DOMINION LIBRARY ASSOCIATES, LLC

Jefferson-MadisonRegional Library BuildingAssessment

Crozet Library, Louisa County Library, NelsonMemorial Library, Scottsville Library

John A. Moorman, Principal7/7/2010

A building assessment of the Crozet Library, Louisa County Library, Nelson Memorial Library andScottsville Library conducted on June 18, 2010 by John A. Moorman, Principal and Charles J. Koutnik,Associate

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Building Assessment

2Dominion Library Associates, LLC of Williamsburg, Virginia was contracted by theJefferson-Madison Regional Library to provide an assessment of the outside andinterior of the following buildings operated by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library:Crozet Library, Louisa County Library, Nelson Memorial Library and Scottsville Library. After acceptance of the project proposal John A. Moorman, Principal and Charles J.Koutnik, Associate visited these libraries on June 18, 2010. Accompanying theconsultants during their visit was John Halliday Jefferson-Madison Regional LibraryDirector. At each location other Jefferson-Madison library staff interacted with theconsultants. This consultation follows the previous consultation which resulted in thereport of April 26, 2010 detailing visits to the Central, Gordon Avenue and Northsidelocations of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Again, the consultants wish to thank the assistance given by John Halliday, LibraryDirector and his staff. After visiting all but one location of the Jefferson-MadisonRegional Library, the consultants remain impressed with the quality of service given toJefferson-Madison Regional Library users. Even in one location, Crozet, where buildingconditions are totally unsuitable for providing public library service, library staff isdiligently working to make the best of a totally untenable situation. As mentioned in the earlier report, the comments on building condition are to be viewed,with the exception of Crozet, not as criticism but rather as suggestions on how servicemight be improved. As a long-time library director the principal consultant is fully awarefrom his own experience how important a second set of eyes is in any examination of building condition and use.The following is the project report prepared by John A. Moorman, Principal.

Crozet Library:

The Crozet Library opened its doors on May 6, 1964 in a small building across thestreet from its current location. The Library has since May 1984 been located in aformer train depot that was built in 1923 at a cost of $16,000. This 1,700 square footfacility is totally inadequate for the provision of public library service.The library¶s parking lot does not contain enough parking for building users. The parkinglot¶s entrance and exit to the public roadway is extremely dangerous and presents ahazard for those using the library as well as individuals traveling the road. On severaloccasions individuals negotiating the parking lot have driven their cars over the curband in one recent case over the retaining wall separating the parking lot from theroadway.On the exterior of the facility, the following items were noted:

Crozet Library sign needs to be replaced with a modern more visible signindicating that the Library is a part of JMRL. Include library hours on sign.

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Building Assessment

Repair library overhang adjacent to parking lot.

Outside book return drop needs to be relocated to grassy area between parkinglot and road. Use book return drop to promote library and indicate library hours.

Slate roof needs repairing.In the building¶s interior the following is noted:

Aisles are not ADA compliant.

There are several areas where public access computers block aisles to the pointthat emergency egress is denied.

Inadequate lighting

Restrooms used for storage and not ADA accessible. They are barely accessibleby anyone.

Back room used for storage, adult services, and branch librarian¶s office. Backdoor is blocked by boxes. This violates fire code.

Interior of building is substantially overcrowded. Outside of seating at publicaccess computers which, as mentioned above, block access to collection areas,there are less than 5 seats available for all other library users.In summary the Crozet Library is the most crowded facility attempting to provide libraryservice that this consultant has seen in recent years. With its lack of space, substantialovercrowding and restricted interior arrangements the building is a disaster. In case of fire or other calamity there is no way for the building to be evacuated safely and theconsultants question whether the structure would pass an inspection by fire officials.

Louisa County Library:

The Louisa County Library occupies a 15,000 square-foot facility located on Highway22/208 adjacent to Louisa County Middle and High Schools. The facility was dedicatedon December 12, 1999. The consultants were impressed with the facility¶s wellmaintained appearance.On the exterior of the facility the following items were noticed:

Needs green library symbol sign on both sides of the highway approaching thelibrary. Due to its location away from both Mineral and Louisa, such signage isessential for individuals to locate the facility.

The parking lot needs to be restriped.

Weeds need to be removed from around the entrance area to the Library.

Banner advertising summer reading should be removed from front wall of building. No outside banners should ever appear on any JMRL facility.

Clean outside canopy area of spider webs.

Replace outside ³No Smoking´ and ³No Loitering After Hours´ signs. They can beattached to the building in an attractive manner or placed in the parking lot wherethey are visible to users.