Robey Memorial Library getting closer to finalizing expansion plan

Volunteers and staff members working with an architect continue to make small adjustments to the expansion plans for Robey Memorial Library in Waukon.
“We have been working with our architect, Brian Stark of Gardner Architecture, Strawberry Point, for many months now and are getting close to final decisions on the planned expansion of the library,” said Robey Memorial Library Director Rick Meyer.  “Recently, we have added additional 'Study Rooms' to our original expansion plans since our research has identified these areas are well used in other libraries.” Currently, the library has no private study rooms.
The Robey Memorial Library expansion will approximately double the size of the current library. “We will end up with about 12,000 square feet in the expanded library,” Meyer said. “Board volunteers and I believe that will allow us the space to meet the growing use in the Robey Memorial Library. We have also had a 'Library Space Needs Professional' suggest to us this would be the appropriate size for future use and needs. Currently, about 80 percent of Iowa Public Libraries in similar-sized cities as Waukon are larger than our library.”
Meyer went on to mention how use at the library has increased recently. “Library visits and many other library use areas have grown dramatically in the past few years,” Meyer said. “Also, through our research we have found that new or expanded Iowa public libraries show a large increase in use right away and maintain those increases in future years. That is another of the reasons our volunteers have decided to pursue this expansion so that more and more people use the library for education, programs, and other activities.”
The library expansion project is planned to be financed by a $1.4 million capital fundraising campaign with funds from the City of Waukon, Allamakee County, businesses, individuals and foundation grants. The capital fundraising campaign will be led by campaign co-chairs Will Ament and Ken Olson, MD, along with campaign honorary co-chairs Jens Kallevang and John Leschensky, and about 30 other volunteers.
These volunteers are working to plan the campaign with Campaign Director Ralph Savoy of Consult Savoy, Inc., Cedar Rapids. Savoy has directed many other library campaigns, including Independence, Hubbard, Anamosa, Atkins, Wellsburg and others.
According to campaign leadership, very soon volunteers will begin visiting throughout the library service area about the expansion project and campaign. “Our volunteers will sit down with you and explain the expansion project and try to answer your questions before giving you the opportunity to make a charitable gift to finance expansion,” said Will Ament, Campaign Co-Chair.
“Our library expansion has been planned for over 10 years by library trustees and foundation members,” Meyer said.  “In fact, some of our campaign volunteers remember when they were members of the Library Trustees and the expansion was being discussed back then.”