The Ocean Shores City Council has given its unanimous approval to plans to expand the Ocean Shores Public Library — with a promise to pay all costs through private sources, mostly notably an endowment from the estate of longtime library supporter June Kaba.
Robin Fickle, chairperson of the Friends of the Library Ad Hoc Committee, and Library Director Keith Owen presented the 1,090-square-foot expansion plan at the Nov. 27 Council meeting, stating that they were “not asking for the City Council for any money whatsoever.”
In the late 1990s, Kaba, bequeathed her entire estate to the Friends of the Library. Her bequest specified the funds can only be used “for the expansion of the Library building in its current location.”
Fickle said the fund Kaba left has grown to about $250,000, and library group approached the city because it owns the building and manages the staff and budget.
The current Library opened in 1993 with 4,200 square feet. In 2000, the official population of the city was 3,836, in 2010 it was 5,569, and it continues to grow, Fickle pointed out.
“We proposing to make a larger library to address the needs of the current population,” she said.
The expansion includes added meeting space, ADA accessibility design, and more room for future needs.
“Above all, we want to make sure this will not create a tax burden on the citizens of Ocean Shores or to the City Council and government,” Fickle said.
Local architects will be used and there will be no effect on the exterior design of the building, she added.
The extra space will increase the size of the library by about 25 percent.
“It will be sorely needed,” Fickle added.
Contracts for the work will be put out to bid under the city’s normal bid requirements. There will be a kickoff of the expansion effort in a public ceremony and open house from 3-5 p.m. on Dec. 11.
Newly elected Council member Bob Crumpacker was one of only three members of the public to speak about the plan, and asked if there was any accounting for the increase operating costs the expansion might create in the future.
Owen noted that most of the square footage in the expansion won’t be completed until the end of next year.
“I have given consideration to the operation costs, however, the spaces that we are adding are going to be public spaces with books and shelving, tables and chairs, and meeting room-type spaces for the public,” Owen said. “So basically, there is not going to be a lot of overhead for those spaces that we are adding.”
Mayor Crystal Dingler, a former Friends of the Library member, said she wasn’t “sure I would ever see this day where we would actually spend the money. I am delighted and the money has actually grown over time. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity.”
