ANNA, TX. - Last May, Anna voters overwhelming approved a $22 million bond package to fund the city’s first community library. Now city officials are working to develop a project term, which will establish the initial guidelines for the facility
“We’re at what I think is one of the most fun parts of a project like this,” Neighborhood Services Director Marc Marchand says.
Photo: The new Anna Community Library will likely be located on the northeast side of the new city hall campus under construction. - Joshua Baethge / For the Anna - Melissa Tribune
He is currently working with a library task force appointed the by the city council last year to help plan the new facility. Representatives on the task force include Anna residents, members of the Friends of the Anna Library organization, representatives from city boards and commission, and council members Kevin Toten and Danny Ussery. With the help of a project management consultant, they will soon present the city council their initial recommendations for approval. Once approved, more specific design and architectural work can commence.
Earlier this month the task force visited several libraries across the Dallas/Fort Worth region that have been recently constructed or renovated. The goal of this “discovery tour’ was to get an idea of what goes into building a modern library. The visits also gave them the chance to discuss with various library representatives what has worked well and what they would do differently if given the chance.
Soon the task force will travel to Austin and Central Texas to visit similar facilities there. After that, community input sessions are planned in February to solicit resident input. As Marchand puts it, the community will essentially get to decide “what” the library will be. Then it will be up to city officials to determine “how” to do it.
“The idea is to develop a scope for this project that starts with the types of services and the flexibility for growth over the years that the community really wants,” he says.
Full Story & Additional Photos @ ANNA LIBRARY
Joshua Baethge / Anna-Melissa Tribune
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