Local officials are discussing the library board’s plan to build a larger and completely new headquarters facility. Initially they wanted to relocate to the City’s parking lot at the intersection of Route 50 and Salisbury Boulevard (Route 13), but Mayor Ireton has nixed that site. Since then various sites have been proposed, including other City parking lots that are closer to the Downtown Plaza and sites outside of the downtown area such as the Beaglin Park Drive/Northeast Collector corridor.
The Greater Salisbury Committee and other special interest groups are trying to pressure the City and County to keep the library headquarters in downtown Salisbury in the forlorn hope that it will result in revitalization of that area. Apparently, the library board wants the public officials to act now in order to get a $375,000 grant from the State of Maryland that will be “lost” otherwise.
As usual, public officials hear much from the power elite like the “GSC” to the exclusion of the general public who use the library. This blog is a forum for folks who don’t have the time or inclination to attend Council meetings or contact members to discuss the matter of future growth of the library.
What do you think the growth plan for the library should be? Assume for this question that they somehow manage to get the funding needed, which is far from a sure thing.
Please offer you comments, but stay on that point (and don’t make comments about persons). Here are some factors that you may want to consider:
1. Where is the best location for the library’s main facility – downtown Salisbury or elsewhere (if desired, specify one or more other locations that you favor)?
2. Would you or members of your family use the library more often if the headquarters or a branch facility were located closer to your home?
3. Should SBYnews be available to watch at all times on at least one monitor at each library location? [hey, that’s a joke, folks].
4. Should a location for the library headquarters be selected right now, without further public discussion and input simply to get a $375,000 grant from the State?
Please indicate in your comment if you are not a resident of Wicomico County or if you are not a member of the library at present.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
36 comments:
I am a current visiting member of the library and feel that the location SHOULD NOT change! A 375,000 grant wouldn't even scratch the surface when building a whole new structure. Free money...sure....but it will cost more to get the "free money". Does the library need some help? Of course. A renovation is long over-due. People complain about the rif-raf that goes on and the types of people that hang out at and around the library....open your eyes. The same stuff goes on at the mall or other public places. The library has also become more of an internet hot-spot/job fair than anything. I don't believe the library should feel pressure to be a job search/help location. Lets get back to basic folks.....the library is a place for books, research (not on the internet) and a quiet place to study or hey this is a thought....READ! I kind of like the smell of old dusty books....IMHO :)
The old Giant grocery store building on Rt. 13 North or the old Furniture & More building in Fruitland or any other vacant building could be converted to a new library, if space was adequate. This would be a good way to "recycle" old buildings. Of course, the old Firehouse downtown could be used for expansion.
I think they should expand it but first they need to rid the place of vagrants who ruin the chance to read or research in peace and quiet !
The need to have branches near Fruitland and in the Hebron-Mardela area, not a new and larger facility in downtown Salisbury.
$375,000 would go towards buying the building that the present library is now attached to so they could expand to it. Moving it to another location would not affect the people traffic in any way, as everybody usually drives there anyway. These are tough times, and a little fixup and renovation to that existing building would be the way to go.
As a county library it should be located in a central location with easy access for all county residents. Perhaps in the area of Tilghman Road and B. Rt. 50? It looks like there are lots in the new "medical" area and behind MVA on the hotel access roads. That area is an up and coming area and there are other things always open to do. I think downtown is too isolated at night especially. While the available grant is only a drop in the bucket, it is a significant drop that may be worth pursuing. It would cover the cost for the mandatory fire alarms and security, or even for a really nice childrens reading area and such. If we are getting a new library it would really be a shame to not take advantage of the grant money available.
NO, stop the spending now!
Keep it where it is an give it a face-lift. So we lose the grant...the spending on a new location has to stop!
I would like to see a safe location for people to go at night as well as in the day and open on Sundays. It would be essential that it have parking and not take it away from other businesses. An ideal spot would be off Route 13 or 50 that is easily accessible.
