GLASGOW, Ky. — About 50 people gathered Thursday evening for a community meeting focused on the future of the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library, as leaders continue early planning efforts to explore potential expansion and upgrades to the facility.

The meeting is part of an ongoing series of feasibility studies aimed at identifying how the library could grow to better serve patrons and meet long-term community needs.

“We want to know what needs they see as being unmet and work with the county to meet them,” said Library Director Ami Sandell.

Chris Cottingim, an architect with 5253 Design Group in Shelbyville, led the session, recording public input and taking questions as residents shared ideas and concerns. Cottingim said the purpose of the meeting was to document community feedback without immediate evaluation or judgment.

“What I'm doing here tonight is writing down your ideas of what you want to see at the library,” Cottingim said. “We're not here to debate them. We're not going to judge any validity or any of that kind of stuff.”

Library staff said many of the topics raised Thursday have been discussed in previous planning conversations, including the need for more meeting space and additional room for book collections.

However, Sandell noted that some suggestions were new.

“There were ideas that we had not considered. That I had not considered,” Sandell said. “So, a lot of good feedback.”

A central theme throughout the meeting was limited space, including constraints for programming, meeting areas, and shelving capacity.

The Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives recommends that public libraries serving populations between 25,000 and 49,999 maintain a minimum of 2.5 books per resident.

Barren County’s population is approximately 45,000, placing it within that range. The library currently houses roughly 40,000 books.

Community members also raised questions about underused or overlooked features of the property.

At one point, a former board member mentioned the library’s outdoor space, prompting another attendee to say they were unaware it existed.

“I've been coming to this library for 18 years and I didn't know there was an outdoor space,” said T.J. Clapp, who attended with her daughters.

The outdoor area is located toward the rear of the library’s parking lot.

“We know that there is need for some more useful outdoor space,” Sandell said. “But there was a little more talk about that than I expected.”

Additional concerns included limited space at the drive-thru book drop, narrow pedestrian walkways, landscaping needs, parking lot lighting, and the overall sense of a welcoming entry and interior space.

Barbara Brand, interim president of the Friends of the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library, attended the meeting and listened as residents provided feedback on potential improvements.

Other members of the Friends of the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library were in the audience and spoke about concerns, namely storage for their organization.

Sandell said the next phase of planning will require broad community support, noting that funding sources have not yet been finalized.

Once feedback from Thursday’s meeting is compiled, the library will move forward with a full architectural and financial feasibility study. That process will lead to conceptual designs for potential renovations, which would then require board approval before moving forward.

“I would say the next three to four months, we will have the information we need to know to present to the board,” Cottingim said.

The library is located at 1530 South Green St. It previously operated along College Street before moving to its current building in 2009.

Additional smaller meetings and opportunities for feedback are expected in the coming months, Sandell said, as officials continue shaping the direction of the project. Those unable to attend can submit comments to director@weldonpubliclibrary.org.