The last time significant expansion and new amenities were added to the Bruton Memorial Library was in 1993.
But as Plant City’s population continues to increase, in an effort to better serve residents and guests, Plant City is bookmarking plans to make the library a better place to study, read, relax and explore.
During the March 25 regular meeting of the Plant City City Commission, a resolution was unanimously approved to develop a Master Plan and get an architectural work order for future improvements to the Bruton library, named for Quintilla Geer Bruton and Judge James D. Bruton, Jr.
New amenities under consideration for the library founded by the Women’s Club in 1925 include: a meeting room with seating for at least 125 patrons; a separate youth area with its own restroom; increased study room and meeting room space; a sensory room and nursing room; and more shelving space.
The City has solicited ASD|SKY Tampa for architectural design, planning, a feasibility analysis not to exceed $85,760 and rendering services for future needs of the City.
There’s been periodic updates, upgrades and some renovations but no expansions over the past 30 years, said Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel.
“The library is one of our most frequently visited public facilities. It provides a range of services from books and magazines, access to newspapers, digital media, laptops, programming — it’s a tremendously important interface for our community,” he said.
According to the City’s Library Expansion Master Plan Project Proposal, Plant City has been setting aside money for library infrastructure improvements and expansion for ‘several years” and $575,000 from the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) has already been allocated.
The need for the expansion and improved and added amenities stems from a need to increase space for patrons and programs.
Paul Shaver, library services director, said other similarly “service size” Hillsborough County libraries such as Temple Terrace, as well as the Lakeland Public Library were studied to determine what they’re able to offer patrons.
Shaver said according to the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, the Plant City library covers the third-highest service area in Hillsborough County, out of the more than 30 other libraries.
“If you look at that and you compare that with square footage and their buildings, the ones that are at that level have larger buildings,” said Shaver.
The proposal that shows the lead-up to getting plans underway will be in three phases: two workshops to discuss building improvements, special needs and space logistics and discuss varying floor plans; ASD|SKY will develop 3D images of the library to discuss architectural renderings; and a Master Plan and phasing plan will be finalized, along with budgets for each phase.
The Bruton Memorial Library is currently 20,000 square feet and the size of expansion will depend on architectural studies. In comparison, the Lakeland library is 39,000 square feet and Shaver said Bruton could increase in area anywhere between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet.
“That will meet the need that we have here,” he said.
ASD|SKY is working with structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers on the expansion proposal.
“After the proposal, we’ll have a much better and more exact timeline. The point of the proposal is to get a cost analysis and also to get a timeframe,” added Shaver. “We want to do it right; we want to be able to give the city an exact timeframe by the time the proposal has been completed.”
According to the CIP, the Master Plan for expansion should be done by December with a timeframe for construction to start sometime in 2025 and finish Sept. 2027.
“We want to have everything complete within three years, but it’s all going to depend, It could be sooner,” said Shaver. “The proposal has to come back before we can start anything like construction or anything like that.”
With more space, the library can offer more programming, said Shaver.
“We talk about service a lot. When we look at this plan, it’s going to allow us to honor the service commitments that we have. We’re looking to exceed the expectations of our residents,” he said.