By PAULENE POPARAD

Expand Thomas Library? Expand Hageman Library? Buy or lease additional buildings? Buy a building and demolish it for more parking?

Even build a new main library away from downtown Chesterton where more land would be available for growth?

The Library Board doesn't plan to limit itself in exploring the best way to meet the future needs of Westchester Public Library.

Meeting Thursday, the board unanimously voted that library director Phil Baugher prepare a draft update of a strategic plan developed for 1999-2001 and propose a step-by-step process the board can use now to reach an informed decision.

"We've got to get all together and we're all fragmented at this point," said board President Karen Nash. She said the board needs a vision of where it wants to go. "Then the practicality steps in."

The previous architectual and space-needs studies resulted in consultants proposing a $9.2 million expansion of Thomas Library in Chesterton and a $2 million, two-story addition for Hageman Library in Porter.

However, three properties near Thomas Library currently are for sale and whether they would in some way fit WPL's current/future needs has become part of the discussion.

Available is a home at 221 Indiana Ave. on a 66-foot by 132-foot lot across the street from the main Thomas parking lot. Also for sale are two commercial buildings on Broadway across the alley from Thomas to the north: the 5,808 square-foot 219 Broadway building, the site of Ashley's jewelers, and the 6,332 square-foot 215 Broadway building that houses Framing Concepts.

Nash said the availability of the real estate creates a timing issue, but Baugher said the library has the power of eminent domain mitigating a sense of urgency about acquiring the buildings now. Board member Rick Hokanson said if WPL would acquire any building with current leases, they acquire those, too.

Baugher laid out various scenarios how either the residence or commercial building(s) could be used. All are zoned for business. WPL might buy one or more but lease them until the future-needs studies are updated and a decision about the library's growth made.

A factor in all plans is WPL's year-to-year lease of the Brown Mansion on Porter Avenue, which is owned by the Duneland School Corp. WPL operates its township History Museum there but in the future that site may become unavailable.

A scenario quickly discounted was buying one of the Broadway buildings and tearing it down should Thomas be expanded. "I'd hate to take out buildings on the main drag for parking," said member Neal Mortensen. Agreed member Vern Odom, "It would be an awfully expensive parking lot."

Odom speculated the library wouldn't want to spend a lot of money buying a building if it planned an addition to Thomas. Member Sharon Robbins said the Thomas site is landlocked and asked if there's really room to expand. Mortensen said the key strategic decision is whether WPL wants to upgrade Thomas or move to another location with a larger footprint.

Nash said there are more ways to better a library than adding square footage. She suggested visiting other libraries, especially newer construction.

Baugher said significant public input was sought, including from library staff, for the 1999-2001 planning process and those steps should be updated including getting ideas from the local business community.

He also said the revenue stream for public libraries is not predictable and, although WPL has $2.8 million in its reserve improvement fund, he cautioned against committing to a large building program at this time. With property-tax reform in Indianapolis unsettled, he said he's even hesitant to push ahead with this year's planned recarpeting of Thomas Library.

Baugher noted that a provision of HB 1478 pending in the General Assembly could complicate future bond issues of $7 million or more by creating a County Board of Tax and Projects Review with the power to approve, disapprove or modify the proposed capital project.

The director also said WPL currently has more programs, services, circulation and facility square footage per capita than most other library its size. "We're a pretty successful public library." The question becomes, what does the public deserve and what can they afford? he added.

WPL also owns the Library Service Center at 100 W. Indiana Ave. where office and public-meeting space, an Adult Learning Center and the library's automation services are located.

Posted 4/13/2007