Increased areas for meeting rooms, youth programs, book shelving and workshops were among the topics and possibilities up for discussion Oct. 22, during the library’s public meeting regarding the new library building.

In an attempt to accommodate islanders’ busy schedules, two meetings were held. This first began at noon, the second at 6 p.m., at Brickworks. Over 90 islanders attended mid-day, and another 45 showed up in the evening.

“We would like to make sure that our decisions are in line with what people in the community want,” board member John Ashcroft told the crowd, adding that this meeting will be the first of many.

Author, historian and library board member Boyd Pratt provided background. The library, then called the American Legion Public Library, was founded by the American Legion in 1922. In the 1980s, the library moved to its current location. The building has undergone two renovations since that time.

Realizing that space was becoming cramped, collections overflowing, the meeting room booked and consistent waiting times for computers, the board began thinking about yet another renovation and expansion. However, it appeared that any construction to the current building was found to be expensive and with minimal room for expansion. A search for a new home began, and by 2019, options were narrowed to three buildings. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board received a 2.2% interest loan and purchased the former Life Care property on Spring Street. A central location within walking distance to the schools and adequate parking were a few of the reasons the site was selected.

The property at that time had been abandoned for several years at that point, and during a winter storm in 2021, the sprinkler system froze, causing damage.

In 2023, the board put forward a bond to San Juan Island residents for a new library, which was strongly rejected by the voters.

“In Heather [Spaulding’s Journal] article about a listening season in 2023, she quoted me as saying this would be the first of many, and that was two years ago,” Pratt said, acknowledging the time lapse. Additional meetings have been organized.

Assistant Director Anthony Morris discussed why a library expansion was necessary.

“The library is working on providing access to resources that are needed to help the community thrive,” he said. “The library has information, we are not just books. The books are great, I love books. We are not just books, we are also services.”

Those services include English language lessons for those whose English is not a first language, the Tech Cafe, Reading with Rover, for children to strengthen their reading skills, teen programs, preteen programs, a meeting room and computers, just to name a few.

“Our community needs are becoming greater than our current library can meet. The community deserves a library that’s sufficient to its needs,” Morris said.

Five Dot architects Sharon Khosla and Stephanie Ingram asked for feedback on what islanders would like to see in a new library. Major themes included more meeting rooms, a separation between loud and quiet activities, more teen, pre-teen and family programs and spaces, Coast Salish engagement and acknowledgement, more books and a screen-free zone, appropriate parking, a cafe, day care and outdoor area. Several emphasized the use of private funding .

According to steering committee member Steve Ulvi, the evening crowd, which was a younger group, put a stronger emphasis on the library being a youth-oriented space.

People asked about the design, which has not been made public at this time. Others asked about the budget and funding; both are still being worked on, and grants and private funding are being looked into. Pratt said the existing site would likely be sold.

“We have been approached by several community groups, so I think that is a good possibility,” he said.

The next meeting will be held on Nov. 18, again at noon and 6 p.m. It will be a more hands-on session.

“We’re very grateful to everyone who came, and look forward to continuing these conversations with the community,” Morris told the Journal after the event.

Learn more at https://www.sjlib.org/aboutus/library-building-project/.

Heather Spaulding photo The crowded room during the noon meeting Oct. 22.