Floor plans for Lovett Library.

by Sue Ann Rybak

The Free Library of Philadelphia will hold its final community meeting at Lovett Memorial Library in Mt. Airy at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, before the branch closes for renovations on April 1.

Representatives from the Free Library, including Joe Benford, deputy director of customer engagement; Chris Arlene, a member of the library's board of trustees; Chris Dardis, an architectural and planning representative from Intech (the construction management company) and other library staff, will be available to answer any questions or concerns patrons of the library may have.

In 2014, the Free Library of Philadelphia announced that Lovett was selected as one of five Philadelphia libraries that would participate in the FLP's “Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Imitative,” a pilot program whose goal is to create innovative hubs of learning and expand the libraries presence in the community.

Jennifer Donsky, communications coordinator for neighborhood libraries, said transforming neighborhood libraries like Lovett is “the essence of the Free Library of Philadelphia's 21st Century Libraries Initiative.”

“The Initiative will remake the neighborhood libraries physically and programmatically,” she said, “ensuring that strong, neighborhood-specific programming and resources are offered in a state-of-the-art facility, thus helping the Library to stay true to its mission of advancing literacy, guiding learning, and inspiring curiosity across Philadelphia.”

The “Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative” project is being funded through a $25 million grant from the William Penn Foundation, which included the renovation and expansion of the Parkway's Century Library.

According to Donsky, the total cost of the renovations is estimated at $8,187,785.

At a community meeting in November 2014, James R. Keller, who is spearheading the design plans for the neighborhood branches, told the attendees that “the goal of the design solution is to create a welcoming environment that is sensitive to the existing structures and surrounding landscape.”

“The renovated and new spaces will be more open and have the feel of a living room for people of all ages and interests,” he added.

The new design includes a new children's library, new elevators, a teen space, a quiet room, an improved circulation desk, a roof terrace, a staff workroom and a porch.

The library's original building, which now functions as a meeting room, was built in 1887 by Charlotte Bostwick in memory of her brother Thomas R. Lovett. In 1961, the main area opened. Later, in 1999, the library was renovated as part of the FLP’s Changing Lives campaign.

Donsky said the proposed expansion will add 3,765 square feet to the lower level of the building and an additional 421 square feet to the upper level. When renovations are complete the total square footage of the library will be 12,261.

At previous meetings, patrons voiced concerns about preserving the Wissahickon schist and other historical characteristics of the library, such as the meeting room. Keller, who co-authored “Designing Space for Children and Teens in Libraries” (ALA Editions, 2010), assured community members that the meeting room would be “refurbished in a restoration-like manner, so it will look more like it did when it was originally built.”

The 1960s addition to the library will be the general family library for adults and teenagers. The children's library will be located on the first floor and will have sliding glass doors that open to the porch, so – weather permitting – programs can take place on the lawn or plaza. The computers will be moved to the mezzanine level.

Keller said one of the goals of the new design is to make the library more accessible for everyone. At a meeting in 2014, he said all the shelving will be no higher than 60 inches, and books will be on shelving no lower than a foot from the floor “so people who have mobility issues won't have to bend over and pick something up two inches from the floor.”

David T. Miller, president of the Friends of Lovett Memorial Library, invited everyone in the community to come to the meeting.

“This is the last scheduled community meeting before the library closes on April 1,” he said. “We encourage people to come out, ask questions and voice any concerns they may have.”

In an article published in the Chestnut Hill Local in November 2014, Siobhan A. Reardon, president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, said Lovett's design focuses on creating a community hub where people of all ages can gather, connect and exchange ideas.

For more information about the meeting, call the library at 215-685-2095. For more information about the “Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative” go to www.21stcenturylibraries.org.