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Jackson County library system Shady Cove branch improvements would be in second or third group By MELISSA MARTIN If Jackson County commissioners and voters approve a proposed bond measure to improve the county's library system, the Shady Cove branch would be among the last to be remodeled -- because it's one of the newest and best in the system. But improvements still need to be made to keep pace with the rapid growth in the Upper Rogue River town, Library Director Ronnie Budge told the City Council recently. Built in 1979 next to City Hall and the community center, the library covers 3,000 square feet -- plenty of room for the 100 patrons each day who seek information, a good book or a quiet place to read. All 15 branches in the system would be rebuilt or remodeled over the next six years if voters across Jackson County approve a $39 million bond measure in May. In Shady Cove, the branch would get a 50-seat conference room, a children's section, a larger circulation desk and more computers. The new addition would be built between the library's front door and the city's parking lot. Shady Cove's remodel would cost about $900,000, which includes $24,000 for 12 parking spaces and $26,000 for landscaping. "The branch in Shady Cove is one of our very best," Budge said. "In some of our communities, it's not this way. In Jacksonville, the branch building was built in 1855 and it's not much bigger than the size of this room." The branch construction projects would be grouped by fours -- depending on the building needs -- with each group taking two years to complete, Budge said. Shady Cove would be in the second or third group to be completed. That Shady Cove's library remodel would be one of the last projects may concern some local voters, said Bill Kyle, a Shady Cove resident who attended a study session on the matter. "We would be taxed in advance and our branch wouldn't be rebuilt for about six years," Kyle said. The cost to add on to Shady Cove's library, estimated at $340 per square foot, may be another concern, said audience member Wayne Barnes. Budge's explanation began with a base price of $120 per square foot. Added costs include: parking and landscaping; tables, chairs, bookshelves, computers and other equipment; sturdier and more expensive building materials needed for the high volume of foot traffic; and higher quality lighting for reading. "Our citizens advisory committee found a balance between buildings that would fit the need, but not be extravagant," Budge said. "We're not building the Taj Mahal anywhere." The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will discuss the library bond when it meets Wednesday. If the board approves it, the $39 million bond measure will appear on the May 16 ballot. The bond would result in an estimated 31-cent property tax increase for every $1,000 of assessed value, or about $46 more a year for the owner of a $150,000 home. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA