Surveys could determine future of Mars library
Mars Area Public Library is seeking input from the community in the form of a survey that could determine the next steps it takes in a planned relocation or potential facility improvements.
According to a letter posted to the library’s Facebook page, the services offered by the current library on Grand Avenue have grown in popularity since 2018. The registered cardholders have more than doubled from 4,032 to 8,716, and checkouts have increased by nearly 30%.
“Our collection is nearing maximum capacity, our programs are outgrowing available space, and demand is increasing much faster than our budget and current facility size,” the letter reads. “We are evaluating options for the library's future.”
The library is seeking input from the residents of the four municipalities in its area — Mars, Adams Township, Middlesex Township, and Valencia — on whether they want a new library building, and if so, where they would prefer it to be built, among other questions.
“We are asking if they have any concerns, or what’s one thing that they would like to see changed or improved at our current facility, and we're allowing additional comments to be heard,” said library director Janae Callihan.
According to Callihan, the surveys may feature slightly different questions depending on which municipality’s website the respondent goes to.
“Each municipality was allowed to format the survey however they felt was best for their community for what needs or questions they wanted answered,” Callihan said. “If you click on the Adams (Township) link, they have a question about taxes. I don't believe that was included in any of the other three communities.”
The release of the survey comes as plans have been drawn up for the Mars Area Public Library to move to a new space on Grand Avenue which is currently occupied by a NexTier Bank branch. If the plans go through, the bank would be demolished and replaced with a combined library and NASA discovery center, with a new bank branch included.
However, the letter posted to Facebook states that “...the scope of the NexTier building project is being revisited.”
Callihan also says the library has not ruled out the possibility that a new building might be located outside of the borough altogether.
“I think it's within the library’s interest to serve the needs of the community, whatever they might be,” Callihan said. “And the community includes all of the regions in the area, the four communities that we serve.”
The Mars library board consists of seven total members: two from Mars, two from Adams Township, two from Middlesex Township, and one from Valencia.
The surveys are available at the Mars Area Public Library’s website, with separate links for residents of each of the four municipalities. According to Callihan, the surveys will be available throughout the month of September.
“We will then revisit the responses and hopefully have something to share with the community, probably in late October,” Callihan said.
