West Bend library staff report progress on flooring, blinds, shelving and new study spaces

Library staff updated the board on ongoing facility work, including flooring, blinds and shelving, and outlined plans for added study/group spaces.

The director said most flooring work is finished except for a dance-floor area managed by the recreation department. Staff reported some remaining trim and electrical work, and that a toilet in the staff break room was reinstalled. Missing wallpaper in the front of the library and paint/repair around posts were noted as items needing follow-up.

A second shelving quote has been submitted to the library’s insurance; if approved the purchase would support mobile shelving for the youth department. The director said the youth collection has not yet been moved upstairs and that partition walls are being considered to keep age-appropriate separations between children’s and young-adult areas.

To meet rising demand for study rooms, staff proposed modular cubicle-style study spaces downstairs — four areas behind the circulation workroom and near the young-adult area — that would avoid HVAC, lighting, and fire-suppression rework and could be removed later if unused. The director said he would seek a second quote for partitions and had included placeholder funding in the CIP for that work.

The board asked for cost estimates and noted the library’s limited storage could accelerate the timeline if shelving becomes available through the insurance claim. Work on blinds is already under contract; the director said measurement and contracting were complete and costs will be funded from outlay (savings from unspent personnel or other line items).