You may have heard the Greene County Library is being remodeled and expanded, and wondered how all this work is being handled and by who.   Here’s is the Scoop !

In 2005, discussions concerning the updating and expansion of the Greene County Library began.   Using existing formulas concerning projected population growth, library size based on population guidelines and state funding provisions, a plan for obtaining funds was prepared.   Based on projected costs, a request was made of the Greene County Commissioners to include $1,000,000 for library renovation in the next scheduled SPLOST   project list.  Additional funds from the state were conditional on the approval of this request  for local funding. Once the SPLOST list was approved by the voters of Greene County,  detailed planning could begin.

In 2006, based on the state funding formula, a  comprehensive request for $1,800,000 was sent to Georgia Public Library Service.   In early July 2009, with the interest and efforts of Sen. Grant and Rep. Channel, who included the project in the FY 2010 legislative session,  the entire project moved forward.  A state construction bond was issued for $1,810,000,  SPLOST funds of $1,000,000 were committed,  along with $5,050 from local library funding.

That prompted your Greene County Board of Trustees to begin their work in earnest along with the involvement and expertise of Jeff Tomlinson, director of the Uncle Remus Regional Library system.   Jeff brought procedures that had been tested and proven at a similar project at the Jasper County library.   He recommended that Cliff Sanders, the board’s chairman, form  a committee which included library staff, several board members, as well as a the president of a  key contributing benefactor, “Friends of the Library.”

Over the course of four months, this group studied in detail, various aspects of the building and its operations.  We made ‘field visits’ to other libraries to see what they had done – what went well and what they would have done differently.   This helped us decide, in general and in some cases specific terms, what we wanted and needed.

It was then time to call in some architectural firms, and ‘requests for quotes’ (RFQ) were sent out to 5 who were interested in being awarded the work.  Using a ‘need/want’ list we provided,  3 of the firms  submitted general concepts and their ideas in written form for our review.   These 3 firms were then evaluated in detail, to include their organizational make-up, experience, prior work, and pricing structure.  We then called in all three for an in-depth, live interview sessions,  where specific questions were asked, clarification was achieved and their ‘willingness to listen’ were measured,  along with the specific methodology they would use to determine their fees.  In January, the committee had all the information it needed to award the project to the best firm and subsequently submitted the facts and its nominee to the full Board of Trustees.  The vote was unanimous and Carter Watkins Architects Associates Inc. was awarded the contract, which includes on-site management of all contractors, for $128,260.00

Shown above is a schematics of the library’s new interior lay-out.  Note the repositioning of the control desk as well as new restrooms, computer areas, general meeting room configuration, as well as a improved storage and sight lines to all areas of the library.

Watch for a up-date on when (possibly mid-August) we will be moving to an interim site during construction, where it will be and how long we will operate there before moving back to our re-modeled and re-energized home.