When will the "power elite" realize that Downtown Salisbarrie is never going to be like it was 50 years ago and move on. Look at all the good opening the plaza to traffic has done -- NONE.
I'm a resident of the city. I agree whole heartily with 10:08. Perhaps the old firehouse could be revamped into an internet cafe type of situation with a percentage of the profits going to the library. I suppose that's too much of a capitalistic idea. Silly me. That would get the computers out of the library. Next would be to figure out a way to remove the vagrant situation. I am always uncomfortable going there. I know they are all over town and it's an unfortunate part of city living, but there seems to be a concentration of them there.
Add it to the dustbin of downtown Salisbury plans -- RUDAT, multi-modal transportation center, North Prong, etc., which has cost the taxpayers thousands if not millions.
is the current library crowded? i have heard it is not. could it use an upgrade? maybe - maybe not. do we need a new one? NO. by the way; MONEY IS NOT FREE (to whoever used the term "free money") we; the taxpayers must pay one way or the other. GET IT????? it is my understanding the libraries across our nation are being used less and less. the reason is obvious. THE INTERNET. all schools have libraries; now the internet so why do we need to spend our tax dollars on a new library? yes; get the vagrants out of the library because this has been a real problem.
I am a county resident, and I think any new building should be for the convenience of all county residents. If a new library goes downtown on a parking lot, where will people park? What if the library needs to expand in the future?
A Beaglin Park Drive location like the old mall or Aydelotte Farm would be best and convenient for all the county citizens.
we dont need to build a new library now. money is too tight. thanks sjd
Think all the pro's for wasteful spending on a library that isnt needed are from just 1 person, maybe 2. But even they are "Library affiliated", whether its 2 or 20... why is it someone so near and dear to information obtained from libraries, cant get their head out'a the sand long enough to hear the news? It's been on the news for over a year now! The City is broke, the County is BROKE, the State IS BROKE, the ENTIRE COUNTRY IS BROKE! BANKRUPT, you idiots! Why cant you get it through your thick heads?? IF, by GOD you really had 2 nickels to rub together you should be building homeless shelters for all the so-called vagrants that hangout at your library, that come there to get out of the weather. We.....YOU do not NEED a new library, didnt they just cut library services just the other year do to budgets? Can you even vaguely understand whats about to happen?
I would say NO, why do we need two taxpayer funded libraries in the same City. Wicomico County and Salisbury University each have a library. So, taxpayers are paying twice the amount of taxes. I say Wicomico County and Salisbury University should petition the State to build one library on the Campus of Salisbury University and let all Maryland taxpayers utilize their tax funded library.
Keep it downtown, Joe! We can have branches, but if we are going to keep our city and stop sprawling, let's have a real downtown that is vibrant and accessible!
Internet made libraries obsolete.
I'm all for smart growth, building things that are a win for everybody and that we can afford.
But moving the library around the corner is NOT smart. It will cost much more than expected, the location will be bad for traffic as the traffic is bad there already.
What our leaders need to do is learn how to plan for future expansions of government services based on need. Once those needs are established, go visit other municipalities and see what works, and what doesn't. If you actually travel to other places, the services that are provided are much better. This includes just about everything Wicomico County provides now.
I am a resident of Wicomico County and feel the library should be moved to a safer area. Right now I do not feel safe as a young female going to the library at night. Sometimes even during the day when there are groups of people loitering outside I do not feel safe. It is not a good area.
I think the suggestion of using the old Giant building is a good idea -- nowhere is 100% safe but that area is much safer than downtown salisbury.
In regard to question #2, myself and my family would use the library more often if it was in a safer location. Does not have to be closer to our home.
to the people that say downtown is hard to access....please explain!! Are you coming by boat? train? hang-gliding? because there are major roads connecting in that very same area. And exactly, the nail in the coffin for downtown would be the library leaving. how attractive!!
