Library receives expansion to serve short-term solution

Miriam Ostermann, Times Associate Editor

Years of steady growth in patronage and circulation increased the Strathmore Municipal Library’s urgency to combat their space-crunch dilemma and aspire to meet the Alberta standard of library service based on population – an objective that’s now attainable due to a $700,000 renovation budget that serves as a 10-year solution.
Currently, the library is only functioning at 57 per cent of what is expected in order to provide an essential level of service for a population of over 10,000 in accordance with the province’s standards.
Over the years, the library coped by hosting their programs and patrons in their cramped 4,432 sq. ft. space; not including meeting rooms. A building assessment plan conducted by AECOM suggested $1.7 million was necessary to address all issues. By only focusing on the highest priority concerns in order to meet a smaller budget, and a 50-50 partnership with the Town of Strathmore, the Lambert Centre – the location the library is currently occupying – will receive a much-needed renovation with $350,000 of monetary contributions respectively.
While the facelift will address numerous concerns, including an area to display art, proper staff accommodations, quiet areas and more seating possibilities, a fireplace, new flooring, a larger programming room, as well as a teen and children’s area, the additional space gained will meet 95 per cent of Alberta’s standards and sustain the library’s future growth for the next decade.
“That’s the goal of the project so that the building will be really functional and usable for the next 10 years; beyond that we’d be looking at something different,” said Rachel Dick-Hughes, director of library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“It feels very timely because we have been cramped for so long and realistically a new space would be at least five years away. So to be able to do something quickly and reasonably cost effective right now is very helpful to us.”
A 2012 facility needs assessment revealed the library should actually occupy a space of 7,793 sq. ft. Furthermore, a feasibility study showed that a space requirement of 12,788 sq. ft. was paramount to accommodate the library’s needs for the next two decades.
Since then, the Strathmore Library board entertained ideas such as moving into a multi-use facility, adding an addition to the Lambert Centre and even setting up shop in an entirely different location. Depending on the scope, all options could accumulate costs of over $5 million.
With the town’s recent decision to relocate the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) offices out of the Lambert Centre, the library will have access to 8,500 sq. ft.
“We knew that they needed a new space and this location is the most logical,” said Tracy Simpson, community services manager for the Town of Strathmore. “We’ve also been talking about putting all town departments under one roof for more consistency. So when we made the decision to start looking at new town office space or building or whatever we end up doing, we committed to giving up this space and giving it to them to expand.”
Starting at the end of July, the library will join FCSS in a temporary downtown location. Moving into the building that Rebel Sports had occupied, the library faces a new challenge of only having 1,500 sq. ft. available for the summer and only offering one-third of their collection. Most services currently offered by the library, such as inter-library loans and computer usage will still be available.
As a proposed construction completion date is set for the end of October, some fall programs may be in jeopardy. However, all summer programs will continue with the Summer Reading Program housed in the Strathmore Family Centre.
Last year, the library offered 378 programs and had 66,831 visits. Memberships also reached 6,256. With the library bursting at the seams, patrons were piling up in the hallway at different events, while staff had to keep their belongings at their desk, use the work room as a lunch room and hang their coats in the furnace room.
“I’ve been on the library board for a long time and when I first started there were a lot of people saying ‘what’s the point of a library? The Internet is going to make books obsolete,'” said Jim Greer, Strathmore Municipal Library board president. “It’s actually been the opposite. People now need more than ever a community space and the library is providing that. So with this expansion we can provide more services to the community that the community needs. Ultimately that’s the whole point of this … to serve the community.”
The library continues to actively fundraise and seek sponsorships for the finishing touches. Monetary donations would contribute to shelving, furniture, a water bottle filling station, beautification of the children and teen areas, a fireplace and so forth. Local businesses are also encouraged to house some of the library’s programs while the space is limited during construction.
Despite having struggled with the space concern for years, the 10-year solution was a whirlwind process since the beginning of 2017.
“It’s been a fast process but it felt like a long process … and it’s exciting to be able to talk about this,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services, who worked closely with the engineers on the designs. “I think the community is going to be impressed with what we are able to accomplish on such a tight budget. We’ve been vocal for so many years and we’re so thrilled that (the town) is making this happen.”
The board plans to launch sponsorship opportunities in time for the Strathmore Stampede. Anyone who is interested in helping pack up the library to be ready for their moving date of July 24 can contact the library at 403-934-5440. Community packing days are tentatively scheduled for July 21-22.