Alta Branch Library Site Secured

Jackson, WY – Alta residents and Teton County Library staff are celebrating the Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Teton County Commissioners’ vote to purchase land in Alta, Wyo. to relocate the Alta Branch Library. The Commissioner’s vote came following discussion of the land purchase in an executive session. The County will purchase a 1.5 acre parcel from St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church. The parcel is situated at the northern boundary of the church’s land.

“We are thrilled with the County Commissioners’ decision to secure an ideal location for the Alta Branch,” said Deb Adams, Teton County Library Director. “The site is at the heart of the Alta community, adjacent to the school and church.”

Now that the land purchase has been approved, the next step for the library will be to work with the County Commissioners to determine funding for the building, parking and grounds. The library will look for direction from the Commissioners on the building process, design and timeline. A future workshop will be scheduled with the Commissioners to discuss cost estimates and begin the county building approval process. In the initial workshop, library leaders will present a recommendation for a 2,000 square foot building, including 1,500 square feet to accommodate library services and a 500 square foot area for community meeting space.

In August 2007, the library staff presented scenarios for the future of the Alta Branch Library, along with preliminary estimates of the building to the Teton County Library Board and the County Commissioners, utilizing either modular or conventional construction. That discussion with the Commissioners prompted them to proceed with negotiations for a site in Alta to move the library. Initial estimates of the cost of the building were $773,400 for conventional construction, while a modular building would cost $454,900. Cost estimates reflect the building costs. Additional funds will be needed for parking, possible road repairs and access, a potable water system and irrigation.

The Teton County Alta Branch Library is housed in a classroom in the Alta Elementary School through a cooperative agreement with the Teton County School District. The current agreement with the school district is to vacate the space by June 30, 2008. With a new site secured, the County Commissioners will be contacting the school district to have a formal conversation to request an extension for use of the classroom for the branch library.
At the next Teton County Library Board meeting on February 21, Adams will ask the Library Board to authorize the Teton County Library Foundation to begin accepting gifts directed to the Alta Branch Library. Alta community members, including the Alta Ad Hoc Committee, have begun fundraising efforts to contribute to the cost of a new facility for the branch library.

To learn more about the Alta Branch Library, visit the library’s website, TCLib.org/alta. To subscribe to receive Teton County Library Board agendas and meeting schedules, scroll down to the end of the page, TCLib.org/administration/board .

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