NATCHEZ — The Judge George W. Armstrong Library director and board of trustees are discussing plans to remodel the library’s interior.

The discussion includes possibly constructing a commemorative bench at the library entrance in honor of the late John Neil Varnell — a psychologist and Natchez bed and breakfast owner who died in March and made considerable donations to the library and other Natchez charities in his will.

The Natchez Preservation Commission recently approved proposed site plans for the project that would include a bronze bench with a statue of a young girl sitting on the bench and reading, said Ricardo Giani, planning and zoning director.

Clemie Billups, chairman of the library board of trustees said the plans are awaiting approval by the board and will be up for consideration at the board’s next meting, which is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Oct. 14 at in the Library Board Room at the Armstrong Library, 220 S. Commerce St.

Billups said the board intended to use money left to the library by Varnell for the upgrades but could not provide details regarding the cost of the project.

“Initially, we were planning an upgrade for some of the features in the Library and programs and plans were in the works for a small bench on the campus of the library in honor of Neil Varnell,” Billups said. “We’re meeting for more details but we haven’t decided or voted on any of the upgrades. … We are discussing plans during our next meeting.”

Word of the plans prompted some members of the Friends of the Library committee — of which Varnell was a member — to voice their concerns about the project, said Friends of the Library president, Maria Bowser.

The library remodel would cause the committee to lose space for book sales supporting the library, Bowser said, adding she anticipates the bench and statue would cost between $15,000 and $17,000.

Bowser said she thought the money could be used more frugally to help the library in other ways.

“Pamela Plummer (library director) indicated to us that the cost would be much less but would not tell us what that price would be,” Bowser said. “… I support anything that would be an upgrade to the library. … Neil Varnell was a wonderful person who was incredibly frugal. He would not want any money spent that would not benefit the public. …

“The Friends of the Library feel that Neil would not want us to lose a great deal of our fundraising room by not having more bookshelves and losing what we already have. … Nothing would be better placed than a little girl reading on a bench in front of a library. That is not our concern. Our concern is how much that little girl on the bench would cost and how much more the library needs.”

Natchez resident Helen Moss Smith, who said she was a close friend of Varnell, made a similar point regarding how Varnell’s library contributions should be used in a letter she submitted to Plummer.

“It is lovely that the library wishes to acknowledge the amazing legacy which Neil left our community with his donation to the library and to so many other charitable organizations,” the letter states, “… Since the 1980s I had known Neil as a meticulous, hard working and thrifty person, but it was only after seeing him in action on a regular basis that I more fully understood his complete devotion to making the most of everything he did. …

“Neil did not operate in this thrifty fashion because he feared running out of money, but because he was simply a faithful steward of what he had accumulated. … If Neil could have his say, there is not any doubt that he would not want money spent to lift up his name. … It is my humble request that the library not buy a bench but rather ask for guidance from Friends of the Library in the use of Neil’s bequeath.”

Plummer said she would present these concerns to the Board of Trustees during their next regularly scheduled meeting, Oct. 14.

“Nothing has been firmly decided but we are working on some plans and ideas,” Plummer said. “Once the board has decided what we’re going to do then we will move forward. … I am going to take these concerns to the board for their consideration.”