Library officials aim to renovate

The Waynesboro Public Library will renovate, rather than expand.

On a tour of the library Tuesday, Zahir Mahmoud, the library’s executive director, outlined the major renovation initiatives. He said the library could accomplish its goals without expanding, while saving time in making needed improvements.

He said the changes to the 28,000-square-foot library would cost more than the $1.2 million backed by city voters in a November 2007 referendum, but BCWH Architects of Richmond, who have made several visits to develop plans for the library, do not yet have precise figures.

“I think when you talk of a renovation of this magnitude, I don’t think it’s more of saving, because renovation is costly, too, because you have to redo a lot of things,” Mahmoud said.

The changes will include moving the staff lounge and local history section to the lower level, expanding the children’s area upstairs, adding a staircase in the central area of the library to connect the two levels and sliding the front desk area farther back from the library’s main entrance to improve traffic flow.

“When you walk in, you will see it will be totally different as far as look,” Mahmoud said.

A second phase of the renovation for the longer-term, Mahmoud said, will include knocking out walls in the back and adding natural light. Improved shelving, lighting, furniture and other fixtures will also be included in the upgrades. A few study rooms in the back, he said, would be eliminated.

He hopes all of the changes will provide the look and feel of a new library when finished.

“I wouldn’t say necessarily that it’s going to be a cost-saving element,” Mahmoud said of the proposed renovation, “but the only thing that was kind of a sticking point, an obstacle, was the setback requirement from the street,” Mahmoud said.

He said a variance from the Planning Commission likely could have been obtained, but the library’s needs can be met without it.

Mayor Tim Williams said it was a “wise idea” to scale down the project to keep it from going over budget.

“If we go into an expansion for that limited amount of money, I think we could have ended up over-budget in a hurry with the expansion,” Williams said. “So I applaud them with the expansion plan.”

Some changes, such as putting new books in a section near the circulation desk, already have been made.

Architects told Mahmoud that the library could consolidate the space effectively and have emphasized the need for “adjustable” spaces throughout the building.

Mahmoud said BCWH Architects would continue to tweak its concept plan over the next three months with review from the library’s building committee – made up of its Board of Trustees, the Waynesboro Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the Waynesboro Public Library and staff members.

Once that is complete, Mahmoud said the plan will be reviewed by the public and the City Council. He has another meeting tentatively scheduled with the architects in June.

He said he expects work to begin in early 2010. The library will strive to have minimal disruptions for patrons, he said.

In the meantime, the library’s foundation is “actively” seeking contributions to complete the renovations, Mahmoud said.

“We were realistically looking at how to utilize the space to the best level possible,” Mahmoud said.

Said Williams: “Times are tough. We’re going through an economic downturn. They don’t have the means right now” for expansion. “But anytime you can make it more accessible to people and have better circulation, that’s certainly a plus.”