How was the New Library Site Selected?
By Bill Nelson, Library Director

Libraries are typically built to last for many decades and selecting a location is therefore not an easy undertaking.  It requires the input of our patrons, coordination with other civic organizations, the long-term vision for our community, and the availability of suitable property.

I am occasionally asked, “Why don’t you just expand the current building?”  There are two fundamental reasons why this is impractical.  First, a 2006 Facility Needs Assessment determined a new facility should be three times the size of our current structure.  The current library is already an accumulation of 100 years of add-ons and remodeling.  Building onto this eclectic core would not make sense as a community investment.  Secondly, NCPL currently sits on a land-locked 1.5 acres.  A new library will need at least 6 acres.  Over the years we have investigated adjacent property acquisition, but there is no practical way to accumulate 6 acres near the current site.

Most people have made it clear that a new library needs to be in the downtown area and we concur.  A statistically accurate telephone survey in 2005 verified that at least 50% of respondents preferred a downtown location to either the east- or west-sides.  Additionally, the presence of a library in Casper’s core will help to keep the downtown relevant and vibrant as our community continues to grow.

In early 2007, the Trustees began looking in earnest for a new site.  A committee of Trustees and community members was assembled and site selection criteria was established.  The selection criteria included:

1. Environmental & Permitting Issues (e.g. former hazardous materials risk, orientation to wind & sun, and excessive industrial noise).
2. Library Operations (e.g. proximity to other patron-generators, access to major streets, ease of bookmobile and large vehicle access, and outdoor program areas)
3. Municipal Planning Compatibility (e.g. proximity to downtown, visual impact, and utility access)
4. Ease of Land Acquisition (e.g. single property owner, reasonable cost)
5. Size & Shape of the Property (e.g.. meets Facility Needs Assessment requirements)

Next, the Site Selection Committee began investigating 10 different sites in or near the downtown.  Property owners were confidentially approached and the decision process began.  By late 2007, the Trustees had narrowed the number to three sites.  In November, the Trustees hired the architectural team of Burnidge Cassell Associates (BCA) and Randall Hein to help ensure an accurate site evaluation.  After all, libraries combine culturally appealing buildings with the structural integrity of a warehouse, not to mention the latest in technology. 

In early 2008, the Trustees worked closely with the County Commission and the City Council to narrow the properties to a single site.  That site is the former American Pipeyard located at the intersection of First Street and the North Platte River.  The site meets all the criteria.  The site affords adequate space, a central location, and is located in the West Central Corridor area. 

It is hoped that the development of a new public library on this site will prompt additional improvement in the area.  It is also hoped that a well-designed library at this prominent location will create a new community icon in which all citizens can take pride.