed written report, McCarthy and other Library Vision staffers asserted a library’s overall mission has not changed.
“A library is an institution that is devoted to sharing resources,” McCarthy said. “The real change is that in the 21st Century, library users are sharing CPU (central processing unit) time, virtual tools, physical tools, creative activities, events and social interaction, in addition to books.”
In recent years, Library Director Stacey Lunsford and other officials have hinted at a possible physical expansion as patrons’ needs and expectations have changed.
McCarthy said one of the challenges at Irvin L. Young is the overall footprint of the property.
“The geometry of the existing building, the location of the parking lot and the slope of the site mark an eastward expansion of the library as the best option,” McCarthy said.
Library Vision peered into Irvin L. Young’s budget before providing commentary and recommendations.
Citing “budgetary constraints,” McCarthy said an expansion onto the existing facility would likely be best carried out over two levels. He also asserted the dual levels could be practical, given the natural topography of the area.
Future planning of the Irvin L. Young facility is expected to continue throughout the year. Next steps include devising conceptual plans for an expansion and meeting with members of the Library Board to hash over specifics.
Later this year, detailed plans and cost estimates for an expansion should be presented to city officials outside the purview of the Library Board.
“We at Library Vision look forward to working with (Whitewater officials) to bring your project to reality and give the residents of Whitewater the best possible library,” McCarthy said.
