Second Floor Renovation, New Roof Discussed at Library Meeting

By MADDY VITALE Soon, those who love the Ocean City Free Public Library for all that it has to offer from virtual and in-person programming to a bevy of great reads and resources will have something else to be pleased about. The roof replacement at the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave., which houses the library, is nearly finished. And a project that has been in the planning stages for a few years is finally coming to fruition – the library's second-floor renovation. During the OCFPL Board of Trustees meeting Monday, library officials gave an update on the renovation project. They said by fall, the long-awaited project may begin. But before anything could begin, the Community Center needed a new roof. The area over the library had suffered its share of leaks. The city is paying for the roof as part of a citywide capital improvements plan to upgrade facilities. OCFPL Director Karen Mahar spoke of the projects. “They are currently finishing (the work) over the Arts Center. The company has been good at communicating. We never had to close the library,” she said. Mahar noted that over the past month there have been “minimal” disruptions during the work. She added that the contractor will have to turn off the HVAC system while doing some of the work over the library. The library staff will have fans on during that time. “They are talking about June 16,” Mahar said of the completion of the work. “But definitely by the end of June it will be completed. That is exciting.” Renovations to the second floor have been discussed for the past few years. The library was built in 1990 and was expanded in 2008, but has not been renovated since then, officials said. Soon, there will be plans underway for major improvements to the second floor, which houses the Young Adult section and quiet space. The Young Adult section will be expanded. The project was stalled while the library unsuccessfully sought state funding to offset the estimated $1.3 million cost. The city had already bonded for the project, so it can move forward, despite not receiving additional state funding. Architect William McLees, of William McLees Architecture in Somers Point, is designing the plan to modernize the facility and make it more user-friendly. The building improvements will consist of an expansion of the Young Adults section, new furnishings, brighter lighting and more quiet space for study time as well as “maker space” for do-it-yourself types of projects, officials said. Back in January, library officials discussed additional building improvements that were not bonded for. The Library Board of Trustees added $50,000 to the budget to pay for the extra costs. “I met with Bill McLees and gave him a few changes, so we are on schedule for Aug. 15,” Mahar said of when the project would go out to bid. “We are going into fall/winter. We are excited.” In addition, Mahar said she has already asked McLees for some cost estimates to replace some of the old HVAC units in the library. Mahar met with the city’s purchasing manager, Joe Clark, and said she "reminded him where we are." "We will do the bidding through the city,” she said. “We are moving along.” OCFPL President Jennifer Shirk said, “Mid-August we are going out to bid for the second floor.” Shirk noted that the library board would discuss the project one more time at its July 10 meeting before everything is confirmed. In other matters, Board of Trustees member Brian Broadley stepped down. Dave Winslow was appointed during the May meeting to replace him. To learn more about the Ocean City Free Public Library, located at 1735 Simpson Ave. in the Community Center, visit www.oceancitylibrary.org. The roof replacement at the Community Center is expected to be completed by this month.