Friends Host Community Reception

Saturday evening the Mancos Friends of the Library hosted a Reception for New Library Updates and Progress. It was very well attended, and door prizes and donation brochures abounded...

We have imported the presentation from that evening to this blog... Some text is included, but we also have a lot of updated photos!

2009.02 Library Reception

Friends, thank you for hosting this special event for the community!

Mancos Public Library Building Project Update

By Patsy Smith, Director

The Mancos Library District Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 14, to address several building issues and to review the initial schematic design for the new library.

Members voted to approve the covenant pertaining to the consolidation of lots and discussed the draft of the intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Mancos regarding public improvements on South Mesa Street. This issue was tabled to a later date.

Dennis Humphries, architect for the new library building, presented the initial schematic design to the board and to more than 20 community members. The board approved the schematic design in respect to the location on the site and the size of the building, with the contingency of further input by library staff and other considerations.

Humphries met with library staff the following day to gather their input.

Design development is to continue, including a review of changes at the board's next regular meeting slated Thursday, August 30. A review is mid-September is sceduled, and board approval of the design is on September 27.

For more information about the Mancos Public Library Building Project, call the library at [970] 533.7569.

St. Patrick's Day Potluck Fundraiser

Many Mancos Valley residents came to enjoy the potluck, listen to the wonderful live music, and to socialize about the new library plans.

Honorary Chairs of the Capital Campaign, Jean and Clay Bader

Kate Kearns (with Adeline) and Susan Stamets

Representatives from the Friends of the Library, Jean and Dale

*Architect Weekend a Success

Letter to the Editor / Mancos Times

Dear Editor,

The meetings with the library architects, Dennis Humphries and Matt Wilhelm were very successful in gathering input and ideas from the community for the new library building. The architects will take this information and create several conceptual design options that will be available for the community to see in January, 2007.

The Mancos Public Library would like to thank the following individuals andbusinesses for their help and support of the architect meetings. Dana Petersen created the flyer; Charlene Swansen accompanied the architects during the Friday meetings; Fahrenheit Coffeee Roasters donated coffee; P & D Grocery donated donuts; the Mancos Times provided excellent publicity; the Absolute Baker & Cafe provided breakfast goodies; and the Mancos Pizza Company provided pizza.

Thank you to the Mancos elementary shcool, middle school, and high school; and to the Mancos Valley Independent School for allowing us to meet with your students and teachers. We appreciate Nancy Strother, Kenny Smith, and members of the library board and staff for their special help make this a successful weekend.

We would also like to thank the students, senior citizens, community members, library staff, and library board for giving your time and input so that the architects have a real sense of who our community is and what our needs are for the new library. We would like to encourage everyone to continue to give us your ideas and we will pass them on to the architects.

Sincerely, Patsy Smith, Library Director

Mancos Public Library Architect Listens to Residents

Last weekend, architect Dennis Humphries spent a lot of time meeting Mancos residents and hearing a variety of requests for the design of the planned 6,800 square foot library facility south of the Mancos River.

During a visit to a Senior Center lunch on November 17, the architect hear requests for signs showing different sections in the library, a floor plan and directory near the entrance, sitting and rest areas throughout the interior and exterior, accessible bathroom facilities and bicycle racks.
During the November 18 public meeting at the Community Center, residents wrote their requests on colored "post-it" notes and placed them on large sheets with titles like "public meeting rooms," "children's area," and "general exterior."

Attendees had dozens of suggestions and requests, including picture and art displays, a historical collection room, computers and wireless Internet and high quality acoustics.

Other requests included as much natural lighting as possible and "smart" building innovations such as low water suage and grey water usage for landscaping.

Further discussion about the building's exterior revealed other environmental and cultural concerns. Passive solar power was one suggestion. Another was minimal light pollution. "Only 20 percent of North Americans see the Milky Way," one attendee said, voicing a request for controlled lighting of outdoor areas.

Other discussion items were technology for online cattle auctions and teleconferencing, used book storage, a solarium entrance with native plants as a learning tool, storm water management, an outdoor courtyard on the river with summer seating, a balcony overlooking the Mancos River and the use of local materials for the exterior.

Attendees discussed building styles, with requests for a structure that would blend with and echo elements of older Mancos building such as the Bauer Bank Building. Other attendees wanted to incorporate a Mesa Verde architectural theme, reflecting the Native American influence in the region. Participants rejected, "Southewestern Spanish stucco."

Other requests for the building included self-cleaning glass windows, a brick kiva, a place to safely tie dogs up, handicap accessability and in-floor heating. One resident wsaid he wanted to see a sense of "whimsy" incorporated into the design. "Let's push the edge, but still live within the vernacular," Humphries said.

Humphries will take the community input he received during his visit and develop several proposed plans with a return visit scheduled after the first of the year. "I've got my work cut out for me," he said.

Photo

From the Mancos Times

Dennis Humphries, Architect, Meets with Mancos Valley Community

Dennis Humphries of Humphries Poli Architects met with Mancos Valley residents to discuss plans for the new library.

Discussion and pizza with Mancos High School students.

A few of the dozens of suggestions for the new library posted during a public meeting on November 18 at the Community Center. The meeting was an opportunity for residents to weigh in on preferences for the planned library. From the Mancos Times

Meet the Architect for the Planned Mancos Library: November 18

Mr. Dennis Humphries, architect of the new Mancos Public Library building strives to design libraries that fit their communities. Input from all groups of our community is vital for the design phase. Meetings with the architect will take place November 17 and 18 in Mancos. A neighborhood landowner's meeting is set for Friday, November 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the library for business and residential neighbors to express their vision for the new library. Also on Friday, Mr. Humphries will meet with four different school groups, have lunch with the Senior Citizens, and meet with the Board of Trustees at a special work session. Saturday meetings include a public meeting from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Mancos Community Center and an afternoon meeting with library staff. If you are unable to attend any of these meetings, please come by the library and let the staff know your ideas or find out more about other meeting opportunities.

From the Mancos Times