Central Visioning

Results from our Survey

Arlington Central LibraryRecommended Plan of Serviceand Facility Options for Consideration

Since January of 2010 we have been soliciting public input by way of focus groups, public surveys, public meetings, stakeholder and staff interviews to determine what the future of Central Library services should be. We have also conducted a thorough review of our current facility to determine its strengths and weaknesses. We hope to have a course mapped out toward achieving the wants and needs of Arlington residents for Central Library services by January of 2012. The course that we anticipate will likely stretch out over the next 5-7 years, so your patience is requested as we work through the milestones.

Options & Estimates (PDF, 1.8 MB) Contains diagrams and cost estimates detailing three options with pros and cons of each:
1. Renovate and expand the current Central Library facility.
2. Build a new Central Library facility on the current site.
3. ~~Build a new Central Library facility on another site.~~ No longer in consideration

Want to know what others think about the future of the library? Take a look at their comments. PDF, 249 KB

NOTE: If you are not able to open the documents above, try our SlideShare presentation. The illustrations and costs estimates were produced by Perkins+Will and are not architectural renderings. They purposely are of a very generic nature since we have not yet arrived at the point in the planning process where deciding on an architectural design would be feasible or desirable.

New to the Project?

If you’re new to this project, please be sure to browse the information below for work that has been completed over the last two years that helped us arrive at the options above. In order to complete our review of our options, we need your opinions! In a city of over 365,000 residents with busy lives, it’s sometimes difficult to make sure that everyone is aware of what’s going on and if you haven’t been, it’s not too late for you to catch up with where we’ve been and help us decide where we’re going. This project is funded through general obligation bonds approved by Arlington voters in 1999.

The goals of the Central Visioning Project:

• To form a vision of what Arlington citizens want and need from Central Library services

• To assess the physical condition and future viability of the Central Library building

• To determine the next steps and the costs for achieving the vision.

Diagram of the existing George W. Hawkes Central Library

Timeline/History

December 2009

Stakeholder Kickoff meeting

Bio of George W. Hawkes, Central's Namesake

Community Visioning and Facilities Presentation

December 2009 – May 2010

Complete the assessment of the current facility

Facility Assessment Executive Summary - Spring 2010 (PDF, 78 KB)

December 2009 – September 2010

Conduct public meetings, gather library service usage and collection data, hold stakeholder interviews, survey the public to create the Vision Statement and Program of Service.

Central Library Visioning Survey - June 2010

November 2010 – December 2010

Finalize Vision Statement and Program of Service

December 2010

Our consultants, Providence Associates, collected library data, surveyed Arlington residents, held public meetings and conducted stakeholder interviews. This process resulted in a vision for Central Library Services to be shared with the community before finalizing it and moving on to the next step of matching up the building with the vision.

Arlington Central Library Vision

February 2011

Present Vision Statement and Program of Service to City Council

January 2011 – October 2011

Determine facility needs for achieving the vision, estimate costs and draft a funding plan for moving forward.

November 2011 – December 2011

Present facility options and costs to the public and narrow options to finalize future plans

21st Century Downtown Library - November 2011

Results From Our Survey - December 2011

January 2012

Final Central Library Visioning report presented

Spotlight

Your Comments

Here are just a few of your comments from the survey.

Option 1

"Too many buildings are being razed and then new ones built. The present building should preserved and expanded. A parking garage could be provided along with the main building expansion. Starting over would be too costly. In addition, the present location is perfect. It gives at least some semblance of having a downtown."

"Do not move our library"

"Even though it is not in the middle of the geographic center of Arlington, that would mean that Downtown Arlington is also not in the center so who cares. Going to the Central Library gives us an excuse to go downtown when we normally wouldn't."

"I can see the value for each option."

"We have lived in downtown area for 36 years and love to be honored as viable neighbors. We have utilized the library for years and believe that coming to the center of town is a drawing card for the entire city."

Option 2

"With all the revitalization around the library, it would be a shame for those visiting Levitt's Pavillion to not want to come across the street or those at the restaurants on the opposite side of the tracks to not want to cross them. You really should be able to sit in either of those places and look over and want to go inside."

"Current library has lots of wasted space plus its exterior is forbidding and very unwelcoming"

"Central Library staff are wonderful. There are many services for us in the community. Elevators, plumbing and electrical issues make renovation sound like a less desirable choice."

"New facility needs to incorporate a better performance facility, community events center, and meeting rooms"

Option 3

"As a long-time Arlington resident and graduate of UTA, I've always thought the downtown city library and the UTA library should co-habit and coordinate resources. Both would be immensely enhanced."

"I selected the option to build a new facility - in a new location -- asbestos free - with all the modern new constructs, wireless Internet throughout the property, including parking lot. Establish a dedicated eBook areas with GPS/security protected iPads for the visitors."

"Arlington never considers anything but retail for the I-20 corridor when some city services would be very accessible and visible to thousands more people. There are too many decision makers with a vested financial interest in downtown Arlington and this should be called for the conflict of interest that it is."

"Near the Stadiums or near the Parks Mall/ Arlington Highlands areas. Both places are easy to get to by freeway which would encourage use by more in the public."