Blasco Library could soon house 3,000-square foot water research center. Here’s what we know

If plans coalesce between Erie County government and Gannon University, a 3,000-square foot water research and education center could become a reality at Blasco Memorial Library.

The proposed center, the Great Lakes Research & Education Center, is the brainchild of Gannon University, and is a part of its $24 million water quality initiative known as Project NePTWNE, pronounced "Neptune," after the Roman god of freshwater and the seas.

Originally, the university planned to build the center at the historic Union Fish Company Building at 116 W. Front St. at Wolverine Marina. That was the plan sold to members of Erie County Council in March when they approved $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to develop the center.

But at a Sept. 28 meeting of the Erie County Library Advisory Board, Erie County Public Library Director Karen Pierce said Gannon University was now in talks with the county to build the center at the library.

Pierce said the plan was not set in stone but that members of Erie County Council and the Library Advisory Board have already toured the proposed site on the library’s first floor.

“We’re still in a preliminary stage,” she said. “But I’m really excited about all this happening. I think it’s going to be something that’s fabulous for our community.”

Gannon University spokesman Doug Oathout told the Erie Times-News that the university is still “exploring the idea” and expects the matter to be discussed by council at an upcoming finance committee meeting.

Where would the center be located? What would it consist of?

The proposed center would be located on the library’s first floor and occupy what is now office space at the very end of the Community Classroom area and through the doors to the right of the Internet Lab, according to Oathout.

Oathout said library employees who use that office space would move upstairs.

Oathout said the center would occupy more than 3,000 square feet as opposed to the 1,800 square feet planned at the Union Fish Company Building. The center would have an exit and entry point for employees while visitors would enter through the main library entrance.

The center would include an aquatics research lab, classroom space, fish tanks, a butterfly conservatory and exhibits.

“You’re looking out the windows at the bayfront and here (in the library) there would be further explanation of the ecology of what you’re seeing and the interconnectedness of all the ecological systems,” Oathout said.

Oathout said the center’s water tanks and exhibits would not adversely impact the library, insisting measures will be in place to contain any kind of spill.

“You’re not talking about millions of gallons of water here,” he said.

Why did plans change from the Union Fish Company Building?

Oathout said Gannon University stepped away from developing the center at the Union Fish Company Building because of a stipulation by the Erie Western PA Port Authority, which owns the building.

Oathout said the Port Authority insisted that the university would only get a 30-day notice if asked to vacate.

“For us, we had to pause and say, ‘If we’re going to invest a lot of money into this space, is it smart to do that knowing that at any given time, you could be handed a 30-day notice to vacate the property?’ Oathout said.

Oathout said the university tried to get some “long-term promises” out of the Port Authority but was unable to reach an agreement. He said the county then approached the university about using the library.

“We have an opportunity to provide an even better experience for the general public (at the library),” Oathout said.

Gannon University sub-leases the space at the Union Fish Company Building from Lakeshore Towing, who is the primary tenant and leases the building from the Port Authority.

Oathout said the university will continue to lease the space from Lakeshore Towing because the university uses the nearby dock space for its Environaut research vessel. Oathout said it’s still unclear how the university will use the 1,800 square feet inside the building.

When the Times-News contacted the Port Authority to comment on the university’s decision, Port Authority Board Chairman Jeff Brinling provided the following statement:

“We’ve had a long-time relationship with Gannon University as community partners and we look forward to continuing that relationship in the future as we both believe in the betterment of our community, especially the bayfront.”

Why is a former public library director objecting to the project?

Former Erie County Councilmember Mary Rennie, who previously served as public library director, voiced an objection to the project at the Library Advisory Board meeting in September.

Her objection dealt with the county seeming to embrace a water research center while curtailing Blasco Library's children's services and programming due to limited parking.

Rennie referred to Pierce’s recent announcement to move two children's librarians from Blasco Library to the branch locations. Rennie said the explanation given by the library was that the Bayfront Parkway project will limit parking at Blasco Library and that moving the children’s librarians to the branches will allow visitors and families to engage in programming at alternate locations.

She questioned why a water research center would not raise the same concerns about space.

“If the library parking cannot support children's library functions, then it certainly cannot support additional extraneous programs,” she said.

Rennie stressed how Blasco Library is a designated District Center library and that it receives funding from the state Department of Education to fulfill that role.  She also said Blasco Library has received multiple Keystone grants from the state, all with a stipulation that library services remain undisturbed.

“The Blasco Library is the only county library that serves the largest municipality in Erie County, which is the city of Erie,” she said. “It is unconscionable to take away popular services for families and children which promote curiosity and learning, healthy interaction between family members, early literacy and social skills, all of which are critically important.”

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A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Public Library at Blasco could house water research center