Key Elements for New Building

What are the key elements in the new building?

The public, staff and library board have looked long and hard at the most important elements for the new library. Among other key points, the library board voted to require the following elements:

• Book collection and stacks to house 217,500 volumes
• Periodical collection and stacks to house 320 titles and backfiles
• Nonprint collection and shelving to house 43,500 items
• 63 public computer workstations and furniture
• 78 staff computer workstations and furniture
• 298 reader seats
• 60 staff group seats
• Meeting room and furnishings to seat an audience of up to 400
• Storytime room and furnishings to seat an audience of up to 40
• Conference room and furnishings to seat up to 10

~Dan Black

What will the library look like?

Directions to the architect reflect public comments received during seven forums and an open house in the spring of 2007. These views, along with ideas submitted online and in suggestion boxes went into a building plan that was completed in the summer of 2007. Finally, a design workshop was conducted with the help of Modus Architects in the summer of 2007. All these ideas have been considered when we asked Modus to prepare fresh drawings. These conceptual elevations will be included in a Request for Proposals from a list of potential developers.
Dan Black

Planning this winter

While plans for the new library hinge on wrapping up land negotiations, we are still refining what the new library should look like. In December, the Nampa Development Commission hired Modus Architecture of Boise to make a site plan with conceptual elevation drawings. These drawings will show the traffic pattern and help us refine the look and feel for the block, which will include retail and office space, as well as public meeting space. The City of Nampa has engaged Carter and Burgess of Dallas, Texas, to conduct a thorough downtown traffic study. For that firm to do its work, we need a site plan for the library, showing how traffic will enter and leave the place. The library is planned for one city block downtown, with an onsite parking garage attached.
- Dan Black
Community Relations Coordinator