10-31-2025

The week is the halfway-ish point between two community engagement events with our architectural team from HGA (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson).

On Wednesday, October 22^nd we hosted a meeting with community leaders from businesses, nonprofits, banks, ETCSD, and alternative education. They started with an exercise the library board remembers from our first meeting. Five picture boards, each representing a different space in the library, were set up. Each participant was given 10 circle stickers and was asked to place two on each picture board to show the two examples they like the best afterward clear preferences were identified. Those preferences will guide the design team in selection of finishes, colors and lines.

After introductions, the 21 participants and 3 library board members divided into groups lead by Kevin, Kim, or Erica for a puzzle activity. The library board and the meeting with the Tri-Troy board had already determined the likely shape of the building which is being described as a clover and square footage amounts for the various spaces such as children’s, adults, community room, etc. The groups were given a blueprint of that shell and colored squares cut to scale for each space. They were then asked to create a layout. This activity had several purposes for the design team. As an observer, I heard conversations about adjacencies, use, sight lines, light, ceiling height, and amenities to name a few.

The upcoming meeting is November 11^th beginning at 6:30. This meeting will be open to the entire community. This time, those ideas from last week’s meeting, community surveys, and board meetings will be brought together in detailed renderings with actual color and specific layout. Kevin, Erica, and Kim will be there to answer and ask questions. On our calendar this meeting is named Town Hall Meeting with HGA.

If you can’t make that meeting, but are interested in seeing their work, the renderings will actually be revealed on November 7, 8 & 9 and 14, 15, & 16 at the Friends of the ETLPL’s annual play fundraiser. Tickets are available at the library for $20 a person.

The other major Friends fundraiser, the book sale, will take a brief hiatus next week. Every Tuesday a Friend swaps out the books in our lobby. This regular turnover has resulted in about $50 in sales every week. Not bad at $0.50-1.00 an item. Next week, I have asked to have items made and donated by our Yarn & Stitch group available for purchase. These ladies are amazing knitters. We mainly have hats, scarves, and lap blankets (great for the car), but there may be other items as well. Check it out starting Tuesday, November 4^th.

Reading Now: Outlier by Susie Tate

Listening to Now: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (almost finished)