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City entertains $35K library ‘concept’ report

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Is a new public library in the works for Gallup?

The Gallup City Council received a concept report April 25 on a possible new library. Gallup Public Works Director Stan Henderson and Library Director Mary Ellen Pellington stressed that the report was a follow up to last year’s downtown redevelopment planning sessions.

The report was presented by the Dallas-based Huitt-Zollars and at a cost to the city of around $35,000. The Texas firm is not scheduled to appear before the full council again in the near future.

“Staff has proceeded with a feasibility study for a new public library on the site as proposed in the Gallup Downtown Redevelopment Plan,” Henderson told council members. “This study follows up the library planning and feasibility study of 2013 and refines both location and conceptual project costs.”

Joe Gallegos and José Zalaya of Huitt-Zollars told council members about design layout and cost, saying a new library would cost in the range of a little more than $18 million.

The 20-minute PowerPoint presentation by Gallegos and Zalaya  included tidbits of information on how to improve library efficiency and engage a wider segment of greater McKinley County via library services.

The proposed location of a new Gallup library is at the northwest corner of Second Street and Aztec Avenue, which is the current location of Gallup Children’s Branch. The diameter of the Octavia Fellin Library and the Children’s Branch is a little more than 24,000 square feet Gallegos and Zalaya told council members.

A new facility would expand to some 44,000 square feet, the two representatives said.

“You have a building at the moment that gets a lot of use,” Gallegos said. “The new building would be designed to accommodate that use and much more.”

The concept presented by Gallegos and Zalaya stipulated a three-story structure with a basement. The basement would be the children’s area and the first floor designated for the community at-large.

The first floor would serve as a reception and collection area and house some books and services, the two explained. A second floor would house the majority of books and periodicals and a third floor would be designated for teens, Gallegos and Zalaya said.

Funding the project is something that the city hasn’t decided on yet, Henderson said. Henderson said talks are sure to continue on funding prospects.

Mayor Jackie McKinney said the city and county would get together and at the very least talk about cost at some point in the future.

“There are many people from the county that utilize the library,” McKinney said.

MCKINLEY COUNTY

Former McKinley County Manager and current Commissioner Bill Lee said county commissioners have to see some project numbers, some raw data, to move on a possible cost-sharing request.

He said everyone at the county is aware that there are numerous county library users that come from far into McKinley County.

“What we want is numbers, or any kind of information and data, that we can review and study about the situation,” Lee said. “We’re not against a cost-savings measure. This is an issue where we can work together.”

Lee broke it down even further: “Just like the city gets its data: We (the McKinley County Board of Commissioners) want and need that same data.”

Meanwhile, Pellington said a new library would be a state-of-the-art facility that greater McKinley County would appreciate. She said such a facility would have across-the-board expanded community services.

“We would house expanded collections for children and adults,” Pellington said. “We would have expanded information technology. Just everything. In general, we’re talking about a much bigger facility that would serve many, many, many generations to come. This would be a premier facility in New Mexico.”

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent


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