Limits on children’s and other programs at the Crozet Library is the net result of a recent fire marshal’s inspection, the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library board heard Monday.
After the marshal found a number of safety issues, county officials restricted the library’s occupancy to 50 people. During the summer, the library sees more than 10,000 patron visits each month.
One planned program that attracted well in excess of 100 attendees was rescheduled to Crozet Elementary, the board heard.
Library officials have been lobbying for years for a new library in Crozet, but county funding issues have consistently stood in the way. The system runs the libraries, but the locality, in this case Albemarle County, owns the buildings.
There’s also an issue with storage space at the library. The current arrangement violates fire code, and library officials expect they’ll need to use some outside space. Zoning regulations restrict the placement of more storage in the parking lot, but the county has offered the use of the old Crozet Elementary School.
“It’s not very efficient to have the library staff running halfway across town to get photocopier paper,” library director John Halliday said.
Workers will also have to add outlets, since the library was dinged by the marshal for the use of extension cords as a substitute for permanent wiring.
Library trustee Peter McIntosh urged the board to send the bill for the work to the county, though there’s no guarantee they’ll pay up.
“It exposes them again to the underlying issues,” he said.
And officials are spending thousands on a new, outdoor bookdrop, since the one in the foyer was obstructing a door.
An earlier, outside assessment of the library also identified the parking lot as a potential danger zone. People have driven off the retaining wall at its edge, according to officials.
The trustees also heard that the library system would request $5.76 million from the localities it serves, which are Charlottesville and Albemarle, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties, though the cost is divided unevenly, in part because of the relative sizes of each jurisdiction and in part because of differing services in different areas.
The board heard that operating costs, except for personnel, are expected to drop. There was talk of printing up a bookmark about the budget issues.
“We have to let the taxpayers know what’s going on,” said trustee Mary Coy.
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