Wisconsin: Costs Derail Library-of-the-Future Plan in Green Bay

From WLUK (Fox 11):

Every public library will have to plan for the future. Brown County library officials believe the library of the future will involve more e-books and internet technology – but they’re pushing a plan that also calls for a renovated central downtown library building to serve the community for the next 40 years.
The projected cost for the is $23 million. But library officials say that figure could be cut back to save money.
“We’re going to pick and choose from the $23 million plan as to what’s really important what’s necessary for the building what we can get into this building for the most efficient cost possible,” said Lynn Stainbrook, library director.
[Clip]
“It’s quite possible the library of the future doesn’t include as much floor space and doesn’t include as many hardcover books but is more based on technology and so those are some questions that need to be asked and they weren’t fully asked before,” said David Steffen, Brown County Supervisor.
Library officials won over county board members back in March and some funding was approved to get the plan rolling. But newly elected board members in April seemed to derail that plan.

Read the Complete Article

Filed under: Funding, Libraries, News, Public Libraries