Point Reyes Station's library is scheduled to move from its longtime site on Fourth Street to the back of the Old Creamery Building this winter.
The move will nearly triple the library's floor space, allowing it to add computers linked to the Internet, increase the number of Spanish-language and bilingual books, and ultimately make the Point Reyes Station branch a bilingual library, said librarian Lynn Murray.
County supervisors Tuesday approved a $1,275-per-month lease for the new site, which is now occupied by Art Rogers' photography studio.
Rogers on Wednesday told The Light he hopes to have a new studio at his home at Mesa and Cypress roads completed by March 1. A building permit for the new studio has been completed, but the county Building Department as of press time was still working on the final details, he said.
The library has been in its present building for more than 40 years, noted Murray. Seventeen years ago, its space was doubled (to roughly 700 square feet), but "we quickly outgrew that," said Murray. "Our circulation increases year after year."
Murray, who with Nancy Hemmingway of Inverness is in charge of the Point Reyes Station branch, said another advantage of the new location is that the entrance and restroom will be accessible to disabled people.
Larry Marks of Novato, who owns the Old Creamery, said restrooms and entrances in the building are already accessible for disabled people.
He added that "one thing that makes [the new site] attractive are all those skylights in there."
Agreed Murray, "It's a very good space." It will require far less remodeling than an alternative site in a house on Fifth Street, which had been previously considered.
The upcoming move "is the result of years of planning and work by a large number of people," the librarian added. "My thanks to the county and the Tomales Bay Library Association."
Supervisor Gary Giacomini, who is about to retire, on Tuesday expressed pleasure that his fellow supervisors had agreed to the new site: "I personally wanted to get this done before I left."