RUMFORD – The Library Growth Committee took a first look at a conceptual design for a new facility when it met with architect Stephen Fraser late Thursday afternoon.

Once the details have been worked out, two public informational meetings will be held to try to convince people that a new library is the best thing to provide services needed in the 21st century and to help the area grow.

“Everything would be at one level and the children’s library would have a playground (outside its section) and the library would be constructed so that the library sections could be cut off from the community room at night,” said Fraser, a Rumford native who lives in Poland and works for Scott Simons Architects there.

Tentatively planned, if approved by voters in June, would be construction of a 10,578-square-foot library on the Penobscot Street side of the former site of Stephens High School.

“A new library would be starting with a clean slate, have better parking, and would cost only 25 percent more than adding onto the existing library,” Fraser said.

When a feasibility study was conducted in 2001, estimated costs for a 12,445-square-foot multi-level addition to the 1903 Carnegie Library was $1.5 million, largely because of extensive land moving work that would be needed to expand parking. Much of the new space would also be eaten up by stairwells and an elevator.

The estimated cost at that time for a 10,578-foot new library was $1.9 million.

The original section of the library is 2,000-square-feet. A 4,000-square-foot addition was built in 1969.

Since then, according to growth committee members, the services needed for libraries have changed dramatically.

John Patrick, a committee member as well as a member of the Legislature, said his economic development tours have shown him that communities that experience growth have modernized town halls and new and modernized libraries.

“Having conference and community rooms are really important. It doesn’t matter the decline in population. We want to see Rumford revitalized and a new library is something of value to the town,” he said.

Some, however, believe the existing library fits the town’s needs. In a straw poll held in January, about a quarter of those voting indicated they wanted a new library, another quarter wanted to build an addition, and about half wanted to do only the work needed to bring the current facility up to building codes.

Committee Chairwoman Kathy Sutton said at that time that the straw poll was premature because the committee had not had a chance to provide information about the need for a new facility.

Residents will be asked in June in a binding vote what they want to see in the library. A construction date for either option has not been set. Sutton said money will come from grants and will likely take several years to raise.

The funding for the architectural design of a new facility came from the Rumford Public Library Board of Trustees and a betterment grant.

The committee meets next at 5 p.m. on April 12 at the library.