Portneuf District Library to move to new location

The Portneuf District Library in Chubbuck announced plans to move to a new location during an announcement Monday morning.

The library plans to construct a larger, nearly 32,000 square foot , facility on the corner of East Chubbuck and Burley, next to the new Chubbuck City Hall. That is if the $11.645 million bond to build it passes during the May election.

According to library director Holly Jackson, the bond has a 73 percent approval rating from informal and formal surveys that were recently taken.

” So we’re hoping that we will have good support for that, ” Jackson said, knowing that not everyone will be excited about a rise in taxes.

” There are always people that do not approve of taxes and that is there right as a voting American. And so that is always a concern, ” she explained.

In order for the bond to pass the library needs a ” 66 plus one ” vote. If it doesn’t pass, there will likely not be a new library building.

For nearly seven years, Jackson has felt the need for a larger facility. Noting large crowds that the library couldn’t support, Jackson said there were nights the library was ” bursting at the seams. ”

But building a new library is a big process, ” so it has taken a while to get everything going, ” Jackson explained.

With sights set on the future, Jackson said she’s excited for the library to be in a more accessible area, getting out of the nestled current spot.

” We get the comment a lot, ” there’s a library in Chubbuck ? ” because we’re right in the middle of a neighborhood. And while we love that homey feel that that provides, it will be nice to be a destination place. ”

Should the bond pass in May, ground will likely be broken on the new location sometime next year with a plan to have the new library open for business in three years.