Possible Madison Central Library Temporary Location Has Asbestos Problem

The Central Library Project

Link to June 17 Isthmus article.

Excerpt: The city of Madison is eying a long-vacant office building as a temporary home for its Central Library, perhaps without a full understanding of why it has been long vacant.

"We've gone through it a couple of times," says library director Barb Dimick of the 11-story office building at 316 W. Washington Ave., a stone's throw from the current library site. "It looks like there's possibilities but nothing's been signed."

Don Marx, the city's real estate guru, confirms this: "We're kind of sizing it up to see if it meets our needs." He says the public portion would occupy part of the building's first floor, with perhaps other floors being used for administrative offices and storage.

The library needs to find a home for an 18-month period, beginning, says Marx, "in the second quarter of 2011."

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