Vaughn Library plans progress

Plans for renovating the Vaughn Public Library in Ashland are moving forward after the city and architecture firm Engberg Anderson Inc. out of Milwaukee signed the contract.

The 19th-century library building will be renovated and modernized

Funding for the $388,452 contract comes from the $4.3 million the city is borrowing for the first phase. The first phase calls for improvement of code compliance, energy efficiency, waterproofing the foundation, adding fire protection, upgrading electrical systems, façade repairs and window replacement.

The city’s last capital investment in the library building was in the early 1980s, when it created space for an elevator and shifted the entrance to Vaughn Avenue. Other work at that time included reducing the size of the children’s area, enclosing a stairway connecting the first and second floors and adding a series of small rooms to accommodate the Historical Museum on the second floor.

Phase two could include adding an entrance on Main Street, an open staircase connecting the first and second floors, dedicated spaces for children and teens, collections on both floors, more natural light, more seating and a large community room available for public use. To help fund these improvements, library staff has begun applying for four grants.

If everything goes according to plan, the renovation is expected to start in January, 2025.