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Stumbledevelopment:
Henderson officials break ground on $2.6 million library
Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Sun
Henderson Libraries Executive Director Tom Fay, center, joins distinguished guests and contractors in breaking ground Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, on the 19,919-square-foot new James I. Gibson Library located at Lake Mead Parkway and Water Street.
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 | 11 a.m.
New library
Sun Archives
- Henderson to get new $2.6 million library on Water Street (7-23-2009)
- Libraries urging patrons to check out digital collections (4-2-2009)
- Pittman Branch of Henderson Libraries permanently shuttered (3-19-2009)
- Green Valley Library partially open during renovation (3-10-2009)
- Henderson Libraries changes One Book selection (3-9-2009)
- New library opens in Galleria mall (2-28-2009)
- Gibson Library move delayed (12-3-2008)
- Henderson libraries plan new branch at mall, 3 other projects (9-4-2008)
- Henderson Libraries tightens budget as revenue falls (12-3-2008)
Beyond the Sun
In the shadow of the industrial plants that spawned Henderson, dignitaries and officials from the Henderson Libraries turned the first shovels of dust and rocks this morning to launch construction of a new downtown library branch.
The James I. Gibson branch — named for the former resident and state senator who was instrumental in obtaining funding for the branch’s current building next to Henderson City Hall — is expected to move next April from its current site to the new one on Water Street just north of Lake Mead Parkway.
The new site will increase the branch’s square footage by 5,000 to a total just shy of 20,000 square feet, which will allow for a 25-station computer lab, classrooms and increased parking. The new branch will also offer a first for Southern Nevada — a drive-through service that will allow patrons to reserve materials online and collect them at a pick-up window.
Henderson Libraries Executive Director Tom Fay said the new location, just a mile north of the current location, will also allow the branch to be more visible to new residents as residential developments around the downtown area are completed in the coming years.
“This allows us to have a bigger, better library down where more people will see us,” Fay said.
The new branch has a price tag of about $2.6 million, which is roughly $2 million less than what the district estimated when it first came up with the idea a couple of years ago. Fay said the lower price tag was made possible by lower construction costs brought on by the recession — the same recession, he said, that has pushed library usage to unprecedented levels and necessitated a bigger facility.
“A lot of people ask, ‘Why a library right now, in the worst economy since the 1930s?’,” Fay said. “I say, why not? If you look at the situation we’re in today, people are using libraries more than they have in the last 25-30 years, so the need is definitely there, and we’ll be there to meet it.”
Fay said the library district took 62 years, from 1944 to 2006, to reach annual circulation levels of 1 million, and that the district is expected to hit 2 million by 2011.
“We are here to help this community get through this struggle and come out of this economy over the next few years,” he said.
Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen said the new branch will help the city meet the educational and recreational needs of residents at a time when free services are the only ones that many families can afford.
“Communities are judged by the amenities and opportunities they provide to residents,” Hafen said. “Our residents have always been served by an excellent parks and recreation program, by excellent fire and police services, and now they’ll have access to an even better library.”
Though the Henderson Libraries have a close working relationship with the city of Henderson — the city agreed to purchase the existing Gibson branch, which allowed the district to have the money for a new facility — the two are separate entities. The library district is funded by a separate portion of property taxes, and is administered by Fay and a board of trustees.
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Congratulation Henderson & Tom Fay! We need more forward thinking communities with bigger and better libraries in Nevada!
This article, showing a picture of all the loafers sucking at the public teat, answers a question I've had lately. Hasn't the Internet replaced the Dewey Decimal system as the primary source of knowledge for students and adults alike? But the article gives the answer. I know a hopelessly addicted slot machine gambler who loses every dime at one of those 3 casinos right around the corner. The only way I can contact her? Right, she goes to her neighborhood library, and can access her Hotmail for free. So the libraries are now surrogate welfare offices, providing services for poor citizens and illegals. What a country. BTW-those Tijuana murals down the street certainly highlight the ambiance of DT Henderson. Maybe a new one on the library?
Surfing the internet is swimming in the shallows. To sustain genuine culture we need libraries and museums (real ones, Oscar.) For every nay-sayer complaining about the pennies it takes to support the public library there are a dozen kids learning to love learning at the library. Thank you city of Henderson!
Hmmm, maybe if your slot-addicted friend actually picked up a book and read it while she was at the library she could improve her quality of life and actually contribute to society instead of continually asking for handouts from the government or waiting payouts from a casino who prays on the ignorant, such as your friend.
Good job. Nice to see the project is finally going forward and creating jobs.
mywallet700 - Oh and btw it is spelled Internet, but if you had gone to a library and looked it up in a dictionary you would know that.
Don't fool yourself about how forward thinking the COH is. Look at the entrance to downtown @ Water & Lake Mead. There WAS a thriving business there!! I agree that a new library is necessary as the old one was dated, cramped and looked as crammed as my garage. Yes, the internet has in some ways replaced the use of the libraries but I'll be danged if I can read or check out a book off the internet. I think it is an investment in the future and government money being spent to PRODUCE something. I can't tell who the contractors are. Can anyone tell me?? Hope it's not the same old, same old.
We use the library regularly. The present library is always busy and they definitely need the larger facility. The naysayers are usually those who have never used the library. This is a great move by the Henderson Library system and the City of Henderson.
Answered my own question. Looks like R&O is the contractor. And it's on Water & Lake Mead. Thought that was going to be the location of a tower!! Must be on one of the other corners.
I think it is absolutely brilliant to invest taxpayer dollars into a facility that can offer help and education to those who want to help and educate themselves. For nearly everyone posting here, a computer is a staple, and it's easy to say that it's pork. But there are thousands of kids who need access to something like this in their neighborhood - many of whom will grow up to be better-contributing members of society as a direct result. I know, I sound a little neo-hippie (and that makes me wanna throw up in my mouth a little), but it's the truth.
Oh, and Wallet, great idea...dropping $2M into "finishing" road construction in Henderson. That'll go really far.
Yes, Porter, it's on a different corner. As the article states, it will be north of Lake Mead (north west to be accurate - think: the brand new Target center, such a "seedy" locale, huh?). The Water Street District tower was slated for the south east corner. And, I take it you've never heard of the Amazon Kindle or e-books. You can get a book online, but the internet will never replace text-and-binding.