Lake Wales Public Library Renovations for Proposed Multipurpose Rooms and Young Adult Resource Center Approved by City Commission
by James Coulter
The Lake Wales Public Library is one step closer to adding new rooms to its main building now that the City Commission has approved a proposal with a local engineering firm.
At their regular meeting on August 6, City Commissioners approved an item in the consent agenda that approved a proposal for full architectural engineering services to renovate the city library.
By passing this consent agenda item, the city has approved a “Design Professional Fee Proposal with Parlier + Crews Architect, P.A. for $25,200” and “authorize the City Manager to execute the appropriate documents on the City’s behalf,” as outlined in the city agenda memo.
The proposed renovations would remodel the main stacks (west end) inside the main library building. This remodeled area will facilitate the addition of a young adult center, two multipurpose rooms with folding partitions, and an additional office/storage space.
“Currently, the library struggles to find storage space for our supplies,” wrote Belle Reynoso, Library Director, in the city agenda memo. “While we make use of closet space to the fullest potential, many of our related supplies are spread throughout the building, because we do not have access to a large central area where we can store everything needed.”
These renovations will be carried out by Parlier+CrewsArchitects, P.A., which had submitted its proposal for full architectural engineering services. They will also coordinate with the Library Interiors of Florida to relocate the books and move the shelving units to prepare for these renovations.
“Due to significant business and residential growth within the city, there has never been more demand for extra space than there is this year,” Reynoso wrote. “These new, improved multipurpose and Young Adult rooms will provide welcome privacy for discreet work and study. Our singular meeting room is so often booked that the library staff must refuse five or more requests for it a month.”
