New Sisters Library reported on target

Dwight Smith, right, confers with Todd Dunkelberg about library plans. photo by Conrad Weiler Todd Dunkelberg told the Friends of the Sisters Library (FOL) that the new Sisters Library should be completed by late next year (2005).

Dunkelberg, who is assistant administrator for the Deschutes Public Library System, made his prediction at the annual potluck meeting for the group held at Sisters Community Church meeting hall last week.

He said negotiations with the City of Sisters are continuing.

"The location of the new library at the old middle school site will have a campus-like atmosphere along with an eventual new City Hall and school administration building," he said.

"The proposed couplet design makes it necessary for the library to share some land space with the City Hall location and to turn our building 90 degrees and face west toward Cedar Street. The design of the library remains the same and has a similar floor plan to our LaPine branch library but will look different."

The architect for the new library, Rich Turi, sees no changes in the library plan and it will still retain up to 3,000 square feet of expansion space. There is approximately $1,400,000 set aside for the new library project and the Friends may add to this for amenities that they feel fitting for the Sisters Library environment.

"Bids will probably go out this fall. We're aiming for completing the library project by November, 2005," Dunkelberg said.

Discussion of a traffic study is planned with the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission, according to Dunkelberg.

In other FOL business, outgoing Treasurer Lee Kapelman reported a year-ending balance of $56,300 for the group.

"Cookbook sales and Ray's receipt refunds are the largest income makers," she said.

Members attending the dinner won books on fly fishing selected by Dwight Smith with the help of Brad Smith of Paulina Springs Books.

The 14-member FOL Board re-elected Dwight Smith as President, Joann Carlson, Vice-Chair, Mary Smith, Treasurer and Deanna Robinson, Secretary for the coming year.

There are presently 150 FOL members.