Old Town library to be remodeled

Resolution passes through city council

By Courtney Riley
JTC 320

Main Library in Old Town Fort Collins

Planned renovations for Main Library:
- 6,000-square-foot expansion in southeast corner
- Larger community room
- Additional computer space
- Expanded children’s area
- Study rooms for groups and individuals
- Cyber café
- Improved access to collections
- Mechanical and electrical upgrades

The Fort Collins City Council unanimously approved a resolution at an adjourned meeting last Tuesday, March 29, to amend an ordinance from 1975 that will allow the Main Library in Old Town to be revamped.

The People’s Ordinance No. 2 from 1976 restricted the amount of construction done in Library Park. The citizen-initiated amendment to the ordinance requires that 85 percent of Library Park’s area remain open space.

Wendy Williams, the assistant to the city manager, presented the overview of the planned renovations to the library.

The plan is to build a 6,000-square-foot expansion under the library’s cantilevered second floor in the southeast corner. The interior remodel includes a larger community room, additional computer space, expanded children’s area, study rooms for groups and individuals, cyber café and improved access to collections.

The mechanical and electrical systems will be upgraded, and the new building is expected to meet a net-zero energy goal, meaning it will use the same amount of energy as the old building.

“It’s going to be a pretty exciting space,” Williams said. “It will have a modern, new, expanded and refreshed interior.”

The Poudre River Library District will use existing funds to pay for the Main Library remodel and expansion. The district has set aside funds for this purpose and will not need additional money from taxpayers to accomplish the project.

The project is also anticipated to benefit the surrounding neighborhoods and Old Town by becoming a desirable, attractive destination.

“One of the things that the downtown library does is that it drives people into a vibrant part of town,” Williams said. “Not only is it a draw for community activities, but also a draw for all sorts of cultural and economic activities.”

Williams emphasized that the history, value and local pride associated with Library Park will be preserved.

“There are a lot of lovely old trees in that area, and most of those will remain untouched,” she said.

Michael Liggett, the president of the board of trustees of the Poudre River Library District, said it’s very important to keep the traditional feel of the library and surrounding area, while making it more modern.

“We hope to make it a continuing part of our community,” he said.

There will also be enhancements to the exterior walkways and landscape that are intended to make the environment of the library more aesthetically pleasing.

“We want to bring the park into the library and the library out to the park,” Holly Carroll, the executive director of the Poudre River Library District, said.

Fort Collins resident Thomas Edwards said he is relieved the city council passed the resolution because he believes the library is very outdated.

“This city has kept on growing, but the downtown library hasn’t,” he said. “We need to grow this library.”

Council member David Roy posed the question of how the library will be a successful business in the future, considering many people use digital forms of obtaining books and information.

Carroll said the library’s business is actually growing. People are visiting the library traditionally, as well as using its virtual services, such as e-books, downloadable books and digital audio.

She said over 3.3 million items were checked out last year.

“In these hard economic times, the use of the library has grown. We’ve seen a big increase,” she said. “The use of the library and the respect for it is exceptional.”

Mayor Doug Hutchinson said he is excited for the new renovations to take place.

“I think Fort Collins is a library town,” he said. “I’m delighted to support this resolution.”

Layout of future first floor of Main Library