GOSHEN—A crowd filled the Senior Center conference room in Goshen on Oct. 4 to hear architect Paul Mays of Butler Rowland Mays Architects LLP present his firm’s plan for a new library. The design was the result of years of planning, discussions, and research with the Goshen library board of trustees, staff, and library planning committee.
Voters rejected a library plan referendum in 2008. Ellen-Mary O'Brien, president of the Board of Trustees, said this was a new attempt to provide a plan that residents were happy with. “We came up with this plan. We are hoping that you like it as much as we do and that you see that this is good for the future of Goshen.”
Possibilities
The present structure was built 100 years ago when society was different. The population has changed and so has library services and how information is delivered. Mays said that people still need information even if the method has changed. The plan for a library is tied together with the future of Goshen itself.
Mays said his task was to create “a space that is meaningful to the community, not just when [residents] are young, but for later generations, for a long time.” Butler Rowland Mays specializes in library architecture and presented examples of other libraries that reflect what Goshen residents wanted for their library.
“These libraries should fit in the areas that they are developed,” he said. For most communities the library can raise property values, improve quality of life, and reduce unemployment, as well as be a catalyst for rejuvenating a downtown and increasing pedestrian traffic.
Libraries are meant to fit the needs of everyone in the community, Mays said. Some like a small niche where they can read on their own. Others who work out of their home need a soho—small office home office--place for meetings that would not be appropriate at a kitchen table. Those who support the library need a space to raise funds for the library’s operations.
A lobby can be a space “where you can have more of a café atmosphere, the chance to meet, have a coffee, talk.” Even the outdoors could have play areas, unique topiaries, and transitions to other communities spaces.
Requests
Mays highlighted what residents requested. Residents said parking and accessibility were big concerns, staffing costs needed to be kept to a minimum, and the new library needed more space for meeting and social interaction.
Mays and his team paid attention to keeping the staffing budget at a minimum. “When we design these buildings from the ground up, we establish areas of supervision and cross-supervision, and minimize additional staff that may be necessary.” Only two additional staff were figured in the plan.
A gathering space for young adults got a good look. The space had to be flexible. One library had the teen book stacks on casters so they could be moved out of the way for group events. Technology was key for teen gaming with a large video screen.
