City library plans for new addition

Plans to expand Irvin L. Young library in downtown Whitewater are underway, City Manager Kevin Brunner said.

"The current library is bursting at the seams in material space and patron meeting and reading space," he said when asked about the existing 14,900 square feet of library space.

The existing library was built in 1991 and has served the city's education needs faithfully for the last 17 years. As the resident and student populations of Whitewater increased, the need for a larger city library became apparent.

The city decided on architectural firm, Burnidge Cassle, early in 2005 to handle the construction of the 18,000 square foot addition. The plans to add-on have been on the library board's table since 2001 when Library Director Stacey Lunsford started at the library.

"Creating all the extra space will reestablish the library as a community space," Lunsford said.

She said four houses will be removed for the expansion. Three have already been purchased and the fourth is in the process of negations with the city.

Two houses will be used for additional parking space and storm water drainage. The other two houses will be used for the addition itself.

Funding for the original library was split in halves. Half was paid for by the city and the other half through fundraising efforts. Much like the original funding, the expansion is going to be through fundraising and city assistance.

Ideally, the Library Board would like the city to fund half of the expansion; however, negotiations may be necessary.

Brunner said the expansion of the library will show the cultural and educational values of the city of Whitewater.

"This expansion will provide for the future educational needs of the community," he said.

In December, an organizational committee was formed to handle housekeeping matters.

A committee meeting will be held Monday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the building design, fundraising, the appointment of chairs and to recruit community members for the effort.

The library is located at 431 W. Center St. and is open Monday through Saturday. Membership is free.