Paige Effinger
Staff writer
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In an overflowing meeting room at the Calloway County Public Library, members of the community shared their opinions about the potential library expansion in a town hall.

“The library is a mirror of the communities we serve,” Shannon Davis Roberts, member of the community who petitioned at the town hall on Sept. 18 about the Calloway County Public Library expansion, said.

Since 2016, the Calloway County Library Board of Trustees has discussed expansion. Despite plans being drawn up, no course of action has been taken. The board sought public input at the community meeting in order to update the latest plan.

The current plan would expand the library into a 28,622-square-foot building from the 12,047 square feet it currently occupies, and would include more meeting rooms and more space in the children’s area. According to the Board, the total cost of the construction would be over $6 million.

About $3 million has already been set aside in the building fund. The other half of the project would have to be funded by grants or by other measures, such as a library tax.

Some members of the community who spoke last night agreed with adding another tax, while others did not.

Citizen, Larry Tucker said he was in favor of the changes, but in a manner that did not accrue any extra debts.

“I am for expansion and renovation, but I am also against accruing long-term debt and raising taxes to do it,” Tucker said. “We need some expansion, but we also need to consider the operating costs of the library will go up with the expansion. I urge you to study this project and take your time and make a good decision.”

While others like Melissa Porter said she would do whatever it takes to expand the library even if it means paying more taxes.

“I am a very big introvert, so for me to come out here and speak for all of you it’s very difficult for me,” Porter said. “But I feel that strongly that we need to renovate and expand our library for the kids in the community. As a homeowner and a property owner, I would gladly pay higher taxes for renovations.”

The town hall allowed people to voice their opinions on this heated controversy. Each person who spoke had two minutes, and was able to leave their speech with the board for further review.

A variety of concerns were raised by the community. Supporters of the renovation brought up topics such as the library is ADA compliant, the children’s room only has four chairs and there are only 13 computers.

The Kentucky Public Library Association and the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives have set standards that libraries are expected to meet. There are currently three levels of standards for the library to meet: essential, enhanced and exemplary.

The CCPL needs to meet at least the essential level of standards that are: the library provides adequate square footage based on population; the library provides designated space for children; has up-to-date writing and adequate access to electrical and data outlets; with space to plan prepare and deliver programming; and the library has an area for staff breaks.

The library does not meet all of the essential requirements set forth by the above institutions. The Calloway County Public Library Board of Trustees did not make any comment during the town hall.

Over three dozen people spoke at the meeting, and the majority of the community concluded that the library needs to be expanded.

“The value of this library in this community can be spoken highly enough of,” Christopher Mitchell, Murray State faculty member and long-time member of the community, said. “This is the only place in town that is democratic and civic and anyone can walk in here and use this place.”