The King County Library System has listened, proposing a 19,500-square foot library over the Cedar River that’s not much smaller than the current one.

Maintaining the size of the library was one of two key concerns of citizens who have been watchdogging the library planning for years. At Monday’s City Council meeting, there seemed to be general approval for a bigger library – and larger than one proposed last month.

KCLS and its architects are sticking with their plan to move the library’s entrance to the corner near the parking lot, but an added bonus is turning that end of the footbridge into a small plaza.

KCLS’ reasoning is sound on the entryway. It’s necessary there for smooth operations and leaving it where it is would add to costs. And cost is the one drawback to a larger library.

More space will put the downtown library about $1.5 million over budget. That’s a huge amount, but getting the library right is worth the effort to find the money. Now is the time for out-of-the-box thinking.

What was refreshing in comments at the council meeting and in the community was an interest in working together and toning down the rhetoric. The library debate has turned an important corner.