Georgetown: A Growing Community in Need of a Bigger Library!
Hey there, Georgetown residents! Have you noticed how our lovely city has been booming? Well, you’re not the only one! Georgetown has just been declared the fastest-growing city in the nation, and with this spectacular growth, the city’s public services are stepping up to the plate. One service that’s getting a makeover is our beloved Georgetown Public Library, right in the heart of downtown!
Library on the Move!
Since its opening in 2007, our library has seen a staggering increase in patrons! The population has more than doubled, soaring from around 46,000 to nearly 100,000 residents. That’s a lot of new families looking for reading materials, events, and programs! Sally Miculek, the director of the library, expressed the challenge, saying, “We started getting to a point where it’s hard to keep enough materials on the shelves to meet everybody’s needs.”
Time for a Change!
Recognizing the pressing need for more space and resources, the Georgetown City Council teamed up with the Friends of the Library six months ago to conduct a comprehensive study. They brought on the renowned architecture firm Steinberg Hart, based in Austin, to help devise a long-range expansion plan.
This study didn’t just glance at Georgetown; it also looked at nearby cities like Round Rock and Cedar Park to predict what Georgetown’s library needs may be in the coming years as the city continues to expand. And what did they find? The library, which currently spans 50,000 square feet, is simply too small! It needs to grow by 40% to properly serve our vibrant community.
Big Plans Ahead!
The top recommendation from the study is to physically expand the library to an impressive 70,000 square feet. If there isn’t enough room at the current site downtown, don’t worry! The city plans to explore other locations, but the idea is to keep our library right where it belongs—central to the community!
A Place for Everyone!
As the only library for the entire city, it’s crucial to make it bigger and better to serve all residents. One of the exciting proposals is to add multiple branches around Georgetown. Imagine having a library branch just down the street from you!
Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of extending library connections beyond those four walls. Events like story times, programming sessions, and job training courses would bring more services closer to all of us. If you’ve loved the library’s WOW!mobile (Words on Wheels) program, you’ll be thrilled to hear that they’re gearing up to double its size! This service is fantastic for folks who can’t easily access the main library, such as seniors and children.
What’s Next?
Our library leaders are eagerly working on finalizing the expansion plan and will soon present estimated budgets and timelines. Residents can expect the draft to come before the city later this month. And who knows? In January or February, the City Council may vote on the plan!
But keep in mind, for any major expansions to get the green light, it’ll need to pass through a public bond election, so your voice matters!
Get Excited!
This is such an exciting time for Georgetown as we embrace growth and make necessary changes to our public services! With new expansions in the pipeline for the Georgetown Public Library, it looks like we’ll be reading, learning, and connecting more than ever before!
Let’s keep an eye on those council meetings and remember, Georgetown, our future is bright—and it just might include a bigger, better library right at the heart of it!
