Honesdale Library, lacking space, may need to move

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — The need for space at the Wayne County Library in Honesdale is so critical that the library will, in all likelihood, be moved to another location within a year or two.

Molly Rodgers, system administrator of the Wayne Library Authority, reported to the Wayne County Commissioners on July 7 the results of a study of the current seven-library system and its projected needs over the next 20 years. Himmel and Wilson, a Wisconsin-based library consulting company, conducted the study, which was paid for by federal funds.

The Honesdale library has eliminated the possibility of an expansion. “There’s no room to expand on the property,” Rodgers said.

The building was originally built in 1869 as a home for William Foster, a prosperous local businessman. Later, it was turned over to a group who converted it into a personal care program for seniors. After a number of years, it was donated to the Wayne County Library Authority, the central authority for all of the county’s libraries.

“We definitely want the library to be in the Honesdale area,” Rodgers said.

Seven libraries in the system

In addition to the Honesdale building, Wayne County has six community libraries that are experiencing expansion pressures.

“Salem’s library is serving the largest population with the proportionally smallest space,” Rodgers said. “A property has been donated and they’re working on getting grants, as Honesdale is. This library, among the seven, has the most severe pressure to expand.”

Newfoundland Library is also looking to expand its present building. “They also are looking for funding. Local organizations, like Rotary and others, are helping them,” she said.

The Hawley Library, the only building in the system that was built for the sole purpose of being a library, has sufficient space right now, Rodgers said.

Libraries are not dead yet

“Far from being on the road to extinction, libraries are having demands put on them like never before,” Rodgers said.

Often, readers want not only a certain book but a large-print text and a copy on tape or CD for listening, she said. “They also want the library for community meetings or reading programs.”

Where there was once only one book taking up an inch or two of shelf space are multi-media items that take up nearly a foot of shelf space, Rodgers said. “Multiply that with every book in the library and you can have a monumental space problem.”

And computer systems have added to the maze.

“We never had computers for the public up to a few years ago,” she said. “Now, we have eight of them, which take up 16 square inches each of space with the printer, the table, the chair and a space behind the chair for room for someone to pass.”

All aspects of the community are currently expanding, Rodgers said. “We’re expanding the hospital, we’re building a new prison, we’re expanding businesses,” she said. “It’s important to invest in the intellects of the county.”

The outside of the library also presents parking problems.

“We have no off-street parking,” Rodgers said. “When we hold a large meeting, the streets are loaded with cars from those attending, with people with little children having to cross the busy street.

“We’re looking at all funding options,” she said. “Grants, bond issues and other methods. We don’t really know yet.”

What can the county commissioners do to help?

“We will need your support if we seek grants or want to float a bond issue,” Rodgers said to the commissioners. “We are not yet asking you for money.”

Over all, the consultants say the entire library system will need an additional 35,000 to 40,000 square feet of space within 20 years.

Each library is in dialogue with its community to enlist their support, Rodgers said.