According to the Daily TImes, the library board has chosen land near Brittingham Square Apartments for their new location.
4:35 The nail was drove in the coffin of downtown a long time ago.
There is already a branch in Pittsville, right in front of the school on Old Ocean City Rd.
I am now a Delmar, Delaware resident (for the past fourteen years), but I previously resided in Wicomico County. I have been a member of the library since I was about 8 years old. I am in the library all the time. I love to read. The library does get crowded but the only real "crowds" I ever see are the "internet" crowds. I see a lot of small children (accompanied by a parent) checking out books, and I see a lot of people my age and older (I'm 50) checking out books. I agree with switching the "internet access" to the old Firehouse and leaving the books in the library. I do not think we need to plan a new library just to get a "free grant". As has been stated--who provides the free grants--we do. Either with our tax dollars originally or with our tax dollars when we pay the payments on the trillons of dollars of interest and debt to pay off the loan that made the "free grant". Come on people, think about it. Nobody rides for free. This country is on the verge of bankruptcy. Why do we keep ignoring this fact? We are going to get a "free ride" right to the poor house. We don't "need" a new library.
I really resent that the library did not ask us, the taxpaying public.
They waited so long, now they are in a pickle.
Where on earth are they going to get the money for this thing? I don't have any more to give.
Don't misunderstand. I like libraries. I think they are important. But this seems like just a need to be a fancy pants.
Leave this library where it is. Use any money for opening little branches like they are at the mall and in Pittsville.
I feel safe going to the library at night. They should add some lighting but I don't recall anyone ever got mugged coming and going to the library.
The Library could have 4 or 5 satellite sites and refurbish the current building for a heck of a lot less money than they want to spend to give Hehman a new palace. That way they'd be going to the customers rather than forcing the customers to come to them.
But that's not important. The Library Board must have bigger and better. They must save the $375,000 grant that will end up being worth less than 2% of the cost of the new palace. BS!!
I fthe Library moves to Beaglin, I hope they figure out a way to take the low lifes that hang out in the current building with them. If they do, then maybe more of the suburban mommies will bring the kiddies in their strollers for a latte in the new place.
Wait a minute! If the lowlifes stay downtown then more of the suburban mommies will definitely hang out at Casa Hehman. Cool
!
To answer your question...NO< NO< NO< NO...ad infinitum!
If it costs 2 million to gain 375K, what's the point? Stupid is as stupid does.
cheez...put up a "no loitering" sign & enforce it...don't need a real cop, can use a security agent. Do repairs where necessary & give up the dream of a new one, somewhere else.
Jim Ireton and others with some sense of urban pride and revitalization seem to understand that 350,000 in a grant is a stupid idea to move a facility. first 350,00 is a small amount when considering a library, which will cost millions.
I think that the current site should be evaluated, and evaluated not according to "want" but according to "need". A comprehensive plan to re-vitalize the city and make sites like the library more appealing, safer, and more up to date is probably the best route. I agree the site on the river is splendid, could be lovely, could be modernized and full of light and indoor gardens, and views of the river,and it could be safer. Why should we move the library? why should we build something new? I am for using what we have and "renovating" remodeling, up grading, all of that. Our economy dictates that we should use what we have, make it better, and put our money into "branch" libaries,
which will serve the outreaches of our county.
One day the library could be a plesant stop on our trip to the down town area for events and meals. Lets get some focus, and get a plan, and use what we have.
Look at whose land the library board wants to buy. Why it's the former president of their board! How convenient. He has land that he can't sell, and the library board decides that the library needs to buy this land for future expansion. The opinion of we the people as to where the library should be located, or even if we need a new library, doesn't really matter. That decision was made by the board when they realized that they could pay back their old friend for his years of "voluntary" service on the board.
Could someone pleaase post crime statistics for the current library location? I have NEVER seen a police officer arrest anyone or investigate any crime at the current location. But maybe this happens when I'm not there.
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