Is there a need to expand the footprint of the 23,400-square-foot Oxford Public Library?

An architect has been hired to help answer that question.

Over the next year-and-a-half, the library will be working with Seth Penchansky, a principal at the Ann Arbor-based Daniels and Zermack Architects, to conduct a feasibility and schematic design study to determine if an expansion is warranted and if so, what options are available.

“It’s not a definite (thing),” said Library Director Bryan Cloutier. “We’re making an assumption that (the study’s) probably going to conclude with some type of an expansion. But we’re not at any point (where we’re) ready to say what we’re going to expand and how we’re going to do it.”

The library board previously voted to authorize Daniels and Zermack to begin the feasibility study for an amount not to exceed $26,300.

According to Cloutier, the library’s vision is to make way for additional space for youth services, independent and small group study, large group conference facilities and storage, which is “desperately needed.”

Cloutier said the “primary focus” will be the youth services department “because it’s way too small for our facility and our needs.”

Rather than simply adding on to youth services, which is located on the north side of the building, Cloutier said, “The architect wants to look at the big picture to determine if moving the youth department within the current footprint of the building and expanding somewhere else to accommodate those changes would be the logical step.”

Because the library abuts Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department property on its south side, the building could only be expanded on its north, east and west sides.

Cloutier said the “most space” for potential expansion is located on the west side, which is behind the building. “But that doesn’t help us in the youth department because obviously, it’s on the (north) side,” he said.

In the proposal Daniels and Zermack submitted to the library, it was stated that “potential expansion to the west and north was anticipated in the (building’s) original design.”

In addition to looking at the library’s space needs, Cloutier said the feasibility study will examine the building’s HVAC infrastructure in terms of “what’s aging and what’s been replaced” and what needs to be upgraded to make it more efficient and reliable, he noted.

If it’s determined an expansion is needed and the library decides to seek funding for it by putting a bond proposal on the ballot, Cloutier said, “It wouldn’t go to the voters until 2020 – at least that’s been our internal dialogue among the board of directors and staff.”

“There’s no talk of putting anything on the ballot this year,” he said.

According to Cloutier, the first meeting with the architect won’t happen until the end of March.

Penchansky is no stranger to Oxford’s library. When he was a senior associate with the firm of David Milling and Associates from 1995 to 2004, Penchansky served as project manager and project architect when the library was built. Construction of the facility was completed in 1997.

While with that same firm, Penchansky worked on the 3,500-square-foot expansion/renovation of the youth department, completed in 2002.

With his current firm, Penchansky served as the principal architect and interior designer for the expansion and renovation of the library’s teen and technology areas, completed in 2005.