Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Shauna Bayes has four children, ranging in ages from two to 10 years old, so the children’s reading area at the Christiansburg Library is very important to her family.
“We love the library and with my kids being homeschooled, it (the facility) has become a regular activity,” she said.
She made the positive observation as the three youngest rushed to gain a seat for a Friday children’s reading.
Ten-year-old Karoline Bayes said he enjoys finding new books and have met lifelong friends during times at the library. One of those experiences even taught the oldest of the Bayes family the ability to play the harmonica.
“We participate in a lot of the activities offered by the library,” Shauna said. She also expressed excitement about future plans to expand the library.
Karim Khan, the director of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library and Christiansburg Branch Manager Salena Sullivan took a moment this past week to discuss the current and future situation.
Based on a 2016 study, renovation and expansion of the library would increase the sq. footage from 15,100 to 31,954 and provide a modern, flexible platform for library service.
The existing layout and limited space of the 37-year-old facility is no longer adequate and showing its age. The HVAC system has recently been replaced with some other roofing work.
“A new Christiansburg library will provide a durable, modern building which will be a community resource and an anchor for activity, education and culture in the downtown area,” Kahn said.
The regional director pointed out recently that technology and library use has changed. “It’s (the current space) is simply too small to offer all the services we need,” he said.
Compared to fiscal year 2023-2024, FY 24-25 saw a 16% increase in card holders.
The trend is similar across the country despite the fact that COVID forced more people to turn to the Internet and not depend on physical locations like a library.
Far from being rendered obsolete by the Internet, libraries have adapted to the digital age by becoming vital community hubs, offering robust digital lending, and providing essential, trusted and free services.
In addition, libraries are becoming increasingly popular for their community-focused offerings, including high-demand children’s program and social connections.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has revealed a recent study that shows public libraries served over 155 million registered users in 2023, the latest data point.
The result, according to the study, shows public libraries remain one of the most trusted and utilized institutions in American life.
Sullivan said the need for physical book collections is not as apparent (in Christiansburg) as you would think. Instead, she said the renovation and expansion would allow for better organization of such areas.
“The facility lacks the space and essential program areas needed for the public and staff in a modern library. But with the expansion, we would be able to better utilize things like local history and assorted books,” she said.
The underlying need exists with programs and services the library might be able to add. One of the biggest centers on the children’s area.
In a feasibility study about CL completed last year by Thompson & Lytton Engineering and Eteros Design, the children’s area appears to have adequate space for the collections and functions currently served by the library; however, the children’s area lacks some of the character defining features commonly found in a modern library.
The future plans needs to include atmosphere and design features enhanced to include elements such as a uniquely designed story time and activity space within the children’s area, specialty seating or window seats and more significant, interactive furniture. These features would give the area a more defined character with which children could identify.
Kahn said the expansion and renovation will completely transform the library with a new interior layout including new meeting rooms, new children’s area, a teen area, program rooms, study rooms, and staff offices.
The new children’s area would have interactive play and storytime areas designed to be fun and engaging. The children’s area would open directly to a dedicated children’s program room with a large area for story time, arts and crafts, and other special children’s programs. A dedicated teen space will have comfortable seating, study areas, and a gaming area.
There has been significant growth in the use of E-books and E-audio options across all the regional facilities.
A renovated and expanded library will accommodate growth, according to Kahn, in demand and population including such emerging services like robotics labs, children’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and also meet patron’s requests for public internet access, study spaces and community rooms.
The new expansion would be done to the front of the current building and to the right as patrons enter and cost an estimated $16 million.
More storage areas would be added to the rear of the current building. The MFRL staff said overall, the library lacks sufficient storage space in all areas.
The staff has used all available storage space, and they have incorporated additional storage shelving within the work areas. Dedicated storage space should be provided for the circulation work room, general bulk storage, the children’s librarian, the Regional Library and the Friends of the Library. General office supply storage could be accommodated in upper and lower cabinets in a common copy/print work room.
A feasibility study is due at any time with possible design by next year and construction expected to begin in 2029.
