ARLINGTON Library patrons from Arlington, Darrington, Lakewood and Marysville will want to attend the Sno-Isle Libraries June 4 community meeting at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club.
The Sno-Isle Libraries system is several open houses to share the results of their 18-month public planning process, which solicited input from community members to help identify their library facility needs now and into the future, said Sno-Isle Libraries Community Relations Manager Mary Kelly.
The capital facility plan we came up with is our roadmap to the year 2025, Kelly said. These community meetings will be the opposite of the ones we conducted a year and a half ago, because instead of asking for information from them, well be giving it to them.
The Sno-Isle Libraries Web site has a page devoted to the capital facility plan, at http://www.sno-isle.org/page/?ID=2900, which includes separate sections for the proposals regarding each library, so each community can study the data that affects them specifically.
For the Arlington Library, the plan proposes increased space for collections and holds, additional public computer stations, a multi-purpose room for library programming and community use, increased reading and study areas, conference and group study rooms, dedicated children and teen areas, additional parking and a larger staff workspace.
According to the planning process findings, the Arlington Library is widely used by all ages and there is a high demand for it to function as a community center, since its programs average slightly more attendees than the system as a whole. Staff members frequently receive requests from community groups for meeting spaces. Currently, library programs require staff to move furniture and block access to materials during such events. Some customers commented that study areas could be augmented by a cafe or coffee cart.
For the Darrington Library, the plan proposes additional public computer stations, a multi-purpose room for library programming and community use, increased reading and study areas, a dedicated teen area and a larger staff workspace.
According to the planning process findings, the Darrington Librarys public computers are heavily used, especially after school hours, so a separate computer room for students would be highly desirable. With no programming area, staff must currently rearrange the furniture to have programs, blocking access to materials and disturbing other users. Given the limited space, there is also little room for reading or research, and the community has requested more people space, which they described as a living room environment in which people could read quietly.
For the Marysville Library, the plan proposes increased space for collections and holds and a multi-purpose room for library programming and community use.
According to the planning process findings, the Marysville Librarys public computers are in heavy use during most times of the day, especially after school, and customers often wait for a computer or have to reserve computers for later use. Staff members frequently present programs to all ages, but because the city of Marysville also rents out the large meeting room, it is often not available for library use. As a result, staff members often squeeze more customers into the small meeting space than can be comfortably accommodated.
Each section also includes data like current and projected population numbers and usage patterns, Kelly said. The North Snohomish County area is unique, especially since the Arlington Library also serves the Smokey Point and Lakewood areas. Thats one reason why well be discussing the plans proposals for the Arlington, Darrington and Marysville Libraries at the same community meeting.
The Sno-Isle Libraries community meeting on their 2007-2025 capital facility plan for the Arlington, Darrington and Marysville Libraries starts at 7 p.m. June 4 at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club. You may log onto their Web site for the plan at http://www.sno-isle.org/page/?ID=2900.