Henderson libraries plan new branch at mall, 3 other projects

By Dave Clark (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | midnight

Within the next two years, Henderson libraries may have four new locations — a new Gibson branch downtown, the Green Valley Library now operated by the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and smaller locations in the Galleria at Sunset mall and in the under-construction Heritage Park Senior Center.

Henderson Libraries Executive Director Tom Fay revealed progress on each project at the Aug. 21 library Board of Trustees meeting.

He said the library may open a location in Galleria by March. The location's collection would not be as expansive as that at a typical branch, focusing primarily on popular and family-oriented fare. He noted the mall would give the library a free 1,350-square-feet storefront for six months and what he called a "very low rate" after that.

"It's a great opportunity," he said. "In most places where libraries are in a mall, they are very successful. We already have a clientele."

He told trustees he would give them further details about the plan in September.

The library will also have a similarly sized location at the Heritage Park Senior Center near Burkholder Boulevard and Racetrack Road. Fay told trustees the library has been working with the city to ensure the facility has all of the power and data elements it will need.

"It's going to be more of a retail display type of environment," he said.

He described the lightly staffed facility as featuring living-room style seating arrangements and a location across from the center's coffee shop.

"We're calling it a prototype," he said. "It won't have huge ranges of bookshelves."

Fay added that the library's wireless Internet will extend into a third of the senior center, and the facility will house eight to 12 computer locations. He projected the facility opening in August or September next year and forecasted the library potentially working on similar sites within the city's recreation centers.

On the new Gibson Library, which will be located one mile north of the current 20-year-old location on Water Street, Fay said the opening is now slated for early 2010 after some delays in finalizing the land deal.

Fay said the new facility was needed for a host of reasons, including the current facility's lack of parking, technological deficiencies and limited space. The planned library will have an additional 5,000 square feet of space with land available for another 7,000-square-foot expansion.

Meanwhile the Green Valley Library is projected to reopen early next year following its transfer from the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Fay anticipated the facility's temporary closure around Christmas, and 90 to 120 days of renovation following its January vacancy. He noted the renovations will include tearing down walls, painting, recarpeting and adding lighting.

The new Gibson Library will cost $4.5 million, but Fay said the old facility was sold to Henderson for $4 million, covering the bulk of the new facility's cost. The Green Valley Library renovations will cost between $600,000 to $700,000 plus an additional $2 million for books. He estimated costs for the Heritage Park Library at $75,000 — primarily for computer systems and books.

Fay said that, because the library has been able to save money through the years, it is now able to finance the projects. He said all of them happening at the same time was merely by chance.

"They all started many years ago," Fay said.

Dave Clark is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.