Architects and library officials are grappling with a significant spatial mismatch as the proposed Yarmouth library project faces a crunch between building size and collection goals. During the latest meeting of the Library Building Committee, Matt Oudens of Oudens Ello Architecture revealed that the current adult book collection requested in the building program simply cannot fit within the planned footprint without drastic measures. The project has been undergoing a "right-sizing" exercise to bring the total gross area down to approximately 26,083 square feet, shaving off nearly 1,000 square feet to meet Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) guidelines and budget constraints. However, this reduction has left the team with a math problem: the desired 52,000-volume collection would require either a much larger building or shelving units stacked seven levels high, which officials say would create significant supervision and sightline issues.

Oudens explained that the current design does not yet solve the volume requirement. He told the committee, We discovered that we weren't even coming close to accommodating the adult collection... there isn't enough shelving in there to accommodate the collection as described in the program. The only way to do that would be to add a huge amount of additional space which I think everybody agrees is not feasible. This capacity gap sparked a debate about whether the new facility must house the entire town collection or if the West Yarmouth Library branch will continue to carry a portion of the load. Library Director David Carlson noted the library is already in the process of weeding out older materials to manage current space. Carlson said, Basically, everything that comes in... we are in the process of removing materials. We would look to be redistributing things in some fashion in order to reduce some of that to create space because right now we simply do not have it.

The fate of the West Yarmouth Library remains a central political pillar for the project. Select Board Liaison Tom Scannell delivered a firm reminder that the neighborhood branch is not on the chopping block, referencing the intense public support that surfaced in previous town discussions. We were making it clear that West Yarmouth would continue... it would not be the consolidation into one library, Scannell said. He warned the committee that any suggestion of closing the branch, even decades into the future, would be politically disastrous, noting, if you even talk about 60 years from now closing West Yarmouth, you're going to have a significant problem in town. Committee member Judy Laster suggested that the long-term future of the branch remains a moving target, noting, I don't think the Select Board can even make a decision until after any new building is built because it would end up being a financial discussion around staffing and maintaining.

In response to the space shortage, member John Greco raised the possibility of cutting high-square-footage amenities to make room for more books. Greco asked, I know we would love an auditorium, but is that another one that's large square footage... if you need to cut something, is it that? For now, architects are attempting to find efficiency through layout changes. Marica Seldon of Oudens Ello Architecture presented a reconfigured interior that centers the main corridor. Seldon noted that the exercise was about tightening up the overall square footage making sure that all of the programs were right-sized, which now provides a direct sightline from the circulation desk all the way down to the auditorium.

Site logistics also presented new hurdles regarding parking and fire safety. Zoning bylaws for libraries are currently ambiguous, leaving parking requirements to the discretion of the building commissioner. While a strict "assembly use" interpretation could force the town to build over 100 parking spaces, Oudens is pushing for a more modest count based on MBLC metrics of one space per 400 square feet. This would help preserve existing parking at the MacArthur School. Fire safety requirements will also alter the site’s appearance; the Fire Chief has requested that the planned pedestrian path be reinforced to serve as a fire lane. Oudens explained, The fire chief did say that he wants to make this pedestrian path into a fire lane so that he can pull a truck all the way up to the front entrance... We also have to make sure that from that point we can get in 250 feet or less to every point of the perimeter of the building.

The committee also moved forward with digital outreach plans, hearing a proposal for a dedicated project website to keep residents informed ahead of the planned April 2026 referendum. Jen from the Accent team estimated setup costs for the Wix-based site would range between $2,500 and $3,500, with a $29 monthly maintenance fee. Committee member Tim Arnold expressed enthusiasm for the platform’s ease of use, noting, Once everything's set up, it's like I'm going to have full reign of updating... it's a matter of minutes, hours to be able to get it up onto the website. Chair Dorcas McGurn noted during the session that while the meeting was open for public comment, no members of the public were present on the virtual call to offer input.

Looking ahead, geotechnical drilling is scheduled to begin at the site on December 1. Architects are also eyeing a potential $400,000 state reimbursement incentive if the final building achieves Lead Gold or similar green building certifications. To qualify for these sustainability funds, the building must be "solar-ready," a requirement the team is currently integrating into the design. Despite the technical hurdles, the committee is maintaining its aggressive schedule, though no formal votes were taken on the design changes during the session.