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Talks continue on joint library at WDTI
Group to study needs, wants of potential users
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FarkFunding is in limbo, but the lack of cash has not dampened the commitment of a task force exploring a joint city, county and school library at Western Dakota Technical Institute.
Mark Wilson, director of Career and Technical Education for the state Department of Education, told the group Thursday that the state's bonding ability for another technical school project is currently capped.
The state Board of Education rejected WDTI's request for a 30,000-square-foot addition to the school last spring. That plan included the joint library.
Wilson advised the task force to develop a building plan focused on the school's program development needs.
"The key is to meet (the state's) program expectations," he said.
Rick Gray, interim president of WDTI, said the school needs additional space.
The school's paralegal program has more than 8,000 volumes that are "squeezed" into a couple of classrooms.
"We have trouble scheduling classes because we're running out of room," Gray said.
Gray presented the task force with a revised outline of space requirements for the proposed addition to the Mickelson Building on the school's main campus along S.D. Highway 44.
The preliminary plan is for a 28,281-square-foot structure, estimated to cost $4.8 million. It includes 13,295 square feet for a joint-use library that officials estimate between 10,000 and 12,000 county and city residents would use.
Greta Chapman, director of the Rapid City Public Library, said the potential is good for a partnership between the city, county and school that would serve people living on the east side of the county and the city.
The city library currently serves about 20,000 people, she said.
At Chapman's urging, a subcommittee was formed to explore what programs and services a joint library would have to offer to serve technical school students and the community.
Members of the committee are Chapman, Deb Arne, library coordinator at WDTI, and deputy state's attorney Jay Alderman.
Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com
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