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Expansion urged for crowded Solon Library
(by Sue Reid - June 16, 2010)
Expansion urged for crowded Solon Library
By SUE REID
The Solon Public Library could undergo a $300,000 expansion, beginning this year.
Solon City Council's safety and public properties committee approved a motion last week to refer a possible expansion of the library and its associated costs to the finance committee.
The total cost of the improvements are estimated in excess of $300,000, Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, said. Although the library has agreed to cover a large part of the cost of the work, she said, the city has been asked to contribute funds which still are available in its library construction account. That currently amounts to $113,000.
"Horrific congestion" at the Solon branch, which is located on Portz Parkway, is one of the reasons behind the need to expand, Ms. Feldman told the finance committee.
"Solon's branch is extremely busy," she said. Nowhere is that more evident then in the front entrance area, where the children's story-time and activity room are located, she said.
Ms. Feldman said the desire of the library is to create a sense of openness in the front and to remove barriers in that area. There also will be improvements to the teen area, and the creation of a glass barrier between the teen space and the rest of the library. It will have an atrium-like feel, she said.
As a result of the changes at the entrance area, a new children's story and activity room will be created, she said. There is also a children's courtyard garden that is used very little. The library is proposing glassing that area in to be the new story and activity room.
"Often, children's program are over-subscribed and can't meet the needs in the current room," Ms. Feldman said.
Ms. Feldman said the library has not yet gone out for bid on the work.
Mayor Susan A. Drucker said she is proud that Solon has one of the busiest libraries in the county and would therefore support an expansion. She also said the library construction fund can only be used for the maintenance and/or construction of the library.
"I'm proud that Solon has one of the busiest libraries in Cuyahoga County and that's exactly what those funds are meant to do," she said.
Mrs. Drucker said that even though the library is a city building, the county is responsible for it, making any repairs needed as well as taking care of maintenance fees.
"If they need the $113,000 to do their expansion and improvements, I would support using the money for that," Mrs. Drucker said. "We have 12 more years on our lease with them. The county's intention is to stay in that library long term and they want to make necessary improvements. The funds are there. Those are funds that can't be applied elsewhere."
Mrs. Drucker said that once those funds are depleted due to the expansion, "that is not a concern because county continues to be responsible for the maintenance."
When the library was built in the late 1990s, it was placed on the ballot for the voters to approve a bond issue. In 1996, the original bond issue was $3.7 million, Finance Director William Weber said.
"As it turned out, the library did not cost the $3.7 million and there was money left over," Mr. Weber said. "That can only be used for the purpose it was issued which is the construction of the library. We've been holding the money all this time."
The library was dedicated for public use in September 1998.
"The good news is we have been exceptionally busy and money is left over" in the account, Councilman William I. Russo said.
Councilman Edward H. Kraus agreed that the entrance area Ms. Feldman described is congested.
Mrs. Drucker said the project will require revisions to the existing agreement between the city and the library system. Also, there are additional property considerations which the city may want to consider, Mrs. Drucker said. These considerations would be specific to the property between SOM Center Road (Route 91) and the library parking lot.
The city, which owns the library building, would be the party to administer all construction contracts for this work, Mrs. Drucker said.
She also said all questions, comments and concerns regarding this expansion will be considered.
Tracy Strobel, the county library deputy director, said, if the city would approve the expansion, the hope is to start construction this year.
"The ball is in their court," Ms. Strobel said.
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