MOVING TOWARD A NEW LIBRARY

In 2000, a survey was sent to Nederland-area residents asking if the community needed and wanted a library. The response was a resounding "yes." Volunteers and donations were solicited, and in April 2001, the Nederland Community Library opened in the old Community Center. It was staffed by a part-time librarian and volunteers. The shelves were filled with donated books and the hours were limited, but we did have computers with Internet access.

The next year, the residents within an area encompassing roughly five circular miles from the center of Nederland voted to create and fund the Nederland Community Library District. No longer dependent solely on donations, we were able to hire a full-time library director, expand our hours, and update our collections.

Today we have that same full-time library director plus three part-time assistant librarians. But we are still dependent on volunteers and donations to keep the doors open and the collections fresh and timely. We have issued almost 3,000 library cards and do a booming Internet business. But success has led to a number of problems, primarily lack of space. The twice-weekly children's story hours are brimming over with kids and parents. Their laughter and excitement, while most welcome, intrude on other patrons trying to read or do research. The past several years, the successful summer reading program has had to be held elsewhere for lack of space. Because people are often waiting to use the six patron computers, we've had to limit the amount of time people can use them. Our library director, Gretchen Beatty, and her assistants must constantly weed the collections to make room for new titles.  

In 2008, the Town of Nederland, recognizing that the current library is too small and crowded to adequately meet the needs of the area, generously vacated land for the purpose of building a new, larger modern library. The Foundation purchased an adjoining lot resulting in a 16,000-square-foot lot on which we hope to build our new library. The new library will be approximately 4,000 to 4,500 square feet, almost tripling the size of the current library. Among other things, this larger building will allow us to expand our book collection, accommodate more children in the summer reading program, host community meetings, add more patron computers, allow for quiet reading areas, and, in general, better serve our patrons.

            
In May, the Foundation hired Wember Associates as our owner's representative. After interviewing several firms, the Foundation has contracted with OZ Architecture to design the new facility. Initial design concepts will be available soon, and we will be holding public meetings to get your ideas. Look for information on this at the library and in the Mountain-Ear.

Right now, you can help by filling out a survey available at the library telling us what is most important to you and your family in a new Nederland Community Library.
Contact us with your ideas, suggestions, or questions at nlf@nednet.net.

What has your Foundation been up to?

We have been busy, raising funds for additional programming at the library and working towards our new building. Here are just a few of our recent events.


Below, left: Foundation members Alberta Montgomery and Jean Foss show off their Indian finery at the annual volunteer appreciation dinner hosted by the Foundation and District boards at Kathmandu in April.

     

Above, right: Through the wind and rain, Foundation members Alberta Montgomery and Emily Kaune staffed the Foundation's booth at the grand opening of Nederland's new skatepark in May.



Above, children from throughout the Nederland Library district enjoyed the fun during last year's Play-Ground Theatre production. Your donations made it possible for us to supplement the library's budget to offer more programming during this year's Summer Reading Program.