Whitley County Library looking at options for expansion

Is it feasible to build a new Whitley County Public Library or should the current library be renovated and expanded instead? What features would the community like to see in a new library or in a renovation and expansion?

The Whitley County Public Library Board of Trustees voted during its regular monthly meeting Thursday to hire Louisville architecture firm 5253 Design Group to conduct a feasibility that will hopefully answer those questions and many more.
The cost of the feasibility study is not to exceed $8,000.

If the library moves forward with an actual building project and 5253 Design is the architect on that project then the cost of the feasibility study would be credited towards the cost of the design fee. The study would then essentially be at no cost to the library board under the terms of the agreement.

Chris D. Cottongim, the principal architect in charge, told the library board during its monthly meeting Thursday that he actually has some ties to Whitley County. His uncle was the founder of Cottongim Drug in Corbin.

Cottongim told the board that his firm has done design work on 17 other public library projects in Kentucky.

During Thursday’s meeting, Cottongim also presented the library board with copies of prior feasibility studies his firm had done for the Harrison County Public Library in Cynthiana and the Washington County Public Library, which recently broke ground on its project.

Cottingim said the goal of the feasibility study is to provide information that will determine whether the library can stay in the current location by renovating and/or adding on or if it will have to build a new library on a new site to meet future needs.

Part one of the feasibility study will be to develop options to renovate and/or add onto the existing library. It will involve meetings with board, staff and the public to determine or review their wishes and goals.
A community meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the library.

The community meeting is scheduled to take place about two hours after the library board of trustees’ regular monthly October meeting.

Part of the feasibility study would also include developing a budget for the addition and renovation of the existing library.
The second part of the feasibility would be to develop a concept for a new library on a new site, but this may not be an option.