Seward Community Library & Museum Project: Monday Night Community Meeting

We met with the community to have a conversation about the library & museum. We recognize that there has been previous process, and much work has already been done on this community library and museum. This was our opportunity to introduce ourselves to the community, and to ask some questions:

How would you finish the sentence, "Our Museum/Library will be:"

Attractive
Friendly
Inviting
Welcoming
Pleasant
Warm
Comfortable
Modern
A gathering place
A hearth for the community
User friendly
A place of great views (bay/mountain)
An anchor/signature building
An enhancement to the area
A 21^st century library
Wireless
Built by August 12, 2012
Active
Pet friendly (or portions of it)
Affordable for construction
Affordable for operations and maintenance
Naturally lit
A source of interlibrary loans/access
Provide for traveling exhibits
Provide flexible space
Designed with future proofing in mind
Roomier
A place to meet (S/M/L)
A place of ambience
Designed with best practices
Provide for murals
Accessible (ADA)
Safe/Secure/Open
Structurally sound
Walkable (concern with ice)
Provide proper parking
Maintenance friendly
A visitor center
Provide good meeting space (flexible)

Some of the things that people said related to elements of a vision for the library:

The childhood experience some (or all?) of us share with libraries (Bike-able, big tables, inviting, trees/location)
Natural setting… bring the beauty inside
Student/user haven
Generational spaces designed for their users
Provide a space where we can be who we are
Quiet spaces
A place with the ‘spot’ you love
Sitting at the kitchen table
A place for stories
A place where you don’t leave early from meetings
A place for gathering
A place of impromptu meetings
A place to read
The beauty of a hearth
Prioritize for the ‘reason’ for the building

Some discussion touched on the potential form that the building might take:

References or use of historic motifs in Seward (curved entry/cut-off corners)
Rhythm and scale
4^th Ave structures
Use of elements
Reference points to buildings
Millionaire’s Row

Some 'pieces' of the building also came out in the conversation (some already existing in the building programming):

Serving kitchen
Meeting spaces
Secure storage
Archives
Indoor plaza
Used bookstore
Fireplace/hearth

We wrapped up the evening reminding people we would be in town all week, that we welcomed people to drop by and speak to us, and that we would check in with them Friday evening (and also thanked them for their time!)