ADAMS TWP — What's in a name? A lot, according to many residents of Mars.

More than 50 people turned out on Wednesday night at the Adams Township building for a meeting regarding the potential relocation of the Mars Public Library on Grand Avenue in Mars to a proposed modern new $4.5 million building at the Adams Township Community Park about three miles away.

Many Mars residents told the township supervisors that they disagree with pulling the library out of downtown Mars for various reasons, but an audible gasp from the crowd arose when Supervisor Russ Ford announced that if the library were moved to the park, it would be renamed.

“We would not be partaking of this project if the name is going to stay Mars Area Public Library if it's in Adams Township,” Ford said.

Tom Franceschina, supervisors vice president, said the library would be renamed the Adams Area Public Library.

Architect Fritz Baehr, a 30-year resident of the borough, explained the reasoning behind and plans for the new facility, which would be built between the one-room schoolhouse and the township building's south parking lot.

Baehr told the group, which included officials from every municipality served by the library, as well as two school board members from the Mars School District, that the library board of directors has been working on the project for five years.

He explained that the current 10,600-square-foot library building, which has 9,000 square feet of usable space, was built in 1928 as a machine shop, and was taken over by the library in 1995.

Baehr said the building is too small and cannot be expanded, has far too little parking and has myriad of problems that would be cost-prohibitive to repair or replace.

“It makes the current situation untenable,” Baehr said. He said the proposed new 19,000-square-foot building would have all library services in the building's first floor, and community space and an outdoor patio on the second floor.

Baehr called the building, which would be finished with siding and a pitched roof, “contemporary and open.” He said an outdoor amphitheater would also be added for events and performances.

Regarding funding, Baehr said the library received a $500,000 grant and he would expect the sale of the old building to bring in about $400,000. It also receives annual donations of $170,000 from Adams Township, $9,000 from Mars, $5,000 from Middlesex Township and no donation from Valencia.

The remainder would come from library fundraisers and $3.5 million from the Adams Township supervisors, if they decide to approve the expenditure.

“There are still some holes in our budget,” Baehr said.

In October, the supervisors agreed to pledge funds because it was necessary for the library board to apply for the grant.

Ford stressed that the supervisors have not approved a location or the $500,000 grant, and do not know when or if those votes will happen.

The Mars residents in attendance at the meeting were upset at the prospect of losing the library.

Mars Councilwoman Julie Schultheis called Mars “a diamond in the rough” and said pulling the library would affect the borough's revitalization plan, especially so soon after the Adams Area Fire District moved from the borough to Route 228 in Adams Township.

“Pulling these viable entities out of our town is making it very, very hard to revitalize,” Schultheis said.

Many felt a referendum asking voters to approve or deny a new Adams Township library should have appeared on the primary election ballot on Tuesday.

Others feel the park is not a feasible place for a library, which belongs among other businesses that patrons could visit.

Still others suggested the township build their own library and leave the current library intact as a satellite facility.

When some Mars residents aimed their ire at the supervisors, Franceschina said the library board is the proponent of moving to the park and not the supervisors.

“In no way did Adams Township ask the library to be moved here,” he said.

He also expressed his disapproval at the library board for not publicizing and holding meetings in Mars, Middlesex and Valencia as requested by the supervisors in October so the public could give their input on moving the library.

“No meeting has been held except this one tonight,” Franceschina said. “That's why we're having this meeting.”

He also questioned if bids come in high, whether the supervisors would be on the hook for the costs.

“I haven't been real fond of this project from the very beginning,” Franceschina said.

Library board member Janice Schmitt said the library board did hold public meetings regarding the project. She said 10 residents attended one and four attended the other.

Franceschina said those meetings were not sufficiently publicized, as no notices appeared in public places or in municipal buildings.

Others at the meeting expressed their approval of the new library idea.

Jenelle Kasowski said it would be convenient to take her son to practice at one of the sports fields in the park and then go to the library with her daughter.

“This type of library is what I would like to see as a township resident,” Kasowski said.

She added that she would still patronize the businesses in downtown Mars if the library were moved to Adams.

Clay Morrow also liked the concept of placing a new library in the park.

“I think what you've laid out here is wonderful,” Morrow said. “It's going to fit beautifully.”

The supervisors did not take any action on the project.