Ferndale library nearly doubles in size, offers green features

Thursday, September 2, 2010 | Source: Metromode

The Ferndale Public Library opened up its doors after a renovation last month, offering green features, a bigger collection, and plenty of space to spread out and be comfortable.

Library director Doug Raber says that one of the construction outcomes he'd hoped for is already happening: It's becoming a destination. He says he recently saw someone in the library reading her own book -- which is great, because it means she was visiting just to use the building.

"We have people that come to the library, are spending time here reading and working on laptops -- definitely more so than before we renovated," he says.

Compared to last August, circulation is already up 40 percent, and there have been quite a few applications for new library cards, according to Raber.

The entire building has Wi-Fi and the new children's room offers space to spread out and read. Also, a new meeting room facility is available for community groups.

The library, on Nine Mile Road on the eastern edge of downtown, nearly doubled in size, to 21,000 square feet. The addition, paid for by a one-mill tax increase last year, provided space to increase staff and the funds to double its purchasing budget for books and other media.

Patrons appreciate most the overall comfort of the building. "It's a very comfortable place to be," Raber says. "People like it. They like the fact that there are places to go and sit down, there are places to study. They've been commenting on how much they like the place, more than anything else."

Patrons were formerly crammed into tight quarters, with the children's section very close to the adults and vice-versa. "Now people can spread out and be more comfortable," he says.

The library is going for silver LEED certification for its environmentally friendly features, including a geothermal heating system, a gray water recycling system, and a partial green roof. There are a few odds and ends that still need to be taken care of -- furniture and new book display shelving -- but nothing that affects its overall function.

Source: Doug Raber, director, Ferndale Public Library
Writer: Kristin Lukowski