The Jefferson Public Library has been creating such opportunities since 1901. Throughout the years, we have expanded to keep pace with our ever-growing and ever-changing community, with our last expansion being in 1967. In the five decades since, the perception, operation, and mission of libraries have shifted dramatically. While we've maintained our reputations as centers for learning, the ways in which people learn have changed.
We've moved from being "just books", as we often say, to including resources such as movies, audiobooks, puzzles, games, and even puppets and cake pans for patrons to check out.
We've updated our technology, automating our checkout system and catalog functions, bringing in public computers and tablets, and adding electronic books, children's learning computers, Play Touch tables, public WiFi and an outdoor charging station to our collection.
We've expanded our services.
What has not expanded, however, is our space.
What has followed in the years since has been a series of meetings, architectural studies, and City Council presentations with one purpose in mind: to build a new library to better accommodate current and future generations.
Join us on this journey of what your public library could be. Stay up to date with meetings and photo tours below.
The Library Director and Youth Services Librarian, along with Library Board of Trustees members and library patrons, conducted six library tours across the state. Libraries chosen for these tours were determined by the inclusion of original Carnegie buildings, recent additions, similar square footage to our projected expansion size, and other factors.
This touring process enables librarians as well as patrons and other community members to envision what a new library space could mean for the Jefferson Public Library.
Select each library to see a comprehensive history, list of amenities, and photo tour. As you browse, remember: this kind of library could be possible in your community with your ideas, assistance, and support.
The Library Director and Youth Services Librarian, along with Library Board of Trustees members and library patrons, conducted four library tours across the state. Please refer to our 2024 section for determining factors and the benefits of the touring process.
The Jefferson Public Library, in collaboration with the City of Jefferson, hired AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising to conduct a community readiness assessment to determine fundraising feasibility.
The architectural feasibility study concludes, with architect Pete Franks presenting four project options to the Jefferson Public Library Board of Trustees for consideration. Franks and Library Director Jane Millard then presented their findings at an October City Council meeting.
The final recommendation of a one-story addition with a basement was the result of a study conducted by a committee of community members, elected officials, librarians, city staff and the Franks Design Group.
This addition would give the library 24,000 square feet of space, adding a large public meeting room, space to expand its programming and services, and other amenities while still keeping it in the central portion of Jefferson. The estimated cost for this project was determined to be $9.7 million. Proposed next steps included hiring a fundraising consultant and property acquisition.
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Executive Summary: The City Council was presented with four project options by architect Pete Franks. The recommendation to City Council was to pursue Option D, a project that would consist of renovating the existing Carnegie Library building and demolishing the current 1966 addition to construct a new addition with one floor and a basement. This addition would add over 24,000 square footage. The Option D design would also alleviate layout and organizational obstacles to residents and staff, issues conveyed by a prior feasibility study in the community.
The City of Jefferson allocates $40,000 to the Library to fund a feasibility study with the professional services of architect Pete Franks. Franks, owner of the Franks Design Group based out of Glenwood, Iowa, has previously worked with Jefferson Matters to restore downtown business facades, with his most recent project being the restoration of the Centennial building.
Eight meetings are held with a feasibility committee from October to March to brainstorm possible solutions, with the intention of creating a library that will adequately provide the space for current and future services, events, and items for the community.
Jefferson Public Library Director Jane Millard gives an update on the building feasibility study.
Through a grant provided by the State Library of Iowa, the Jefferson Public Library hires Library Planning Consultant George Lawson to assess its current facilities, how much space the Library needs to adequately provide its current services, and how much space the Library will need to keep up with the community in the future.
Two meetings of a community focus group are held at the First Presbyterian Church to receive community input. It is ultimately determined that the Library's space of 8,000 square feet is "significantly too small" to meet community demands.
Suggestions for a new library include enlarging the Children's Department, creating a designated quiet space and a social space, adding study rooms, adding on additional programming spaces, expanding the genealogy room, staff workspace, and storage space, updating and enlarging restrooms, adding a makerspace area, providing a nursing station, and increasing the size of the Teen Department.
Jefferson Public Library Director Jane Millard gives an update on the facilities study report.
Executive Summary: The Jefferson Public Library’s building of 8,000 square feet is significantly too small to meet the community’s existing and future library service needs. Further, its layout and organization are obstacles to ease of use by residents and to efficient operation by staff. These needs were expressed by the public in community forums held as part of this study, have been confirmed by the library staff and trustees, and have been documented by the library consultant.
The library’s existing services and operations, without any enhancement, require at least 12,382 square feet. This lack of space is why the current 8,000 square feet is crowded, fails to meet many Americans with Disabilities standards, lacks adequate meeting space, does not permit important improvements, and lacks the space for staff to efficiently complete their work.
