The computer lab is no more, and that is leading to other changes at the Seward Memorial Library.
“It started because the lab was not used,” Library Director Becky Baker said. “Twenty years ago, it was totally different.”
Now, “The Story Continues” with a remodeling project starting with the lab space
When the library opened in 2003, not everyone had personal computers. The lab was designed for patrons to have a place to check email and do other online tasks without having a computer at home.
The 16 computers were often all in use at once with people waiting for an open terminal. Today, Baker said, if the library has three people a day use the lab, that’s a lot.
When the staff decided to eliminate the lab, they had to decide what to do with the space.
“It’s prime real estate,” Baker said.
The challenge for the staff is that everything at the library is interconnected.
“It’s not just one space but many,” Baker said. “We’re trying to guess 20 years into the future. That’s the hard part.”
Assistant Library Director Niki Wortman said they looked at what is getting the most use in the library – the study room and meeting room spaces.
Baker said some of that stems from the pandemic, when people got used to doing business via online instead of in-person meetings. So adding more meeting spaces was important.
“After many months of discussions, sketches and rearranging, I’m confident we have a working plan,” Baker said.
The computer lab space will become administrative space, including office space for the director and assistant, with storage and working space for the staff.
The staff workspace in the lower level will be cut in half, Wortman said. Part of that space will become the used book area, which will make it more user friendly, Baker said.
The current used book space will become two more study rooms. The items in the genealogy room in the lower level will go the heritage room on the main floor.
The space currently the genealogy room will become a medium sized meeting room that is more technology friendly, Wortman said.
Two sections of nonfiction books will move to the lower level, Baker said. Shelves can then be moved to make room for public computers – two desktops and three laptops.
The current director’s office will become the Library of Things, where items like outdoor games, fitness equipment, tools and more will be located.
“They’re 3D things not on traditional bookshelves,” Baker said.
The majority of the construction will be in the lower level, but some electrical will be done on the main floor. That will include adding outlets in the heritage room, Baker said.
“We hope to be done before summer,” she said.
Clark & Enerson did the plans and preliminary work, and Samson Construction will do the labor.
Baker said spacing might be tighter and rooms might be limited during the six-week project, which started April 10.
The project is estimated to cost $75,000. It is included in the Seward County Gives options. Baker said the Seward Library Foundation, Friends of the Seward Library and the Seward Foundation have provided funds, as have individual donors.
Other changes coming in the future include shrinking the audio/visual section of DVDs and CDs and possibly lessening the number of magazine subscriptions.
“We’re always willing to listen to public suggestions. We’ll listen and do what we can,” Baker said. “It’s not our library. It’s OUR library.”
