Now that the gorgeous new library on Spanish River Boulevard is operational, the City of Boca Raton is busy working on plans to build another multi-million dollar library. The new proposal calls for a 30,000-square-foot library on the former Causeway Lumber site on Northwest Second Avenue, north of the existing Boca Raton Public Library. The estimated cost is $13.3 million dollars and the City has $10 million in its coffers from a bond referendum for a new library that was voted on four years ago. The City has stated that it is not sure what it will do with the existing downtown library when the new library is built.

To the City's credit, the proposal is scaled back from the original 50,000 square foot plan, in part because of costs and also because the Spanish River library contains ample conference space that would be redundant in the new library. Also, in fairness, the main downtown library is run down and in need of renovation. That begs the question, however, of whether renovation rather than a whole new edifice is necessary.

When citizens voted on the library referendum four years ago, the Spanish River library was in its early building phase and the real estate market and local tax base were robust. Four years later, we have a beautiful new library and an economy and city government straining to meet budgetary cuts. To embark on another ambitious library project right now might not be the most prudent thing.

City Council should look into the idea of renovating the downtown library or at least at a minimum determining what will be done with the existing library. Just because the City has the land and some money to build the library does not mean it should act hastily in these tough economic times. If the Council feels constrained by the referendum, then perhaps it should give the voters another proposal. Governments need to respond to current economic conditions, and this is one instance where the City Council needs to explain what it is doing and why. Otherwise, it appears just like it sounds - Boca is building another new multi-million dollar library right after opening a multi-million dollar library.

> Discuss this entry