Library now looking at possible expansion plans
Published in the December 24, 2014 – January 6, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Carol O’Hare
Carol O’Hare
At the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library’s recent 40-year celebration, the highlight was a presentation of plans for future library expansion by Lesley Miles of Weston Miles Architects. The event also took a look back at past Friends’ accomplishments, showcasing how support of the library has grown.
The Peak Avenue library had been open only a year when the Friends of the Library was founded in October 1974.
The following June the first book sale was held, earning $481. The Friends’ first purchase was two turntables and headphones so patrons could listen to records while in the library. The Friends have been providing financial support for the library ever since.
Donna Cotich volunteers at the Friends of the Library bookstore.Photo by Marty Cheek
Income from book sales has grown dramatically from annual events that earned about $3,000 to twice a month sales, starting in 1993, bringing in $12,000 a year. Today, with a Friends bookstore located off the library lobby, online sales, and quarterly book sales, the annual income is more than $50,000.
With increased income, the Friends are able to do more to the library. We now supplement the library’s budget with $50,000 toward summer reading events, best seller collection, programs for adults, teens and children, and just about anything else the library wants.
When the state severely cut the budget for county libraries in 1992, resulting in a reduction of hours, laid off staff, discontinued programs, and slashed materials budget, the Friends stepped in.
Patrons exit the Morgan Hill Library, which has been open for seven years. Photo by Marty Cheek
To offset the loss of state funds, the group helped pass a library parcel tax in 1994, which brought back hours, staff, programs and materials.When that tax was due to expire 10 years later, the Friends led the phone banking campaign to extend it and then supported the 2013 campaign that renewed the tax for another 20 years, guaranteeing the funds necessary to maintain library services.
In 2005 the Friends focused their efforts on securing a badly needed new library, which had been in discussion for 10 years.
Original plans called for a 40,000-square-foot building for Morgan Hill’s growing population. When the city did not receive state bond monies, however, it had to construct the building on its own, cost constraints limiting it to 28,000 square feet.
But we were thrilled that a new library was underway. The Friends organized the groundbreaking event in May 2006. We started the Beyond Books Campaign to fund art and furnishings for the new building, eventually raising $230,000. We also coordinated the wildly successful grand opening of the new library on July 21, 2007.
Now that the new library has been in use for more than seven years, we’re feeling crowded again. The Friends have contracted with Weston Miles Architects to do a building and space study.
WMA has spent the past three months meeting with library users, staff, and the community to determine what works well and what areas could use improvement.
This analysis has led to the development of a phased plan that emphasizes the following areas: quiet reading, a dedicated and expanded children’s story-time room, small group areas, larger community space, more organized book return, and a larger Friends of the Library bookstore. This opportunity to enhance the library and plan for the future will take advantage of new technologies while maintaining the feel of the library that we love.
Friends member Teresa Stephenson said: “As president of the Friends of the Library, I am very pleased and excited to be working with Weston Miles on the library expansion. Our library is an important part of our community and we want to make it the best it can be. We hope that the community will support our efforts, as we go forward to find the ways and means of financing the project.”
Carol O’Hare is a past president of the Friends of the Library and was coordinator of the Beyond Books Campaign.
