Moss library pursues grant, expansion
HARRISON KEELY, Sentinel Writer

It's been nearly ten years since Moss Memorial Library has physically changed, and now, according to librarian Mary Fonda, the literary lighthouse is looking forward once more to expansion and renovation.

After additions totaling 325 square meters in 1998, the library currently encompasses an area of approximately 697 square meters. Fonda said that at the time the area seemed very spacious and that the extra room was all they would need for a while.

"As time went by we've seen the necessity for additional parking, we have significant growth in our county, and the demand for library services is constantly growing, so in order to stay current with things and in be able to provide a library that has what you need, we need to look towards expansion," said Fonda.

A detailed illustration currently sits atop the library's circulation desk that provides a picture of where additional parking might be added in the future. Fonda said the image was formed to inspire ideas and lay the groundwork for the next phase of the branch's future.

"It's kind of nice to let people know what we're envisioning, one of which was the purchase of the land across the street, which is a component of our being able to expand or build a new library, and to add parking, and so we are working on that," she said. According to her, the Friends of the Library organization has purchased the final house in the phase and is currently paying it off. Fonda said that they began buying the houses as they became available when owners were willing to sell, allowing pieces of the puzzle to be put into place.

The library is preparing to file for a planning grant this November. The grant would allow Moss Memorial to research what changes would need to be made in order to continue providing "that top-of-the-line service that we would like to give to our community."

Fonda said that many visitors to the library have been surprised to see what is currently offered, including 26 public-access computers, the T1 Internet line and Wi-Fi.

"We see that we need more room so people can be more comfortable doing things. We want to expand our children's area; we'd like for them to have their own story room. We'd like to add features that we see that other libraries are including in their new expansions," she said.

She said that employees have been traveling to inspect ideas and concepts other libraries have implemented. One idea is to place the Friends of the Library bookstore inside the building itself. Other thoughts include adding a bakery or coffee shop. "We're looking at the new libraries being built because we don't need to reinvent the wheel, and we certainly learn from others."

"Things take money," she said. "And of course that's what we're working towards." Fonda mentioned that renovation is a possibility and that cost-effectiveness is definitely a focus in achieving what local citizens need.

"We were fortunate enough to recently have received some money through an estate, so that we can begin to look at all of this. We were able to do the last expansion debt-free. So we were very pleased with our ability to raise the funding, the community support, the county support. We feel we can do it. I think we'd like to see it in the next five years. It's a necessity to start now."

Fonda stated that no one wanted to keep putting the expansion off because rising costs are a certainty. She mentioned that they would like to complete the construction in a timeframe that is affordable and achievable.

"We're staying downtown. We're not going to move," she added in response to the move of the judicial center. "We hope that we'll bring people downtown."

To comment on this article, e-mail Harrison at hkeely@gmail.com.

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