The James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees is looking to possibly construct a patio area in front of the library during its next construction project. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

During the next construction project, a patio might be built at the James Prendergast Library.

During a recent meeting of the board, Mary Zdrojewski, trustee and chairwoman of the Building Committee, said library officials would like a patio for when it hosts outdoor events. She said during past events like outdoor storytime over the summer, the front lawn was muddy. She added that the library hosts several outdoor programs and a patio area would be appreciated.

Zdrojewski said the library is already planning to ask for state funding for HVAC upgrades to the facility. She said if approved, the state would fund 75% of the project while the library would be responsible for funding 25%.

Zdrojewski said this year’s parking lot and new sign project should be finalized by the end of the year if the weather cooperates. She said the state is funding 75% of the project while the Carnahan Jackson and Lenna foundations are funding the library’s 25% match.

Several projects have been undertaken at the library since 2014. Last year, library officials finished installing energy-efficient windows, which was started in 2019.

In October 2016, a project was finished at the library that added Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant upstairs restrooms and converted a freight elevator into a passenger elevator.

At the beginning of 2015, construction was finished on the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms for men and women on the first floor; adding a family restroom in the children’s room; turning a second-floor storage space into a community room; and creating a new teen space.

In other business, Lynn Warner, trustee and Nominating Committee chairwoman, said the Nominating Committee meet twice during the last month to start the creation of a recruitment plan for 2022.

Next year, four trustees will need to be replaced because the library’s by-laws state that no one can serve more than three consecutive three-year terms, for a total of nine straight years.

“We’re going to need to do some robust recruiting to fill our open positions we are going to have,” she said.

Warner also added that because of the new residential by-law the board implemented last year that states two-thirds of the library’s board members have to be residents of Jamestown, three out of the four new members will have to reside in the city. She said the committee will present a recruitment plan to the board by its December meeting.