The Jefferson Public Library continues to make progress on its feasibility study for a facilities upgrade.

The Jefferson City Council approved last June to do a feasibility study in order to assess an option to expand the current services the library provides. Library Director Jane Millard says a separate committee is continuing to have meetings with the architect, Peter Franks of Franks Design Group, to create a list of current services, how that is being done now and what space is needed to cater to other services that are needed in the community.

Millard talks about some of the ideas of new possibilities for the library.

“Some areas that we are discussing are a larger children’s library, a bigger teen area, a public meeting room or possibly more than one, quiet study rooms, and a larger staff work areas, (and) room for innovation, technology and people.”   

Millard notes there are three options to consider, including renovating the current two-building facility, purchasing an existing building and renovating it to their needs or building a brand new facility. Millard says a study that was done in 2018 recommended that the facility double its current footprint from 8,000-square feet to 16,000-square feet to fulfill the needs of the community. 

Millard adds a final report will be presented to the Jefferson Library Board of Trustees and the City Council in March.