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Letter: Middle school move not ‘primary’ reason
Op-Ed · April 03, 2014
Editor’s note: Mr. Stevenson makes a point in his letter in response to a March 27 Times editorial that mentions library staff helping run a possible combined library/community/recreation center. While the library board may not be currently discussing this idea, such an idea has been part of discussions outside of the library board.
I appreciate the consideration of issues related to the West Branch Public Library building project in the most recent Times’ editorial. A robust discussion is the key to ensuring the best possible outcome for our community. I wanted, however, to clarify a couple of points that arose in the editorial.
First, the moving of the middle school as part of the West Branch Community School Board facilities plan is not “the primary” reason for the library board’s change in focus to a combined facility located at the Pedersen Valley Park site. Indeed it is one of several factors including the schools’ projected eight- to 15-year time frame for moving the bus barn and the many benefits from a combined facility. We as a library and a community have already outgrown the current space, and we as a community support a combined facility as evidenced by the parks and rec survey.
Second, there are no plans to cross train library and/or parks and rec staff to run the entirety of the desired facility. While a combined facility will share such things as parking and entrances, there is no discussion about sharing staff. That said, there would be a great opportunity for combined programming, such as after school activities planned and led by both library and parks and rec staff.
I encourage the community to attend the design charrette scheduled for Thursday, April 24. This will be a great chance to offer feedback and ideas as consultants from HBK engineering and architects from FEH help us to imagine a combined facility and the future of our local parks. For those interested in additional background on the library building project, there is exhaustive documentation available at www.wbpl.org/building-project.
Thank you,
Dan Stevenson, WBPL President
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