DAPHNE — The Daphne Public Library Board wants to expand and renovate the current building for $7 million.

“We don’t have enough space to meet everyone’s needs,” Tonja Young, library director, said at the board’s July 10 meeting.

The library, as it stands, was paid for by tax money that was allocated for the project.

A fund-raising campaign would be needed to pay for the expansion, according to Young.

Young has applied for a $1 million grant from the National Endowment for Humanities that would require the city to match the amount with $3 million.

Young is also researching a $50,000 grant for an energy-efficient building. The grant would require a reduction of 20 percent in energy consumption with the major renovations, according to the grant guidelines.

National Community Development Services Inc. conducted a feasibility study to find out what Daphne residents thought about the library and possibilities of expansion.

Howard Benson, president and CEO of NCDS, and his team focused on the following questions:

•Do residents see the need for expansion?

•Are plans effective and show good use of space?

•Does the library have a strong staff to support the project?

•Does the city have adequate financial resources?

•Does the city have potential campaign leaders to help with influential and financial resources?

“You don’t dive off the diving board without knowing how much water is in the pool,” Benson said of the study.

Most of those interviewed were unaware of the need for an expansion and that the library does not meet Alabama Blue Ribbon Standards, according to Benson.

The requirements list different topics and their figures to show how one library would measure up to what the state says each library should have.

For instance, a library should have five books and other materials in stock per person; the Daphne library has 3.65 items per person, according to the standards.

The requirements show that a library should spend $25 per person on annual materials; Daphne’s library spends $3.65 per person a year.

However, once the need was shown, interviewees said something should be done, according to Benson.

The expansion calls for a large auditorium, with separate outside entrances; a larger book shop; more meeting rooms and a possible coffee shop, among other renovations, Young said.

“The auditorium could be used for children’s programs and special presentations or companies could hold meetings and conventions there when the library isn’t open,” she said.

The plans show a space for a designated computer lab, more space for young adults and an enclosed quiet room for more in-depth research, Young said.

Several groups, such as different scout troops, homeschool groups and crafts clubs, use the library for meeting space because there is no charge, according to Young.

“There is a lot more that we would like to provide to the public,” Young said.

The library might add to their children’s programs, including a bilingual story time, Young said.

Young has applied for a $20,000 grant with the Alabama Public Library Services, which would allow for the program to be developed.

While interviewees thought highly of the expansion plan and that the library had a great staff and was well-run, they didn’t think the financial resources, influence to raise the needed amount and urgency were there, Benson said.

Interviewees think the city should contribute more to the project: possibly half, according to Benson.

The city has given $1 million, according to Young.

“We hope that as the economy gets better, we will get more employees, which will be an important monetary contribution,” Young said.

“We are going to have our campaign and we are going to have that building,” Ron Allen, the new chairman of the library board, said.