Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Plans examined

Questions about the new Nevada County Library were asked and answered at a meeting Monday, Dec. 10.

The library's architect, Jerry Hollensworth, with Trull-Hollensworth, Architect out of Magnolia, was on hand to answer questions and to cover concerns about the facility.

Hollensworth said things were slowly getting together and the drafts he brought to the board appear to show some revisions from the last meeting. Hollensworth brought partial constructional design documents to the meeting.

One of the first things Hollensworth wanted to cover was the dumpsters. He was unsure about how much trash the library has on a daily basis.

Joyce Gibson, county librarian, was on hand to answer questions as well. She said there was no need to have large dumpsters outside since there was not a lot of trash.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said on days where there has been a special event or meeting, the city's solid waste department picks up trash on the next working day.

The next thing covered was the flagpole. Hollensworth gave the board different ideas as far as different things to do. The board decided one flagpole with two flags hoisted upon it would be acceptable, and in keeping with the traditional scheme the city is looking for. It was not determined precisely where the flag would be placed.

In having the flags, came a question of night-lighting. It was not determined if there would be night watchers or period lighting set by a timer. It was also not determined if the flags would be brought in at the end of the business day.

Taylor said the city had several bricks that were removed from sidewalks years ago, that could be used in the construction of the building. There is the possibility of having cobblestone bricks to surround the flag and a possible outside sign.

There was some discussion of a possible masonry sign may adorn the future library.

The idea Hollensworth had was something simple that said library' above the main entrance, and a plaque on the inside (or outside) that had the full name of the library posted.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown and local attorney Barry Barber said such a plaque would be better inside the library than outside, as it would look less cluttered on the outside and keep its classy traditional appeal.

The interior was also discussed. For the entrance Hollensworth suggested installing special tile from the foyer to the security screen. The tile ceramic unglazed or quarry, and would be slick resistant.

Hollensworth mentioned the circulation desk. He said, "It would be better to build this because it cannot be bought."

The design he has in mind will cost more than the grant former State Sen. Mike Ross obtained for the facility,

The biggest interior concern Hollensworth had was furniture. He advised the board and Gibson the workroom stations would work best with storage areas, with closing doors. They seem more practical.

In the area of videos, CD ROMS and cassette tapes Gibson said she would like to have them in an area where the public had access to them and were still close enough to be watched from the circulation desk.

Also Gibson would like to have items that show height opposed to length. A periodical section similar to the library in Hope is what she would like, and suggested a newspaper system similar to that in Nashville.

Some advancements were made during the meeting, along with some reductions.

The final product before construction should be made available between Christmas and New Years.

Taylor said, "Let's keep working on it and we will play it by ear."

So far things are inching toward a completed building. When asked if the meeting was a success Gibson said, "Yes, I think it was a complete success, wherein we covered (step by step) the building material, accents...the little things that add up to the overall look of the building."

Hollensworth expects to have the design finished in January and hopes to begin construction almost immediately thereafter, but it may not be until spring before work actually starts on the library.