This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
JUNE 2012


hall with the library,” said Dom. “But upon review it appeared an inadequate solution. The lot was too small to accommodate both. It was then I made a sug- gestion that the old dump site would be appropriate for the library.” The old dump site was ideal,


Dom believed, because it is just outside the town limits and could better serve its 17,000 ser- vice populatiom. “This would allow greater access because it is a regional library,” Dom said. The location connects the library more to its mission of reaching a third of the county’s residents. Former director Didden also


believes the library needed to serve county residents more ef- fectively. “During my tenure, we felt it was important to bring in more people who were taxpay- ers, who supported the library (through their taxes) but hard- ly knew it was there,” she said. “In many ways, it seemed more like a private library instead of a public one.” To Didden, the Old Market House location seemed to be under-serving its mandated population. Dom, a proponent of smart


growth, also felt that the old town dump posed two envi- ronmental advantages. Utiliz- ing the town dump would both reclaim a contaminated prop- erty and reduce sprawl. “We


wouldn’t be making the mis- take of putting the new library in the middle of nowhere, but within one of our growth ar- eas,” he said. Because the site had been


used as a municipal dump from 1954 until 1969, it would need to be evaluated for its reclamation potential. Based on previous environmental studies of the dumpsite, it was clear that re- mediation at the site was need- ed. Still, with no other in-town sites available, and with previ- ous attempts to rework the Old Market house failing, the town and the library’s board of trust- ees decided to investigate the dumpsite further. In August 2008, the Shep- herdstown town council agreed to allow the dumpsite to be used for the library as long as the library board agreed to take on remediation at no costs to the town. So in February 2009, the


board contacted the Northern West Virginia Brownfields As- sistance Center (NWVBAC), which supports reclamation ef- forts of contaminated proper- ties throughout West Virginia. NWVBAC agreed to assist in se- curing cleanup funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Also in 2009, SPL was award-


ed a design challenge grant from the Library Journal, a pro-


fessional library science publi- cation. SPL was one of only five libraries selected to receive a grant for architectural design solutions for their library proj- ects. The grant provided about $12,000 in architectural ser- vices to design a concept for a new library at the new site. The design wasn’t adopted, but the process proved beneficial as a conceptual practice run. Later that year, SPL was awarded $250,000 from a foun- dation in support of the brown- field-to-library concept. That grant was complement-


ed by a two-stage award from another foundation. In the first stage, SPL hosted a brownfields public forum on the Shepherd University campus where Jef- ferson County residents could learn about brownfields—the opportunities they present and the process of cleaning up this particular dumpsite. Dozens of local residents turned out for the day to listen to a panel of brownfields experts. Forum participants were in-


vited to brainstorm on a vision for the new library—what they wanted the library to look and feel like, and what they wanted it to provide to them. In 2010, Stage 2 of the grant included a $12,000 award to fur- ther develop and define archi- tectural aspects of the new li- brary. After a lengthy selection


14


Sue Marks ~ Owner/Designer THE DESIGN CENTER


The Design Center, LLC - 20% Off June Special


    Design Plan Creation Special - Call for pricing!!!


Residential and Commercial Design Call the Design Center Today! 304-260-8810 designshepherdstown.com designcenter@frontiernet.net


Shepherdstown,WV CELEBRATING 250 YEARS





 


Come to Shepherdstown for a weekend celebration and enjoy local musicians, artists, restaurants and retail shops! The festival includes live music on two stages throughout the day, vendor booths lining German Street, kid-friendly activities and a beer garden located close to all of our local restaurants and retail shops. Come celebrate!


 


 Ceremony in front of the town hall to dedicate a new Beeline March interpretive marker donated by  in front of McMurran Hall.





 


The music for the picnic will include jazz and rock groups 


MANY MORE EVENTS AND DETAILS AT: www.shepherdstown250.com


  community picnic will take place.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32