A Growing Clive Iowa Needs a Library with More Space

Excerpt: The Clive Public Library has long lists of people — mostly children — waiting to participate in library programs that range from baby lap time to “Tales with Tails.”

During the 2011-12 fiscal year, the library turned down 602 people waiting to get into library programs.

“We’ve had waiting lists for a long time, even though we’ve doubled the number of programs that we offer over the last seven years,” said Vicki Hibbert, director of the library.

The problem boils down to a lack of space, Hibbert said. A bond referendum to build a new library building failed in July of 2008. The vote was the same day that gas prices hit $4 per gallon in the Des Moines metro area, Hibbert recalled.

Clive city leaders said the library must expand or change in some major way within the next five years to meet the needs of a growing population.