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Carroll Library Director, Rachel Van Erdewyk, Says Current Shelving Situation Is A Problem For Patrons

Carroll Public Library patrons with disabilities or who are very young can have difficulties when trying to fully utilize the facility. Many of the shelves are more than five feet tall in the children’s section. The preferred shelving for that age range is around 42 inches maximum. Christie Babb, a library supporter and mother, says her three-year-old daughter cannot pick out books without help.

The library has another issue. Access to the shelving units do not fall under current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. ADA requires the top shelf of a stack be at 48-inches tall or less. Stacks at the library are nearly twice that. Library Director, Rachel Van Erdewyk, says height is not their only problem.

The law also requires at least 60 inches between stacks to allow wheelchairs to pass each other. Currently they are 48 inches apart. ADA was implemented in 1990, and the library was built in 1975. This places the facility under a “safe harbor” provision of the law which does not require full compliance. Van Erdewyk says this forces the library to remain stagnant to avoid violation sanctions.

She adds the only way to address these concerns is by nearly doubling the library’s usable space from 9,000 sq. ft. to 19,000 sq. ft. A referendum on Aug. 1 to allow Carroll to issue $3.8 million in capital loans, if passed, would allow the updates to occur.

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