Library 'center of universe'

WEST JORDAN — Salt Lake County is preparing to make this west-side city the hub of its library system.

Discussions are under way between the county and city that would bring a new library and the headquarters of Salt Lake County Library Services to a 35,000-square-foot facility at the West Jordan city complex, just west of City Hall, 8000 S. Redwood Road.

The proposed library would include about 20,000 square feet of library space, as well as 15,000 square feet for meeting rooms and auditoriums.

"We believe this particular facility will be the flagship of our services," said Jim Cooper, director of Salt Lake County Library Services.

Cooper said Salt Lake County library administration has "desperately outgrown" its longtime headquarters at the Whitmore Library in Cottonwood Heights.

Discussions between the county and city about replacing the old West Jordan Library at 1970 W. 7800 South have been going on for about a year, Cooper said. Over the past few months, those talks have shifted to not only replacing the library but also constructing a larger facility to be the center of the county's library operations.

"West Jordan is central to our service area," he said. "It's essentially smack-dab in the middle of it. ... We think this would be an ideal home" for a new county library headquarters.

The new West Jordan Library/county headquarters is one of four Salt Lake County library projects expected to be completed in the next two years. New libraries will replace existing ones in Magna, East Millcreek and Herriman.

Funding for the four projects will come from a revenue bond, Cooper said. The bond, the amount of which is yet to be determined, likely will be issued early next year, allowing construction to begin in the spring. The library could open its doors as soon as summer 2009.

County and city officials are still working out details of a land deal for the new West Jordan library. When the land is secured, design for the project will begin, Cooper said.

Councilwoman Melissa Johnson said the West Jordan project is more than just the replacement of a older library.

"It's an entirely different facility that will bring an entirely different level of community participation to West Jordan," Johnson said. "I think it's a great plan."

The new facility would provide a place where library, county, city and community events could be held and accommodate a large number of people, Cooper said.

It also would be adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, allowing outdoor events to be held in connection with the library.

The project has the support of the Salt Lake County Council, county Councilman Jeff Allen said.

"This is now the center of the universe for our library system," Allen said. "It's going to be a fantastic facility."

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