Rob Cohen, representative to the Parkland Community Library board, presented an overview of the library’s strategic plan to the Parkland School Board at its Sept. 29 meeting.

The document, adopted in August after a year of work, covers three years, 2015 through 2018.

Cohen said the library board will continue to pursue a larger facility.

Although it serves the second largest population in the county, the building, at 5,400 square feet, is the smallest in physical size and has limited parking.

“The reality of the new building is a process that will take time. It is a long term goal,” Cohen said. “There’s not a time line on it.

“In the interim, we want to make the present facility a more positive experience.”

Improvements for the existing building include better lighting, fresh paint, a handicapped access door, and new carpeting, furniture and shelving system.

The furniture and shelves will be taken along to the new building in the future.

Cohen said the library will be closed while the work is being done, possibly December because that is statistically the least used month due to the holiday season.

During the closure, library programs will be conducted elsewhere, such as in township municipal buildings.

Return time for books will be lengthened to cover the period the library is unavailable.

Cohen said the strategic plan calls for a larger, modern computer access area and space designed for that use.

The website will be updated and easier to navigate, and more downloaded media will be added, including e-books and streaming music.

Cohen said the community through library surveys has expressed a desire for a larger, nicer library.

“We know we need a bigger facility,” Cohen said. “We’re working on a variety of solutions to that plan.

“We did allocate funds for a preliminary study of another site, but we haven’t taken anything off the table.”

He said the library is a modest organization with an annual operating budget of less than $1 million, in contrast to the $158-million budget of the Parkland School District.

“The library is making a sincere effort to work within its confines,” Cohen said.

“We’re very excited we’re doing something to plan for the future.”