Return to KPL homepage Why Ketchkan needs a new library Floor Plans! Financial aspects Help us build you a new library!

Why Does Ketchikan Need a New Library Building?
  • The Centennial Building was not designed for a library. The building will not be wasted, as the City has plans to renovate and expand the Tongass Historical Museum on this site.
  • The Centennial Building is not ADA compliant. There is no elevator to provide access to patrons with wheelchairs or strollers, and the aisles are too narrow for easy mobility.
  • The size of the collection has outgrown the available space. The library must discard books to make room for new titles. There is no adequate space for programs, and there are no meeting rooms at all.
  • The Ketchikan Gateway Borough area population was 8,774 in 1960 and 14,070 in 2000. This is a 68% growth over 40 years. The projection is for a 46% growth over the next 20 years. We need to accommodate this growth.
  • The current library space was built before computers were in use. The building does not have the electrical and telecommunications wiring the library needs.