Rossford: Glass enclosure added to redesign of public library

10/6/2004

Rossford Public Library officials have chosen a plan for the expansion and renovation project, which is in the blueprint phase of the design.

Library officials voted to include a 2,000-square-foot "lantern option" as a part of the base bid - at an additional cost of $162,220 - making the total cost of the project $993,320, said Marsha Wagner, library director.

The option is called a lantern because it is a glass addition to the 16,000-square-foot building serving as a space for patrons to relax with their favorite book, according to Scot MacPherson of MacPherson Architects.

"It's not a big addition, but it's a nice amenity that we're adding onto the library," he said, adding that the majority of the money will go toward renovating the existing library, which was built in three stages in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1990s.

Mr. MacPherson said other renovations include expanding the entry vestibules so there's more room for people to move through freely; more community room capacity; a new children's room in a different spot in the library; and new carpet, computers, circulation desk, reference desk, furniture, shelving, and lighting.

"It's quite dated and we're basically going to be re-doing the whole thing with a brand-new, fresh look," he said. "We're going to be gutting the entire inside of the library and re-allocating new space flows."

If bids for the renovations are low, Ms. Wagner said library officials have three options they may choose to add to the overall project.

The first option is to expand the entrance on the north side of the building for an additional $40,000.

Library officials could choose to replace existing windows with bay windows for an extra $30,000.

The final option could be to double the size of its community room to accommodate 100 people, and add room dividers, a small conference room for about 12 to 15 people, and office space for a computer server at a $250,000 price tag.

Ms. Wagner said library officials will decide whether to add these potential options when the bids for the project are in.

Last year, voters approved a five-year, 1-mill levy that generates $355,000 a year for the library. Half of the money is being used for operations, while the other half is being saved for the expansion, Ms. Wanger said.

Mr. MacPherson said the project will be ready to go out to bid by the end of the year, and will be scheduled for an early spring construction date. He said the library will remain open during the 12-month construction period and is slated to be finished in early spring 2006.