The City of Wichita approved plans to start designs for a potential $30 million central library.
In a 5-2 vote, the council moves forward with bringing the facility to an area near Second and McLean. It’s a project that’s been discussed for nearly 10 years.
“The library is the hub of the community. I think that’s what we heard today,” said retired librarian Judy Burgess.
Burgess is a member of Friends of the Library, among dozens in attendance at Tuesday morning’s meeting.
“Building this library continues to grow each year we wait, and we’ve waited for so many years,” said councilwoman Lavonta Williams. She voted in favor of the plan.
However, Jeff Blubaugh and Pete Meitzner voted against the design plan. They said they would like wait – exactly what they said in May, when the council hired an architecture firm.
Both said they support the library, but there are other priorities that affect many Wichitans. “Just over a million visitors to the library system, compared to 2 million on the bus system,” Meitzner said.
Yet, library director Cynthia Bergner said the project could be positive for the community.
“It will include a lot more space for people to come and collaborate and meet together,” she said. “That’s a combination of larger meeting rooms, small conference room. All of them would be wired for technology.”
Some rooms on the third floor, for example, are set aside for computer use. Bergner said it’s not ideal, though, as they use folding tables and don’t have all the accommodations for those who may bring in a laptop or other electronics.
The city council has not fully approved the library plan, but Burgess is confident that if they do, the community will benefit. She’s worked at other libraries, like in Abilene, where they’ve built new facilities.
“Our circulation went up, the number of visitors increased, we were able to do more with early literacy, and those are all good things that can happen,” she said.
At the city council meeting, the library foundation offered $1.1 million to help cover costs for a new building. If the project is fully approved, construction would start by 2016.
A plan to revamp the current library would cost about $22 million.
If the new library is built, the old location will likely be an extension of Century II, city staff members said.