If you need to use the computers at the Maitland Public Library, you’ll probably end up sitting in the middle of a hallway. The building, parts of which are more than a century old, has no space for a computer lab.
Now Maitland’s leaders are asking city residents to fix that and a host of other shortcomings by supporting a $14 million bond on the March 19 ballot to build a new and improved library.
The question for voters is whether the improvements are worth the property tax increase proposed to pay for them. It will cost the typical Maitland homeowner more than $100 annually.
“It doesn’t meet our needs anymore,” said Stacie Larson, director of the Maitland Public Library, of the current facility. “It’s just too small to hold the collection of books and telescopes and baking pans and DVDs and everything else that we have.”
City public information officer Robert Sargent said that Maitland leaders began the process toward improving the library in 2017. A study of the current building revealed the need for repairs on the HVAC, electrical lines, roof and more. The city council ultimately decided that it would be more efficient and less costly to build a new library.
The current library building stands at 12,300 sq. ft. over one story, while the new building will be 20,000 sq. ft. across two stories.
The City of Maitland is preparing to build a new two-story, 20,000-square-foot library, shown here in a rendering. (Maitland city records)
The overall cost of the project would be about $18.7 million. The city has about $5 million in existing funds to allocate toward the project.
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