A six-part proposal from the Deep River Public Library includes possible new infrastructural additions to the building’s indoor and outdoor study spaces, with the hopes to better serve Library patrons according to their needs.

The proposal, which is asking for a total of $119,850 in funds from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pool, includes improvements and additions including expanding learning opportunities for the young adult demographic, new work spaces to suited for individual needs, and easier interaction accessibility between library staff and visitors, and materials for study.

The proposal was briefly presented at a Board of Selectmen meeting on Sept. 27 by Kathryn Russell, the corresponding secretary for the Library’s Board of Trustees. According to Russell, one of the proposal’s priorities is to alleviate some of the negative mental health effects the coronavirus pandemic had on the younger demographic in town. In the ARPA proposal, the young adult demographic is described as being “underserved” and “experiencding an increased incidence of mental and behaviorial health issues.” The Library wants to ameliorate this issue with the hiring of a part-time library to help serve its youngest patrons through planning, implementing, and supervising new programs structured for that demographic. The new staff member would also focus on coordinating programs for adult patrons, particularly senior citizen visitors, who missed out on Library-sponsored program due to COVID-related isolation.

Russell said that present and future programs at the Library are not able to be handled by the current staff numbers, prompting the need for an additional employee for further, undetermined learning and community opportunities.

“The [Library] has programs now, but it’s a matter of volume and frequency. Having more of them on a regular basis. Right now you’re doing more one-offs,” said Russell.

If approved as part of the proposal as a whole, the new part-time librarian would be paid $45,000 annually for three years.

Current programs at the Library that proved popular during quarantine, including chess instruction and online cooking classes, are also looking to be extended, alongside the introduction of new young adult programming. Program extension costs are estimated to be $5,850, according to the proposal.

Another part of the proposal includes at a $3,500 allocation of ARPA funds for an increase in digital materials as part of the Library’s online circulation system. This would be achieved by increasing the annual expenditure for Hoopla, the online platform carrying, among other digital checkout materials, eBooks, audiobooks, and movies, by $1,500. This is on top of the remaining $2,000 for additional digital content including applications such as Transparent Language, Curiosity Stream, and Discover Video, all to meet increased patron demand.

According to Library Director Susan J. Rooney, while the circulation of printed material has risen over the past two years as the town started to open up again, digital circulation of Library materials has continued to increase in demand even since the onset of the pandemic. According to the director, a total of 3,100 units of digital content has circulated in 2022 as of the end of September. Rooney said this does not include content the Library’s own digital catalog, but those from other local and historic materials available on their website. Statistics from 2021 shows a rate of 1,182, representing a 162 percent increase in digital content circulation from last year, according to Rooney.

Half of the six proposed investments include infrastructural improvements intended to foster an improved work space for interaction between staff and patrons, and those according to the personal study requirements and preferences of the latter group.

Hoping to bring the Library into modern times, one of the proposed additions is for a new circulation desk, which would replace the functionally limited model that sits in an awkward and confusing spot in the building, and not designed ergonomically for those who occupy the desk. According to the proposal, the new modern desk would be positioned in a way for it to be visible from entry and exit points at the Library, making it more accessible for patrons looking to make transactions, and would be larger and more functional to accommodate for necessary equipment, and improve staff responsibilities. The circulation desk would cost $35,000 in ARPA funds, according to the proposal.

Infrastructural modernization could also be realized with the second categorical proposal of privacy pods. Broadly, the proposal states pods can bolster “essential activities” patrons need to conduct in a private setting. These structural are designed to create more focused study atmosphere for patrons, who may find it more comfortable to study, read, or conduct online business, in a quite space. A significant factor in the proposal of the pods is related to changing work behaviors due to COVID, particularly its effect on individual online-based learning, but would be suited for a privately-desired work space in general.

“You’ve got people who may be working on projects, some start-ups, working remotely. They don’t have a place to go to where they can have a little private meeting, and if you’re doing it at the Library you may be disrupting other people who are trying to study in a more traditional, quiet way,” said Russell.

Experiencing increased demand for greater space intended for small meetings between multiple people, the proposal also lists the possibility for the acquisition of a double pod, with the example offered of tutors having a space to meet with student.

According to the proposal, the estimated cost for a single pod, its installation, and table and chair parts, amounts to $8,300, while the double pod is an estimated $14,100. Russell said that while both models are considered, and if the overall proposal is approved, the Library would prefer to start off with a single purchase each of the single and multiple-occupant pods to test its reception, and would look to acquire more if proved popular with patrons, and would determined its appropriate location. Assuming the success for approval, Russell acknowledged that the proposal could be amend by the time it reaches a town meeting, and only one of the two models could be approved as part of the plan.

The final infrastructural addition in the proposal is the installation of additional tables in the outdoor patio area of the Library. Similar to the privacy pods, lingering COVID concerns would be eased with these additions, which would also make it possible for more programs to be held outdoors. The installation of patio tables and furniture would cost $8,100.

The proposal’s ultimate goal of better serving the individual needs of younger and older Library patrons, and its six-part plan, relates to a an overall new strategy being pieced together by the Board on how to stay closely connected with the shifting community, and are analyzing the result of survey previously conducted by the Board on town residents in July. According to Rooney, results from the survey will determine the kind of new programs the Library is determined to implement in the future show a proclivity from older respondents aged 50 years and above for programs such as history lectures, and those that are more hands-on.

“The reason is to stay in close touch with the Deep River community,” said Russell. “Some of the demographics have evolved, how people are working has evolved, and we want to be evolving with them, so that we’re meeting the needs.”