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Show Use of library space studied By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON When the South Branch Library in Bountiful was built 17 years ago, it included basement quarters tor the Golden Years Center. That all changed about a decade ago with completion of a separate facility for. the senior citizens program prog-ram next door. The basement space is still there, largely left unused. un-used. . One section includes a large meeting room and partitions for smaller gatherings along with public pub-lic restrooms. The remainder is not utilized for regular programs although the Friends of the Library is making use of the space for its hook fair. Layton Library Board Member Frank Blair questioned that empty space at a recent board meeting and now he and County Commissioner Commis-sioner Glen Saunders will study options for the area. The issue surfaced when Library Director Jeanne Layton outlined plans for re-landscaping along Mill Creek. Oak brush and trees had to be removed for stream channel flood control work. It was decided that project, pegged at a maximum max-imum $7,700, could be delayed until un-til spring. "Perhaps it (basement space) could be used independently of the library," Dr. Blair theorized. Ms. Layton noted remodeling would be necessary because public restrooms res-trooms are located in the portion used by the library. In addition, easy access to the rest of the library could be a security problem. "We ought to look at city and county agencies who might need to make expansion," said Library Board Director Charles Parker. "It would be very difficult to utilize the space by any agency that had a lot of interaction with the public," Com. Saunders said. "We haven't come up with a good idea." There is an independent entrance entr-ance of the library from the east parking lot but it would require climbing stairs. An elevator installed instal-led in recent remodeling would not have direct access to that section without having to address the security problem. "The health department has looked at it," Ms. Layton said. That agency operates some clinics in the Bountiful area. "As far as the library is concerned, con-cerned, we have adequate room upstairs for expansion," she emphasized. The upper level could probably see a 30-40 percent in-t crease in the collection without difficulty. dif-ficulty. "It would be hard to envision trying to separate the collection and services. Such an operation increases in-creases costs enormously. There may be a greater need for another building (branch) before there'd be need for that (expansion of library services into the basement)," she added. Although the county Aging Services Ser-vices and Utah State University Extension service will have to find other quarters after the temporary jail expansion in the Farmington annex, Com. Saunders said the Bountiful location would make those agencies remote from the north end. |
