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Bowlby library in Waynesburg to begin new addition by summer’s end

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The Eva K. Bowlby Public Library in Waynesburg expects to break ground on its new addition before the end of summer.

The library was granted a zoning certificate Monday by Waynesburg Borough for a two-story addition that will be constructed on the north side of the library’s garage.

The addition, as well as renovation of the garage, will give the library 1,134 square feet of new space that is very much needed for library services, library executive director Kathy McClure said.

The library sought a variance from the Waynesburg Zoning Hearing Board to address a requirement for off-street parking. The library has 18 off-street parking spaces and with the project would need 52 spaces, said Bryan Cumberledge, borough code officer.

Zoning board action was not necessary, however, after the library presented the board with an agreement it has with the First Baptist Church allowing the library to use the church parking lot on West Street, satisfying the zoning requirement, Cumberledge said.

One neighbor, Lisa Schwarz, attended the zoning meeting and expressed concerns about the development and issues including parking and lighting. The library agreed to meet with Schwartz to discuss those concerns.

Cumberledge said the library now must present its construction plans to K2 Engineer for its review. K2 will issue the building permit.

McClure said the library needs the additional space.

“We’ve grown so much,” she said. “A lot of people think libraries are irrelevant nowadays, but that’s not the case, they are being used more than ever before.”

People still come to the library for books and a quiet place to read, but they come to participate in the many programs the library offers, to use the Internet and the library’s computers, she said. Some people even use the library as a kind of “home office” for their small businesses, she said.

The library could use more space for expanded programming as well as for community meetings. The library now has a room available for the community’s use, but it is limited in size, she said.

The addition is meant to address those needs. The top floor of the addition will provide more space for reference materials and Pennsylvania collections, which will open up more space for seating for library patrons, McClure said.

The downstairs will include a new media and community room that will be able to seat at least 50 people. The public will be able to reserve this space, including outside of library hours, McClure said. It will also include a restroom and a kitchenette area.

The library’s last expansion was in 1987, which included construction of the garage and the creation of the children’s department and reference area. McClure said the library currently has enough money saved to begin the project, though it continues to fund raise. The library also is applying for a $100,000 grant for the project from the state Education Department’s Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities program.

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