The Southlake Library Task Force is scheduled to present its recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
“The level of engagement on this issue has been extraordinary,” said Councilmember and Task Force Co-Chair Kathy Talley. “We have heard from hundreds of community members who are passionate about this new opportunity and what it will mean to Southlake.”
Many citizens used an online comment form to share their thoughts. Councilmember Talley noted that the comment form will be open until Monday, June 6, 2022.
“It’s vital that our residents have the opportunity to get involved in such an important decision,” said Talley.
Earlier this year, the Library Task Force was charged with looking closely at the future of the library and working with the community to envision a new space that welcomes people at the front door and invites them to experience a library in a whole new way.
After visiting libraries and community spaces in other DFW Metroplex cities, the Task Force hosted two Open Houses and Town Hall Meetings. Those meetings held on May 11, 2022, and May 16, 2022, helped provide the Task Force with citizen feedback and allowed them to report what they had learned through the research process. Then, on May 25, 2022, the Task Force presented location options to the Library Board, facility amenities, and complementary uses that could be incorporated into the facility.
The Council will review the Task Force recommendations and the Library Board’s feedback at the June 7 meeting. The public is invited to the in-person meeting or can watch online. The meeting starts at 5:30 in the Town Hall Council Chamber. The Task Force is expected to present their findings at approximately 7:00 p.m. following Executive Session.
Following the recent Library Task Force Town Hall meetings, the team will take its next steps regarding a possible new location for the Southlake Public Library.
The Task Force announced three site options at both meetings: Bicentennial Park, Carillon Parc, and Parkwood Drive (near Southlake Boulevard and Byron Nelson). They also shared ideas about facility priorities, complimentary amenities, and funding sources.
You can watch recordings of the Town Hall meetings at https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/332/On-Demand-Video.
“We heard some wonderful and thoughtful ideas and comments from residents,” said Southlake Councilmember and Library Task Force co-chair Ronell Smith. “Now, we will work with the Library Board and then the City Council to see where we can go next.”
Happening this week, the Library Board will meet in the City Council Chamber on Wednesday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting. During the meeting, the board will hear from the Task Force about their work and recommendations. Following the Library Board meeting, the next step for the Task Force is to present their recommendation at the June 7 City Council meeting.
Following their May 11 meeting, the Library Task Force will meet again on May 16, 2022, to get residents’ thoughts and ideas about a possible new location for the Southlake Public Library.
The Library Task Force announced three possible site options: Bicentennial Park, Carillon Parc, and Parkwood Drive (near Southlake Boulevard and Byron Nelson). They also discussed facility priorities and complimentary amenities.
“This Task Force has invested a lot of time researching and gathering information,” said City Councilmember and Task Force Co-Chair Kathy Talley. “To present it to residents, receive their feedback, and work those insights into our recommendations is the best way to ensure that it’s a library for all.”
The May 11 meeting is available online. It includes the presentation given by the Library Task Force and feedback provided that evening.
May 16 meeting
The second Town Hall meeting will take place Monday, May 16, 2022, and will start with an open house from 4:30 – 6:00 pm in the Town Hall lobby. The Open House is an opportunity for attendees to visit with the Library Task Force members.
Then at 6:00 pm, the Library Task Force will present their findings in the Council Chamber. The Library Task Force will talk about what they have learned through their studies and on their site tours. and conversations with the community.
If you cannot attend the meeting on the 16th, it will be broadcast live on the City’s website www.CityofSouthlake.com/VideoOnDemand. You can also provide your thoughts to the Library Task Force through an online comment card. The online comment card will be available through Sunday, May 15, 2022, at 5:00 pm. Visit CityofSouthlake.com/LibraryTaskForce and click the online comment link.
