The Schlow Memorial Library Board of Trustees announced a three-member committee that will generate a list of possible names for the new library building.

The committee will present the list at the board's April 13 meeting, when the board will vote on a name for the new library building, located at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street.

"The point of the committee is just to get something to have a process, to kind of get the number of possibilities down to a workable choice, and the board as a whole will vote," said library director Betsy Allen.

Board President Dan Hawbaker named board members Richard Weidhaas, Cathy Zangrilli and George Henning to the committee at last Wednesday's meeting.

Allen said the committee will take all of the public comments received into consideration.

"With so many letters to the editor and so many letters to the library, they have hundreds of names to choose from," Allen said. "They're taking all of the suggestions that have been made, and they will consider them."

Board member David Miller said less than 10 spectators attended Wednesday's board meeting, and only three or four spoke up during the public comment period.

"There wasn't anybody criticizing it being named Schlow whatever," he said. "I think that the general mood is that Schlow should remain in the name of library."

Ed Mattil, a long-time State College resident who attended the meeting, said he is seeking a compromise for the new name.

"The five townships have committed money, and individuals have committed money, and the borough has committed money," he said.

"We've had a wonderful drive, and now we are going to have a $10 million library, and I think that the citizens of the regions should be recognized as well as Mr. Schlow and the Schlow family," Mattil said.

He added that he has no opposition whatsoever to including Schlow in the library's new name, and suggested Schlow Regional Library to show that the people of the region have also contributed.

"I don't want to be misunderstood, the Schlows are fine people ... and I have always respected and admired them," he said.

"But you have to recognize that hundreds, perhaps thousands, have made contributions to the library, too, over the years," Mattil added.

The library, which is now temporarily located at 118 S. Fraser St., was named for the family of Charles Schlow, who donated space in his house on West College Avenue free of charge for the library's home in 1957, according to www.schlowlibrary.org.

David Schlow, the grandson of Charles Schlow, was also present at the meeting, but chose not to speak because he felt there was nothing to talk about.

"In truth, as far as activity or anything happening, nothing really happened," he said.

"They appointed the committee ... and said they will be reporting back next month," David Schlow added.

Miller said he expects people to attend next month's meeting because the board is voting.

"I think they'll want to observe what goes on in this final meeting when the name is selected," he said.

Allen said that public comment might be allowed during the discussion, although there may not specifically be a public comment period because the committee will be taking all of the suggestions that have come forward to date.

"But I really can't say because we're not there yet," she added.

Both David Schlow and Mattil said they plan on attending next month's board meeting.