Lakeville Public Library

Built in 1914 to meet the needs of a community of 1,200 people, the Library now serves a population that has reached 10,000 and our physical space was not upgraded in all that time. Although the building is quaint and charming, it was obvious that we had outgrown the old building. Lack of adequate seating, no room for additional computers, no handicapped access, and unsafe conditions due to the stairs were just a few obstacles we faced daily. There was no quiet space in which to study, persons with disabilities and parents with strollers could not utilize our building, and books were jammed on window sills--even covering windows. The staff and the public had to share a single PC to conduct research and perform administrative duties. The single library restroom was small and inaccessible to the handicapped.

This building had served us well for 90 years but there have been changes in technology, new formats have become popular, and a rapid increase in the population has occurred in our town. These changes have produced challenges for buildings designed just for books.