William Jeanes Memorial Library

of Whitemarsh Township

 

 

 

Celebrating 75 Years of Service ~

Turning the Page Toward the Future

 

 

A Bit of History

Back in 1971, the Whitemarsh community welcomed the opening of a new public library building—an 11,000 square-foot modern structure designed by local architect C. Treat Arnold of the firm Montgomery, Bishop & Arnold and erected on a three-acre site formerly owned by Triangle Publications. Archival materials reveal that with the move into this light-filled facility, the collection could expand from its 15,540 items, including microfilm, to an anticipated 30,090 items. Microfilm has long since disappeared from the Jeanes Library, and in its place are CDs, DVDs, and downloadable MP3s. Today’s Jeanes Library offers more than 56,000 items in its collection, and anyone visiting in recent years has seen just how tightly the shelves are packed and how high the stacks have climbed.

 

An Evolving Institution

In the thirty-seven years since those opening-day ceremonies, the Jeanes Library has served a generation of patrons, many of whom now return with their own children or grandchildren. Twenty-first-century libraries, however, have taken on roles that go far beyond book lending, story times, and quiet space for that afternoon read. Technological advances have had the most significant impact in shaping today's library, and librarians now provide expert assistance in guiding patrons in the use of hardware, software, and the ever-expanding realm of electronic sources. The modern library also serves as a social space that draws patrons out of their workplaces, schools, and homes and brings them together for joint learning, group projects, and even coffee breaks.

 

Embracing the Future

Two years ago, the Board of Directors took its first step toward reinventing the Jeanes Library by conducting a Community Needs Assessment. That analysis confirmed that the building is undersized, that the collection needs to grow, and that patrons are eager to find a broader array of services. In the spring of 2007, the Board hired CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc. to quantify the space and collection needs, assess current building conditions, and produce a conceptual plan for achieving the added square footage. Over the course of five months, township residents demonstrated their interest in this project by filling the Library's Community Room for a series of planning meetings and design charrettes. Early in January, CICADA delivered its recommendations and conceptual drawings.

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Based on comments from patrons, Board members, staff, and Friends of the Library, the CICADA team defined design parameters to accomplish the following:

 

  • Expansion from 11,000 to 25,000 square feet
  • Additional on-site parking in a surface lot
  • Interior space designed for flexibility of use
  • A Young Adult Collection located away from the Children’s Collection
  • “Social” spaces that include a café, with tables and chairs
  • Preservation of key landscape features
  • Retention and major renovation of the existing building, with the additional square footage achieved through the construction of attached space

 

With these broad guidelines in place, CICADA developed a conceptual drawing that places the building addition parallel to Joshua Road, flips the parking from the north to the south side of the site, and integrates the thoughtfully designed but under-used rear "yard."

 

Next Steps in the Expansion Planning Process

In April 2008, the Jeanes Library will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. From a borrowed space at a private residence at Germantown and Butler Pikes, to a small stone structure on the grounds of Plymouth Monthly Meeting of Friends, to its current home on Joshua Road, the Library has consistently welcomed patrons and sought to keep services and collections current. During the early months of 2008, the Board of Directors will be reviewing the conceptual plan, assessing costs, determining fundraising capacity, and finalizing expansion plans.

 

The Board of the Library deeply appreciates the time and thoughtful comments contributed by members of the public during the development of the conceptual plan, and looks forward to creating a renovated and expanded facility that ably serves yet another generation of enthusiastic patrons.

  

This is an especially exciting period in the life of the Library, and the Board is doing its best to make informed decisions. It invites members of the public to attend its meetings, held monthly on the second Wednesday. Visit jeaneslibrary.org for updates on the planning process, to check the Calendar of Events, and to learn more about how you can access library services from your home.

 

Thank you for your interest in the William Jeanes Memorial Library,

 

Donald Mattson, President

Sydelle Zove, Vice President

Stan Finegold, Secretary

Adele Boyd

David Contosta

Nancy Mortimer O'Brien