Library wants to move quickly on renovation

After voters approved a plan last week to expand and update the Cape Girardeau Public Library, officials say they're prepared to act fast.

"I called the architects before the vote and asked, 'OK, if it passes when can you get here?'" said library director Betty Martin. "We're hoping to have them in by the end of February."

Time, Martin said, is at a premium. Because of fluctuating energy and material costs, she believes every month the library waits to put the project out to bid will result in a 1 percent rise in cost.

The library estimates the project will cost $8.9 million. The majority of that is being paid for with an increase in the property tax on homeowners within the district. The increase was approved by 119 votes during a Feb. 19 special election. The owners of a home valued at $120,000 will pay $34 more a year in property tax to the library for the next 20 years.

If all goes well, Martin said, doors will open on the 39,000-square-foot "destination library" two years from now. But she said a lot of work must be done before that becomes a reality.

"The big thing is going to be trying to see if I can find an empty building. That's next on my list," she said.

Martin is looking for a large, empty space to operate from during the 18-month building time. She said an empty car dealership or furniture store would make an ideal temporary library. The weight of books and shelves makes a ground-floor space preferable. Martin will also look for adequate parking, an accessible location, heating and air conditioning and serviceable public restrooms.

"Maybe if somebody has a place like that, they can contact me," she said. If the library cannot find a suitable temporary building, it will add six months to the project time.

The new library will be double the size of the current one. The building will be gutted with heating and air-conditioning systems replaced. The proposed "destination library" will boast a drive-through window, larger meeting areas, more computers and a larger, colorful children's area.

Mark Huettner is an associate with the Clark Enersen Partners architectural firm. He works out of Kansas City and will be one of the lead architects during the upcoming six- to eight-month design phase.

"We're going to have a kickoff meeting where we'll sit down with the stakeholders, the building committee, friends of the library and whoever else Betty thinks necessary," he said.

"We want the process to be very open, and we'll be having design workshops to discuss ideas," he said.

Huettner said though the exterior design is more or less finished, the interior could go a number of directions. It's possible, he said, the interior would have a unifying theme like one celebrating the Mississippi River and its impact on Cape Girardeau.

A design will be approved by the building committee within four months. Architects will then iron out the schematics.

Clark Enersen will review drawings for the current building and conduct an architectural and engineering survey. It will also use a local firm to take soil samples to determine what type of foundation and footings are best suited to the terrain.

"We've never done one in Cape Girardeau, so we're kind of learning as we go," said Huettner of his firm, which has handled the design of more than $50 million of library projects including facilities in Lincoln, Peru and David City, Neb.

Since Tuesday, Martin has received constant congratulations from friends and supporters on the passage of the tax, but she also hopes publicity around the library has had its own benefit.

"This January was much busier than January 2006, much busier. So I don't know if that was a result of better weather or something else, but hopefully we've raised awareness," she said.

The library "had a presence and banners in two recent parades and of course that was mainly there to drum up votes," she said. "But we also just wanted to raise awareness of all the great services already offered at the public library."

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245