Dozens of book lovers and library supporters flocked to Cullman City Hall Tuesday afternoon for an event hosted by the Cullman County Public Library where residents were asked about what changes they would like to see during the library’s upcoming renovation and expansion project.

Matt Foley with Birmingham, Alabama-based architecture firm Williams Blackstock said the session was a good opportunity to speak to patrons and get feedback from those who use the library most. Guests had the opportunity to speak with the firms representatives and fill out questionnaires expressing what changes and upgrades they would like to see for the new facility.

One of those patrons was 11-year-old Benjamin Bouldin, who used the questionnaire to draw his imagined design for a new and expanded children’s section.

“I still like books for small kids, but I like books for medium kids too,” Benjamin said while working on his design. “They split those kids’ books up and they should put all the kids’ books together into one bigger place.”

His sister, Abigail Bouldin, 12, agreed saying the small kids and medium kids books could be labeled by age range.

Displays showed images of potential additions and improvements such as outdoor seating, quiet rooms and a cafe, something of which Abigail was not a fan..

“No cafe!” she wrote on her recommendation form. “Too much possibility of mess and spilling! A good lounge and comfy space for the children is needed.”

The library board announced the possibility of overhauling the system’s main branch, located in downtown Cullman, in June when it approved Williams Blackstock to move forward with a no-cost feasibility study to determine what expansions and renovations were possible. At the board’s meeting earlier this month, library director Amber Thornton said the study had been completed and discussed the board’s intention to involve the community in the redesign as much as possible.

Williams Blackstock representatives and board members were positioned at several stations in Cullman City Hall to answer questions and collect feedback from residents on what their ideal community library would look like in the future. Thornton said Wednesday that she and others were still sorting through the comments which had been collected, but her impression from the event had been that the majority of those attending were excited about the updates.

“Most of the consensus was that something needed to be done. There has been work and remodeling that has been going on all across that Arts District right there with Depot Park. Then you look at the library and nothing had been done to that,” Thornton said. “A lot of people were a little surprised that nothing had been done already.”

She said a theme which stood out to her from the evening was one of giving the library a “welcoming feel” more in line with other city owned parks and buildings. She also said multiple people had asked for a focus to be placed on expanding the number of multipurpose and meeting rooms which could be used by community groups and organizations.

Thornton said the library would also be adding a link to its website and social media pages to allow other members of the community to leave feedback within the next several days. Williams Blackstock will then compile and use all of the input to create a design proposal Thornton said would be presented during a fundraising kickoff event she hoped would take place around the first of December.

Those looking to get a jump on hitting the $2 million goal, can donate online at givebutter.com/CCPL.