Othello library exploring potential remodel or new location

OTHELLO — Mid-Columbia Libraries and Adams County Rural Library District 1, which contracts with MCL for library services and management in Othello, are in the process of evaluating either a potential remodel or new building for the Othello Public Library. 

MCL Associate Director of Communications Carlos Orozco said discussions have already started about a remodel or finding another location to move to.

“Periodically, whenever we look at a location and we see, ‘OK, it’s been heavily used,’ when things get heavily used things need upgrading after a while,” Orozco siad. “So Othello was kind of one of the next ones up that we're looking at doing that (for).”

The Othello Library, located in a former bank, began service to the public in 1995 and was last refurbished in 2003, according to MCL’s website. Orozco said it is still too early to tell which option, remodel or new location, would be more cost-effective.

“We're still kind of exploring how much it would cost to upgrade the current location and what could be done to do that, or if it would be more cost-effective to possibly move to a different location,” he said. “So, we're still kind of exploring those options and seeing also if there's opportunities out there for different grants and things.”

Orozco said Mid-Columbia Libraries did a study recently analyzing a potential remodel of the Othello branch, but ultimately decided to put off the remodel.

“We've kind of done a study just to see what kind of maintenance issues we’ll kind of be running into,” Orozco said, “and there are some things down the line that we kind of want to get ahead of before that becomes an issue … so we won't have to stop services or delay services while those things get fixed.”

Othello Branch Manager Georgia Reitmire commented on the possibility of a remodel or moving to a new building.

“I think it's more of a preventive thing and just really being able to provide a really beautiful space for the community. Something that's a little bit more welcoming and pleasing,” Reitmire said. “We are a very, very busy library. We get a lot of use, and very much the community loves the space here. They love coming here and they love the staff … of course, then that leads to space issues.”

Orozco said a new location would have to remain in the city and accessible to the majority of residents, and also a permanent location rather than a temporary one.

“We also look at how big it is, if we could offer different services that we currently don't have like if there's meeting room opportunities, all that type of stuff too,” he said. “It might be a little bit more expensive to move locations, but if we could offer different services or a more robust set of services to the customers, that's also something that we'd be interested in.”

A remodel could also result in a different floor plan or expanded services, depending on the renovations, though Reitmire said the Othello branch is already pretty limited on space.

“There are times when all of our computers are full. We could use more computers, things like that, so having a bigger space really would allow for that,” Reitmire said. “There is the Book Nook, which is attached at the north end of the building, but then that takes away from the Friends of the Library group, where they have their book sales.”

MCL is certainly interested in expanding and investing in the Othello branch, Orozco said.

“It would still have to meet our budget requirements,” he said. “We also have to go to the Adams County board and talk to a couple of different people to make sure everything makes sense for all parties involved.”

Orozco said it is difficult to put a timeline on the project at this stage.

“I think it definitely depends on the opportunity of it,” he said. “I mean, if there was a location that was in our budget that made sense it would be a little bit sooner, but as far as staying in the location that we're currently in and remodeling, it would just kind of depend on all of our partners as well and seeing what makes sense and when to do that. But we're hoping within the next, possibly, two years.”

Reitmire said the Othello branch staff is definitely open to expanding its services or moving locations.

“It's all exciting if it comes to fruition,” she said.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Library patrons work on the computers near the front entrance of Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Othello branch location, which it manages as a contracted service with the Adams County Rural Library District 1.
  

    The Othello Public Library opened its doors to the public in 1995 after moving into a former bank building, as evidenced by the old vault door now leading into the pictured study room near the front of the library.
  

    Othello Public Library Branch Manager Georgia Reitmire said the library building lacks space for expansion aside from the dedicated section for the Friends of the Library Book Nook, pictured, which supports the library through book sales.