Big changes coming for Jasper Library in December
The Jasper Library is a few steps closer to completion of an interim remedy for its space problem.
Last Thursday the board unanimously approved the purchase of the Gramelspacher-Gutzweiler Building at 1103 Main St. for $10. In addition to approving this purchase they approved a proposed lease with the Vincennes University Jasper Center Foundation for the north parking lot. The proposed lease has a 5-year option to purchase for $17,000; if the board wishes to purchase the lot after five years the lease stipulates a fair market value would be determined then.
The building will be used for common meeting areas, computer lab and administrative offices.
The lease will be before the VUJ Center Foundation board before the next Jasper Library meeting. According to Library Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt he expects the lease to be approved barring any unforeseen issues.
The library also approved $146,515 for the purchase and refurbishing of the existing library with new shelves, desks and chairs. The bill includes 24,923 for the installation of new tables, desks and chairs from Hoffman Office Supply and $121,592 for the purchase and installation of new bookshelves from Robbins Library Interiors.
The library will likely close around December 3 while books are moved to a storage facility off sight and the new shelves are installed. They expect to be closed 12 days but could be up to 3 weeks.
Ok, this is a good near term solution. But what about in the future? We *need* a new building, and people need to get off their high-horses about the stupid location and get with something that's far more doable. Hell, get the old Goody's space on the north side (or one of the areas open on the other side of the road) and put it in there. NOBODY walks to the library anyway.
Sorry, but if it were that easy, they would have saved half a million dollars or thereabouts, now down the drain. It wasn't, they didn't, and it won't be until haughty pride and new/bigger is better takes a collective back seat to common sense and wants v. needs.