Library changes to be cozy, connected

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh District Library visitors may notice the plastic sheeting covering areas of the facility undergoing some renovation over the next few months, but services are expected to operate as normally as possible during the process.

“Our intent is to keep our services up and running,” said Gayle Hazelbaker, TDL’s director. Actual construction activities take place after hours from 2 a.m. until 10 a.m. “That’s when they’ll do the noisy stuff which will be less disrupting to patrons,” Hazelbaker said.

The facility was originally built in 1962, and became a district library six years ago, governed by a seven-member elected board who serve as representatives of the community to oversee the library and its policies. The need to make changes surfaced as part of the library’s five-year Strategic Plan, which extends to 2013, a community survey conducted last fall, and patron input.

A major thrust of the project is to upgrade the technology, adding 10 computers to the existing eight, with four of those to be utilized in the teen area. The library soon will have more cozy and comfortable areas where people can use Wi-Fi services with their laptops as well, including a central lounge with a fireplace.

“At the beginning of our strategic plan, we committed to have one computer available for every 1,000 people served, and we serve a direct population of just under 18,000,” said Hazelbaker. She said the board wasn’t exactly sure how they’d do it, and thought it would be at the end of the plan. “As the economy worsened, we found that we were helping a lot of people with their resumes and assisting with on-line job searches and accessing unemployment services online. More people were bringing their laptops from home, because some had canceled their connection services, and we realized that maybe we needed to speed things up.”
 
An architectural drawing, provided by architect David R. Siler, shows a large children’s room, which will enable Children’s Librarian Mary Beth Reasoner to conduct story times with youngsters on the main floor, as well as provide ample storage for props. A sketch of the History Room entrance depicts columns along a doorway, giving the library an additional touch of historical character and dramatic effect.

“The whole idea is to have a blend. This will be a marriage of the old and the new so people understand that we’re not getting rid of all the tried and true amenities of the library, but encouraging people who want to get their information through technology,” Hazelbaker said. “If we want to remain relevant, we have to be sure we’re providing that.”

Some walls will come down, creating more open space with updated furnishings and décor, and the library also will receive energy efficient lighting, which should help save money on energy bills.
The cost of the entire project is estimated to be approximately $800,000. Through careful fiscal planning and setting aside capital improvement funds on an annual basis, TDL has accrued sufficient reserves to fully fund the project when supplemented by interest from the TDL Herrick Fund, which the Herrick family began in 1982.

“We’ve only spent a little interest out of that in the past for projects we couldn’t do from our operating budget,” said Hazelbaker. She added that the Friends of Tecumseh District Library also made a generous $10,000 donation toward technology. “That’s huge to us,” she said.

Hazelbaker said she is pleased to be able to say that over 80 percent of the contractors and suppliers for the project are from Michigan, with more than 70 percent of the workers being from Lenawee County. Krieghoff-Lenawee Construction Management is in charge of construction, and Library Design Associates, Inc., from Plymouth is managing the interior furnishings.

Patrons also will be able to take advantage of a new service that will be available near the staff entrance to the library when a 24-hour book pickup service is added.

“It will sort of complete the cycle of 24-hour service,” said Hazelbaker. “Patrons can already look at our catalog online, and reserve books online and access our data bases, without being here for those services. This way if they can’t come in until after hours, they can let us know and we can put the requested items in the container and give them a special code to access them.”

Hazelbaker said the entire project should be completed in approximately six months.

“We’ll probably have a little gala in the summer to introduce people to the changes,” she said. “We’re all pretty excited about this.” She thinks the community will be, too.

For more information, visit TDL’s Renovation Blog linked from the library’s website at www.tecumsehlibrary.org or call 423-2238.