Cross County Library Expansion Plan

Cross County Library Expansion Plans

A 2013 study showed that the Main Library of the Cross County Public Library in Wynne was in need of significant additional space to be able to provide modern, 21st-Century library experiences and services safely and effectively. Library officials looked into adding on to the existing building, moving to another location, building a new building on the existing library site, or building a new library on another site.

In 2014, the City of Wynne announced its need for additional space for city offices, particularly the Wynne Police Department. Library officials came up with an idea to provide the existing library building, which is a great office building, for city offices and to relocate to a location which could provide the space needed, but have maximum economic impact for the county. It was decided to attempt to locate the library near the new Wynne Public Square in the heart of town, so that the library could take advantage of the public space offered by the Square for programming and educational activities. It was decided to look into the properties on Front Street between Commerical Avenue and Merriman Avenue, the site where the City of Wynne was born when the boxcar overturned in the 1880s and was used as a train depot known as "Wynne Station."

The Wynne Economic Development Corporation, the City of Wynne, the Cross County Special Workshop and the Library Board jointly commissioned a feasibility study to determine if those properties could be safely used for library needs, and whether it would be cost effective to do so. The study determined that moving the Library to this location was the cheapest and most practical of the options studied.

In late 2015, the Cross County Library Board of Trustees decided to move forward with the plans for selling the existing library property, owned by the Cross County Quorum Court, and to raise funds toward addressing the Library's critical space shortage. The official request to sell or transfer the property was made to the Cross County Quorum Court on April 25, 2016.

The following documents are related to the project.

GENERAL DOCUMENTS:

"It Only Makes Cents: The story behind the Big Green Switch Project (Powerpoint presentation with reasons, estimated costs,
etc.), East Central Arkansas Regional Library -Cross County Library Board of Trustees, April 2016.

Letter to Cross County Quorum Court Requesting Sale or Transfer of Library Property, April 25, 2016.

Email from Martin Smith, Ecological Design Group explaining process for floodplain map revision, April 26, 2016.

Email from Alex Trulove, Brown Engineers detailing expected utility costs, April 5, 2016.

Email from Debbie Norman, Arkansas Association of Counties Risk Management Services, detailing estimated insurance costs,
March 31, 2016.

Email from Debbie Norman, Arkansas Association of Counties Risk Management Services, detailing estimated flood insurance
costs without finished floor elevations, re-mapping of flood plains, and flood mitigation efforts, March 31, 2016.

Email from Michael Ramirez, Wright National Flood Insurance Services, LLC, detailing estimated flood insurance costs without
finished floor elevations, re-mapping of flood plains, and flood mitigation efforts, March 31, 2016.

True Myths-Dirty Realities: The REAL Dirt Behind the Proposed Move of the Cross County Library. (WARNING: This is a horror
story of epic proportions!) UPDATED 5/3/2016.

SPACE NEEDS STUDIES:

Wisconsin DPI Library Building Standards Study (originally completed December 2013, re-calculated April 2016).

Connecticut State Library Standards Study (completed April 2016).

American Library Association/Public Library Association, 1968 Public Library Standards Study (completed April 2016).