There is a current proposal to increase the size and scope of Rochester Public Library. Twenty years ago, the square footage of the plan of this building was reduced by 29 percent because of reduced construction funding.
Population has since increased, and library usage has increased. Program use has grown 1,056 percent from 1995 to 2014, much of it in the last five years.
Presentations and meetings already vie for available times and adequate space for attendees. Seating is at a premium throughout the building. Groups of preschoolers, children and teens cannot efficiently meet in designated areas because of space constraints.
As the population of Rochester continues to increase, use of the library is projected to similarly increase. These are wonderful challenges that can be met by expanding the library on its current footprint, maintaining its accessibility and more adequately meeting the needs of its growing resources and programming.
Please contact your Rochester City Council member, and ask her or him to support the proposed Rochester Public Library expansion.
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Elizabeth Katzmann
Rochester
