Boasting a beautiful location overlooking Flathead Lake, the North Lake County Public Library is more than just a library: it is a destination for young children and parents, a reliable place for residents to get technology help, and a place to unwind with a book or newspaper in a comfortable corner. However, this facility is well-worn, inefficient, and in need of improvements. There is an immediate and palpable desire from our community to create a modern library.
The “Next Chapter Campaign” put forth by the Polson Library Foundation has taken the vision for this treasure to the next level, imagining how this priceless resource can be even more accessible to all residents of Polson and the surrounding communities.
FOSTERING A LOVE OF LEARNING
The library is a critical resource in our community that offers something for everyone. Literacy and youth engagement are at the forefront of the library’s programmatic vision. The importance of stimulating, engaging, and fun story-time and literacy programs for children cannot be overstated; the Library is proud that it fills this need in the community by offering events led by librarians both onsite, in schools and daycares, and throughout the community. While these occur year-round, the Summer Reading Program is especially popular with children and adults alike, with about 1,000 registrants each summer. In 2019 alone, hundreds of children attended the 500 youth programs offered through the Library.
The renovated North Lake County Public Library will feature an expanded children’s section that can accommodate more families for story-time; house more books to instill curiosity and a love of learning; and open a world of literacy and lifelong learning for our youth.
A PLACE FOR ALL LIBRARY PATRONS
Outside of youth programming, the Library also offers many other services. Residents take advantage of the technology that is available within the library and know they can seek help with their own devices from the Library staff.
Community members appreciate that the Library is a resource for tasks as basic as printing a recipe from Microsoft Word to something as complex as using a 3-D printer. The Library also offers curbside pick-up. This service helps with social distancing, and is also convenient for people with kids or pets in the car and patrons with limited mobility.
Additionally, the greater Polson community values the free meeting spaces that are available through the Library. These spaces also host popular events like author readings and Humanities Montana programs.
Programs and resources like these make the North Lake County Public Library a staple in the community. But unfortunately, our current library design cannot accommodate all our fellow library lovers due to accessibility issues. The renovation of the North Lake County Public Library includes plans to make the facility compliant with current code regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This will be accomplished by relocating the entrance to the corner of 1st Street and 1st Avenue that will feature a small ramp outside the building for access; leveling the current lobby’s ramp; increasing the space between library shelves; and improving the restrooms. Additionally, many of these ADA improvements will also address concerns related to secure lines of sight within the Library for staff and patrons alike.
A MODERN LIBRARY
For Our Growing Community
Our beautiful downtown Library on Flathead Lake attracts people from all walks of life and ages. With nearly 6,000* library card holders in northern Lake County and high volumes of people moving to the region, a modern library facility will become an even greater community asset. A key piece of our mission is to be a contemporary center of learning. While the technology is adequate, there is always room to improve. Renovating the North Lake County Public Library will allow for a creative Maker’s Space, more space for additional computers, and a 3D printer that will be available for public use. These technological advancements, combined with the modern, renovated facility, will make the Library a true destination for seasonal and year-round residents alike.
* Based on June 30, 2020 statistic for cardholders
SIMPLE MODIFICATIONS
Result in a Transformative Difference
Although the Library building hasn’t changed much since opening in 1989, the Polson area has. To accommodate our growing population while maximizing the available public space of the library, the Polson Library Foundation is committed to making simple but necessary renovations that will benefit our community for years to come.
THE “NEXT CHAPTER CAMPAIGN”
Will Achieve These Critical Goals
1. Increase the square footage of the Library’s public space by over 2,000 feet. This will be accomplished by moving the entrance to the corner of 1st Street and 1st Avenue and by bringing down the interior walls of the former Sandpiper Art Gallery.
2. Accommodate necessary ADA improvements at the entrance, in the restrooms, and throughout the Library space.
3. Improve the safety and secure lines of sight in the Library, increasing a sense of security for staff and patrons alike.
4. Create more space for valuable mission-driven offerings like children’s programming, technology access, and creative exploration.
PROJECT SCOPE
The North Lake County Library Foundation is leading a campaign to support the renovation of the existing library facility. The renovation is expected to cost approximately $2,000,000.
The mission of the North Lake County Public Library is to provide a welcoming, contemporary center of literacy and lifelong learning for all users. The plans for the “Next Chapter Campaign” are the truest extension of this mission, continuing to improve the space for literacy, technology, and community gathering – for all users.
To improve this treasure in the heart of Polson, we invite you to be part of this transformative project.
Join Us To Renovate Our
North Lake County Public Library Today!
