COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
QUESTION NO. 1
QUESTION: Councillor J. Lahart
"To ask the Manager to give a complete updated report on Ballyroan Library, timeline, cost and additional facilities available on completion?"
REPLY:
Work on the project for the redevelopment of Ballyroan Library is underway and the project plan for the first six months has been agreed between the County Librarian, County Architect, project architect and design team. This element of the build involves finalising the detail building design, preparation of the design and tender documentation and the issuing and assessment of tender documents. This phase will end with the tender negotiations and appointment of contractor and signing of contracts. The timeframe for this work is January to June 2011 with on site work currently scheduled to commence in July 2011. Total construction costs (including VAT) for the redevelopment of the building amounts to €3,511,900.
South Dublin County Council proposes to rebuild Ballyroan Library in the most cost effective manner in order to unlock and transform the space to facilitate the delivery of a 21st century community facility.
The new two story building will provide 1434 sq metres (15,435 square feet) of library space for the local community. The central elements of the new design include the provision of two new entrances - one to the North, accessed from Orchardstown Avenue, and the second to the South, accessed via Orchardstown Villas.
Express check out/return facilities, digital book download facilities and shelving for ‘quick picks’ and bestsellers will be found along an internal street running between both entrances. The reception desk will also be located here beside the ‘reading room’ or main library space beside it. This new enlarged reading room will become a place to read, browse, check online reference services or read a newspaper or children’s story in one of the window seats. The current different floor levels will be removed and the new open plan space will be lit from above by means of roof lights. More intimate reading areas off the main space in the form of pods, will overlook the adjoining streets.
A children’s area to the south of the central reading room will include space for book readings, family learning sessions and general children’s activities.
An exhibition area with moveable walls will be situated at the south end of the internal street. Toilet facilities and other essential functional areas will be located just off the internal street on the ground floor.
Additional space provided by the rebuild will also allow for the provision of flexible spaces to maximise service delivery to local communities. Life long learning programmes currently provided by Ballyroan Library require multiple rooms in order for programmes to be delivered simultaneously – and as a result the new seminar room will allow for subdivision of the space provided. Demand for digital training and eLearning is high amongst local communities and a seminar/digital training space on the ground floor will also facilitate delivery of these activities.
On the upper floor of the new building heritage material and essential reference resources will be found, both digitally and in hardcopy format. Here local residents will be offered a space for study and research. Access to the second floor is via a lift and stairs. The first floor of the new building includes a balcony which overlooks the internal street below.
The car park to the south will become a public square with a shared surface for people and cars. This area will be planted with trees and benches to allow people space to sit and read. On street parking will be maintained on the perimeter of the site. A pathway linking through from the library to the Pastoral and Community Centre will allow for an easy flow of people between the three community spaces.