Rockport is deceiving at first glance.  Our town is more than the village at the head of the harbor; it's a community of five distinct villages stretching between Camden and Rockland along Routes 1, 17 and 90.  Our library is deceiving, too.  It's comfortably tucked into the center of the harbor village, exuding coziness and charm, but it's a building that has had many facelifts. It cleverly hides its age and inadequacy as a fully realized community asset by the sheer effort of its dedicated director, its capable and friendly staff, and its many committed volunteers.

As the library gets ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014, it is time to reconsider the future of the Rockport Public Library and ask a big question: what should our small town library mean in the 21st Century? A grant from the Davis Family Foundation has helped your elected Library Committee do just that. The grant included three distinct phases — assessing community needs, evaluating the library's current site, and developing a conceptual design for a new library on an alternate site — and has just been completed.

With all the information in hand, the Library Committee has voted to endorse the construction of a new library on the former Rockport Elementary School site on West Street. It is not our decision — that can come only from Town voters — but it is our recommendation, as stewards of the Rockport Public Library.

We are eager to share our thinking with the community, and we are eager to hear your questions, comments, and ideas. Our endorsement of a new library is the result of a long process, which is detailed on the library's website, and stems directly from the information obtained by each phase of the grant.

Assessing community needs. A series of focus groups and surveys was the first time many citizens considered the library's future. They celebrated the library's warm, cozy, friendly atmosphere, and confirmed that our Library truly doubles as our community center.  Attendance and circulation have more than doubled since the library's last addition 20 years ago; program attendance is up by a factor of four; and both incoming and outgoing interlibrary loans have skyrocketed.  Survey results also indicated that patrons are largely unaware of the challenges our staff faces to provide ever-expanding services in an increasingly cramped 3,200-square-feet.

Evaluating the current site. Many library patrons indicated that their first choice would be to expand the library for a fifth time, so the Library Committee undertook an engineering study of the current site. The study revealed that expansion is not possible due to set back restrictions from the stream running next to the library. The last addition, in 1993, maximized any allowable increase in size. The library cannot go up or out, and cannot provide additional services on the current site.

Developing a conceptual design for a new site. The seven-acre, town-owned site of the former Rockport Elementary School is large enough to host a new library and the existing ball fields, so the last portion of the grant funded an architectural study of that site. Scott Simons Architects, of Portland, was selected to assess the site and to evaluate the space and programming needs of our community library, and in March, the architects presented two conceptual designs at a well-attended community meeting. A DVD of the meeting is available at the library.

The final conceptual design reflects community input, and proposes an approximately 14,000 square feet library. The design offers maximum functionality, with a central circulation desk that welcomes entering patrons and offers clear site lines throughout the building to minimize the need for additional staff. There is a large meeting room that can be closed off from the rest of the library for evening meetings access, space for a café, periodicals, and public computing, and expanded, more spacious stacks. There are also distinct, separate areas for teens and children, and a door from the children's area to an outside playground and garden.

We are grateful to the Davis Family Foundation for helping us "Discover the Possibilities." It is clear that Rockport wants and deserves a library that meets the needs of all its residents, and that our current building — though beautiful and beloved — cannot meet those needs. As we celebrate the Rockport Public Library's 100th birthday next year, we must build for the future.

We are delighted that the town already owns ample, buildable land that is both walkable for village residents and accessible to all of Rockport's communities. As the site of much-enjoyed ball fields and of our former elementary school, this gateway to Rockport location has a special place in the hearts of many residents.

Our next step is a joint public workshop with the Rockport Select Board to establish a timeline for bringing a proposal to voters. The Library Committee is exploring financing and fundraising options. We anticipate a series of community meetings, similar to last fall's Select Board Listening Tour, and look forward to meeting with Rockport citizens.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has participated in the process by attending meetings, watching the DVD, writing to local papers, or speaking to the Select Board. Please keep it up. We welcome your calls, emails, and questions. It is truly a sign of our library's success that we inspire such spirited involvement!

Rockport Library Committee includes Chairman Kathleen Meil and members Betsy Elwin, Cate Monroe and Barrie Pribyl.