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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Wallkill Library looks to the future
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
Wallkill residents shared their vision
for the future of the Wallkill Public
Library on Jan. 15 at an informational
meeting hosted by library stakeholders
and a representative from Butler Rowland
Mays Architects.
Paul Mays, RA Principal for Butler
Rowland Mays Architects, LLP, said
his firm is currently in an information-
gathering phase. The meeting was
designed to gather input from residents
on what should be changed or added to
the library so it can better fulfill its role
in the community.
Beginning last fall, Mays began
evaluating the physical conditions of
the buildings, such as the roof, mortar,
windows, etc., as well as programmatic
conditions, or how well the library is
able to conduct its programs. Mays
conducted interviews with library staff,
board members, patrons and other key
stakeholders in the community.
“The key is that all of these are
solutions to issues discussed by the
community, not just a library board
sitting around a table saying I think we
should grow,” Mays said.
Mays said the library needs several
physical improvements, such as a new
roof, window renovations, power and data
wiring and upgrades, masonry repointing
and more.
Residents agreed the library has several
wonderful programs and serves as an
educational center and the epicenter of
community activities. However, to
better run its programs and fulfill its
programmatic needs the library must
have more physical space.
“We’ve got ideas and programs but
there’re falling on top of each other,”
library board member Susan Haldeman
said.
Mays said the library could receive an
addition on its north, west and east fronts.
An addition on its north front could
connect to the town hall. The entrance
to the building is a defining architectural
characteristic and cannot be disturbed by
an addition.
Residents agreed with Mays’ evaluation
that the building must be upgraded with
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
features, such as hand rails and an
elevator to access the basement.
The basement is difficult to access for
people with mobility issues, such as the
elderly. The library’s basement houses
Wallkill residents and other stakeholders discussed the Wallkill Public Library’s future at a community meeting on Jan. 15.
the children’s program, and senior
citizens often must access it to pick up or
drop off their grandchildren.
The library’s cramped stacks also
make it difficult for wheelchairs and other
mobility equipment to move around.
If the library were to expand,
Haldeman suggested it use the basement
for storage instead of program space.
Library user Ute Curley agreed, stating
the children’s area is dark, cramped and
not conducive to learning.
“It’s like a cave,” Curley said.
Several residents also suggested an
addition contain a meeting space or
common area that could serve many uses,
from a meeting space for children working
on school projects to a space for theater
groups to practice. Currently, the library
only has a cramped study area near the
front desk, where guests checking out can
disturb those trying to use a quiet space.
While the library has a robust
children’s program, residents agreed
they would like to see more programs for
infants and toddlers aged zero through
two and programs for teens and tweens.
Residents also agree the south lawn
in front of the library would benefit from
landscaping such as a small garden,
flowers or even a structure such as a
gazebo or small pavilion.
Mays said the design of a library
should reflect the history and character
of its community. Many libraries
incorporate decorations or architectural
elements that display the history and
geography of the area, such as a painting
that shows a local landscape.
“Every library should reflect its
community itself and even a library in
Warwick or Washingtonville or Gardiner
or New Paltz or Highland is going to
be different than a library in Wallkill
because of the services you’re trying to
provide and the way the community sees
itself,” Mays said.
The library could possibly showcase
artifacts and pictures from the Borden
Farm, a local landmark with a rich
history in the community.
A library should also be a “third space,”
Mays said, a local space outside their
homes and workplaces that residents can
take ownership of. Communal and private
spaces, reading nooks and multi-purpose
rooms help residents take ownership of a
library.
“It’s a place that you can call your own
and in the ultimate sort of democracy
you do own part of it but you feel that it
belongs to you,” Mays said.
Libraries also need to be flexible. Mays
said libraries today are expected to fulfill
traditional roles—serving as a depository
for books, magazines and newspapers—
but also incorporate new technologies
that are constantly changing.
For example, libraries are expected to
have more outlets as more people carry
portable devices such as laptops and
phones. Some libraries might have laptops
available for use as well as traditional
desktop computers.
Technology can also go out of date.
CDs are becoming less common with
home streaming options, so the shelves
that once housed CDs should be flexible
enough to house something else.
“We do try to look forward to what
the changes may be. Can you predict
everything? No, but you try to make it as
flexible as possible because things will
keep changing,” Mays said.
Mays will compile a list of needs for
the library based on feedback from
stakeholders and the community. The
library will host a We Heard You (WHY)
meeting where residents can prioritize
the library’s needs.
Then, Mays will develop a series of
solutions and make recommendations to
the town for its new Master Plan in the
spring. Then, the town can apply for
grants as early as fall of this year.
The public is encouraged to attend
the WHY meeting, which will be in
Shawangunk town hall’s community
room on Feb. 5, time to be determined.