Wednesday, August 9, 2006 6:45 PM PDT

Colfax Library pages through proposed improvements

By: Michael Althouse, Colfax Record Staff Writer

What does 6-year-old Jozi Gullickson's fiddle medley have to do with a new Colfax Library?

According to Friends of the Colfax Library volunteers, everything.

Gullickson is one of at least 10 Colfax area residents who auditioned last Thursday for the Oct. 21 talent show to benefit the Friends' Library Building Fund.

So far, the Friends have raised about $5,000 from other fund-raising efforts, including another talent show two years ago, said President Heidi Johnson.

"The money they raise shows community support," said County Supervisor Bruce Kranz. "I'm one vote of five. I need something to bring to the other supervisors."

Placer County has slated the Colfax Library for expansion, which is second in priority to all other library branches behind Rocklin's, agreed Johnson, Kranz and county library officials. The Colfax project should be completed by 2008.

On July 24, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a capital improvements plan, said Rob Unholz, capitol improvements manager for Placer County.

For the current fiscal year (2005/2006), $240,000 has been allocated to the library project. A total of an additional $1.3 million is allotted for the next two fiscal years.

However, Kranz said, the funding "is front-loaded," meaning it could be accessed sooner.

"We can move relatively rapidly," he said, if the current building can be purchased.

Negotiations to purchase the building from owner Jeff Williams are in process.

Although the building is not on the market, Williams said, he is "receptive" to selling it to the county.

"We are getting an appraisal," said Unholz who said the county is "going into it thinking around $500,000."

Currently, the Colfax Library is housed in half of a building leased by the county on the corner or Church and S. Main Streets.

The other half houses the Colfax Community Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that often works in conjunction with the county on family and children's services.

The evaluation for need is based on statewide standards such as square footage per capita, said Placer County Director of Library Services Mark Parker.

Based on factors such as area served, residents served, current space and projected growth, Colfax's library is deemed in "critical need," Kranz said.

The historic building, built in 1917, was originally a post office and a PG&E building.

The Colfax Library moved from the courthouse to its current location after the completion of the new post office on Church Street in 1977.

"We want to maintain the historic integrity" of the current location, Kranz said.

The Record's Michael Althouse can be reached at mikealthouse@earthlink.net.