Editorial: You can help Kingsport build 'Library of the Future'

Tens of thousands of books have been checked out of the Kingsport Public Library since it moved into the former Kingsport Post Office building in 1961. But the library is about to check out all of its books, all at once, to a single patron: the Fort Henry Mall.What an undertaking that will be. Books are heavy, and moving thousands of them requires a good deal of manual labor. But that's what is going to happen sometime before the spring to clear the library for its first extensive remodeling in more than 30 years.By 2009, it became evident that the library was beginning to outgrow itself and needed to look into the future as to how library services and community needs would change.An initial space needs and feasibility study was conducted, and key findings included the need to increase library space with the addition of a children's program room, increased collection size, and additional multipurpose spaces.By 2011, a renovation and building plan was created. The plan carried an estimated cost of $12 million and would increase the library by 21,000 square feet.The library leadership spent the next few years working with city leaders to locate funding to support the proposed project, and a decision was made to split it into multiple phases.The first phase was completed in 2017 with the renovation of the children's area.In 2018, the second phase started with the enclosure of the exterior colonnade next to Glen Bruce Park, adding 4,800 square feet.Ten years after the original space needs report, in 2019, an updated facilities assessment was completed along with an updated library strategic plan.Key themes from the assessment included a need for a larger children's area, dedicated children's programming space, study rooms, and a new elevator.In 2022, the city announced it would allocate $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward the renovation of the library, but it's not quite enough money to get the job done.And to that end, the Friends of the Kingsport Public Library in partnership with the city has launched a $1.5 million fundraising campaign.The "Library of the Future" fundraising campaign is now underway and has numerous sponsorship opportunities at various levels including:• $15,000 and under — the media room, phone booth, break room, study room and supervisors office.• $15,000 to $100,000 — the welcome desk, tech center, board room, information services, graphic novels and the large conference room.• $100,000 and above — fiction collection, non-fiction collection, teen maker space, children's area and the main auditorium.The renovation project will double the size of the children's area, install a new elevator to ensure better accessibility, add four study rooms to provide dedicated spaces for focused learning, create dedicated space for children's programming, provide a dedicated and expanded teen maker space, and establish dedicated space for local history and genealogy.You can help. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to donate, you may contact Joe Ewing at hello@kptfol.org.To learn more about the Library of the Future fundraising campaign, how to contribute, and the exciting changes planned for the library, visit kptfol.org.The Friends of the Kingsport Public Library in partnership with the city has launched a $1.5 million fundraising campaign.