Trustees outline temporary library plan, logistics for Harrison Memorial renovation
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Summary
Trustees and library staff described plans to operate a temporary library at the Church of the Wayfarer during a multi-year restoration of Harrison Memorial Library, discussed moving logistics for roughly 6,000 items, and asked the Carmel Library Foundation to consider funding earthquake-compliant shelving and a laptop-lending kiosk.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea library board heard an update on the Harrison Memorial Library restoration and plans for an interim location during renovation, with staff saying the city has negotiated lease terms for a temporary library at the Church of the Wayfarer and hopes to open in the fall.
“We have negotiated lease terms with Church of the Wayfarer for a temporary library, during the renovation of the Harrison Memorial Library,” acting library director Melinda said, describing the site as two blocks from the current building and noting foundation support for relocation and operations.
The schematic phase of design is complete, staff said, and the city and foundation are coordinating next steps. Architects (identified in the meeting as MRY Architects) held community meetings and a public presentation in early March; library leadership said design development will follow.
Staff described a phased moving plan focused on preserving special collections and artwork, contracting with movers experienced in high-value items and using rolling carts or phased moves for general collections. Melinda estimated the temporary library would house about 6,000 items and said staff aim to prioritize the most-used materials for the temporary location.
To furnish the temporary space and improve permanent facilities, staff asked the board to authorize sending a letter to the Carmel Library Foundation to request funding in the current fiscal year for two types of shelving: taller, earthquake-compliant mobile shelving (about 60 inches tall on low-profile wheels) for the temporary site, and lower-profile, wood-clad shelving for the Park Branch lobby. Melinda said the shelving vendor quotes take 14 weeks and that early approval would allow procurement to align with the moving timeline.
The board discussed community-engagement ideas to support the move, including a volunteer “book brigade” and allowing residents to check out a limited number of items ahead of the move to spread storage. Trustees and staff also raised plans for laptop lending for in-library use at the temporary site, which staff described as a trial that could become a permanent program at Harrison.
The meeting did not record a formal vote on funding requests; trustees agreed to proceed with the preliminary step of requesting foundation support and to return with formal requests and cost estimates once quotes are finalized. Next procedural steps include finalizing vendor quotes, coordinating required city improvements at the temporary site and confirming a moving schedule in late summer or early fall.
