Tennessee Library Board Considers Elevator Proposal

In a recent planning meeting, Blount County (Tennessee) Public Library (BCPL) trustees and supporters talked over a proposal to increase the useability of parts of the library building, revamping the basement area with a freight elevator and restrooms, The Daily Times reports. The basement is home to the Blount County Friends of the Library and is the site of regular book sales that raise funds for the library. The elevator project has been on the library’s wish list for years, and BCPL previously commissioned plans for the project. Trustees said they hope to get the project off the ground soon. BCPL has one elevator, but it has shown some signs of stress and stopped working for several hours during a recent book sale. The renovations are capital projects, fundraising would flow primarily from the library’s foundation. Some see the renovation as projects for the long-run, meaning to start in the next four to five years, while some at the meeting argued that the needs are more pressing.