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Meeting looks for visions of Turlock Library
Turlock library pic
The population of Turlock has more than doubled since the current Turlock Library was built in 1968. - photo by Journal file photo

Turlock residents interested in helping shape the future of the Turlock Library will have the opportunity to share their input at a visioning meeting with county officials and Friends of the Turlock Library on March 25.

The visioning process will be facilitated by architects, David Crotty and Alan Bright of HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. They will lead participants through the visioning process in small group discussions. Participants will discuss community needs and desires for the library facility.

“The evolution of the Turlock Library from a well-loved but cramped space to a more spacious, functional and attractive center of the community is a project we are all excited about," said Stanislaus County Library Director Diane McDonnell.

Both architects are experienced in public building projects. Bright specializes in designing public buildings that maximize both space and energy efficiencies.

“We always want to guide clients through a process that creates buildings that are striking in their social and environmental responsibility, affordability and beauty,” said Bright.

The current Turlock Library was built in 1968, for a population of 30,000. The city’s population has more than doubled since that time, now more than 72,000. The current library facility has no dedicated meeting rooms or space for library programming, such as children’s Story Times and informational presentations for consumers.

The Turlock branch of the library has the second highest circulation rate, according to Turlock Librarian Diane Bartlett. In addition to meeting the needs of the Turlock community, it is also a regional library, meaning it supports the programs of four of the smaller libraries in the county.

In 2015, the Friends of the Turlock Public Library set their sights on relocating the library in Turlock or expanding on the current footprint.