Ground broken for new library

Jeffrey Libby

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001 | 10:42 a.m.

The Henderson Library District broke ground this morning on a 42,000-square-foot library in Green Valley, its first new building since 1989.

The Paseo Verde Library is planned as part of a 36-acre, $28 million city recreation center that will include a 3,000-seat amphitheater, a 12,000 square-foot gymnasium, several swimming pools, a spa, climbing wall, fitness rooms, gift shop, child-care facility and an arts-and-crafts room.

The library, funded independently by the library district, will be modest by comparison.

When the $6.6 million facility opens this time next year, more than half of the shelves will be empty. Of the projected 80,000 books, more than half will be from the nearby Lydia Malcolm Library. Without help from the state, that small storefront branch could close.

The difference between the two facilities is funding.

The library district has been forced to rely on growth for new revenue, saving for seven years while operating a main library and two small storefront libraries. During that time, the population nearly doubled, from 109,000 in 1994 to about 200,000 today.

But even with the increased revenue, the district has struggled to maintain its ground. With total collections of about 198,000 books and 40,000 square feet of space, Henderson ranks as second worst city in the state for books per person, at four, and worst for available library space.

"If it takes another seven years to build another library, we'll be even further behind," Joan Kerschner, library district director, said.

The Parks and Recreation Department, however, did not have to rely on growth to raise money. In 1997 voters approved $28.3 million for the Paseo Verde recreation center.

In June the library asked voters to approve a larger bill, but spread over 30 years. Voters rejected a tax hike that would have raised a projected $80 million to build and operate six new libraries.

Even so, Kerschner says she is optimistic. Her board is working on design plans for new libraries in Anthem, Pittman and adjacent to the Clark County Heritage Museum. If voters have a clearer idea what the district is proposing, they may be more likely to buy it, she said.

That means at some point soon -- Kerschner couldn't say when -- voters will likely see another ballot question from the district asking for money.

She's hoping the success of the Paseo Verde Library will help change minds.

The new library will offer the only public genealogy room in Clark County, as well as a teen area to help retain readers past the seventh grade, when many kids stop using libraries.

A multipurpose room with seating for 80 people will help expand programs for adult literacy and for children, Kerschner said.

By doubling the floor space of libraries in Henderson to 80,000 square feet, the district will gain adequate space for a population of about 160,000 people, according to national standards.

While that's getting closer, Kershner says, the population will have grown to 212,000 by next August, when the library opens. Available books will also be short.

Meanwhile circulation in 2001 increased to 513,131 items checked out, up 13 percent from the previous year.

"The whole community will benefit," Kerschner said. "If we felt people weren't interested in using libraries, we wouldn't be trying so hard to build them."