Letter: Jasper Library should expand into the schools

An open letter to the Jasper Library Board of Trustees, Greater Jasper Consolidated School System, City of Jasper and citizens of Jasper

There is another scenario which should be studied before increasing our taxes by trying to repurpose an old site which will surely reveal many hidden, unidentified costs for the Jasper Library and Jasper Arts Commission for a long time.

I believe our city leadership should investigate an “out of the box” solution for the Jasper Library and Jasper Arts Commission whereby they would expand at either the Jasper Middle School or Jasper High School properties. This would lead to joint ownership of new facilities that would serve our city for many years to come.

There are many advantages to sharing space: 1) Vacant school rooms could be used during summer for additional summer library activities; 2) During the school year, the library would be co-located so that reference material could be easily accessed by many students before they head home; 3) There would be information technology platform and scalability advantages gained by affording a faster network: 4) The Library Board/Arts Commission could get out of the real estate business and not have to worry about lawn upkeep and parking lot maintenance; 5) Parking will never be a problem for most library hours or Jasper Arts Commission programs; and 6) utility savings.

This taxpayer believes that good cooperation and partnership could yield a much better solution by breaking this new ground in our community.

Levi Nigg
Jasper, Ind.