10 reasons to vote YES!

The top 10 reasons why you should vote YES to a new Grand Forks Public Library:

10. Because we’ve loved our library to death.

9. Because books are alive and well.

8. Because our kids and grandkids deserve a brain playground.

7. Because the parking, technology, lighting and energy in the current building just aren’t cutting it.

6. Because meeting rooms build community. (And the current library has only one meeting room!)

5. Because the current library is overused and undersized.

4. Because libraries must be available to all.

3. Because libraries open minds and inspire imagination.

2. Because libraries advance people. (And people advance companies and communities.)

1. Because voting no is not a solution. (The current library needs serious help, and it’s going to cost a considerable amount of money either way.)

We need more space for parking, displays, programming, computers, teens and children, story hour and book clubs. We need more space for community. We need more space to grow.

Remember to get out and vote YES on Tuesday, May 3!

The Grand Forks Public Library needs more space.

The biggest problem at the current Grand Forks Public Library is the lack of space.

Additional space is needed for:

• Shelving
• Displaying materials
• Programming for children’s story time
• IT hardware
• Power outlets
• Parking
• Civic meetings
• Presentations and exhibits
• Study rooms
• Staff work processing areas
• ADA compliance

Physical space can no longer be carved out of the existing floor plan in our 1972 building. Based on the Needs Assessment prepared by Library Consulting, PA, and comparisons with other communities of similar size and usage patterns, here’s how the current GFPL stacks up:

• 36,556 sq. ft.
• 75 parking spaces
• 50 Internet access computers
• 125 reader seats
• Large meeting room capacity: 80
• Conference room capacity: 0
• Number of small study rooms: 0
• Computer lab: renovated in 2010 with grant money from Knight Foundation & Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Proposed needs based on current usage:

• 62,267 sq. ft.
• 178 parking spaces
• 107 Internet access computers
• 232 reader seats
• Large meeting room capacity: 150
• Conference room capacity: 30+
• Number of small study rooms: 9
• Computer lab: expanded and updated for additional group training sessions and ongoing technology classes

See photos of the current library spaces issues in this Grand Forks Public Library slideshow, which is available for presentation to civic groups and organizations (updated 2/10/11).

Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy way to arrive at a cost-effective solution for the lack of square footage at GFPL. One of the proposed construction options during the three-year Library Revitalization Process was a remodel and addition to the existing building. The total budget for that option came in at $17,815,000 – nearly as much as for total new construction.

There are several structural challenges with the existing building that create significant issues for a remodel/expand. The 1972 building, although originally intended for second floor expansion, was not constructed with sufficient ceiling height to accommodate the HVAC and lighting requirements of a 21st Century Public Library.

Read more about these issues in the Grand Forks Library Site Feasibility Study prepared for City Council in January 2011. See pages 12-14 for budget specifics on the remodel/add option.

Support family reading time.

Below is a guest blog post from Jami Schumacher, mother of three book-loving boys. She was kind enough to share her perspective and support of a new library. Thanks, Jami!

My family is a family of readers. I have to say that my husband Matt and I take great pride in the fact that our three boys all enjoy reading. I believe we have helped them develop this love of reading and that it will serve them well in their lives.

On March 29, my boys and I attended the public session to listen to the architect share some ideas for our new library. To say that they were excited to hear what has been done at other libraries is an understatement.

My boys’ first exposure to the Grand Forks Public Library came through the Tuesday morning story time program. I was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years and this was a much-loved weekly outing. That they could check out any books they wanted week after week was such a treasure, especially during those years when we were living on a very tight budget. Eight-year-old Eliot said recently that the library “needs to get a bigger and better place for story time.” For many years the story time room was packed, especially in the summers when the Summer Reading Program was in session.

Now that all of my boys are in school, we do not attend story time but we still frequent the library throughout the year. My son Sam, 10 years old, gets hooked on reading books by certain authors and has said, “One of my favorite things to do at the library is check out books from series I’ve been reading, but don’t want to buy.” He has grand visions for a new library, “I hope our new library will have a 24-hour media pick-up center and a full cafe so I can spend the day there.”

My oldest, Max, is a teenager and has a more limited interest in what is currently available at the library. While he stills likes to go occasionally to check out books on particular topics of interest, Max has said, “In the new library I would like to see a teen multi-media area like I saw the architect show from other libraries.”

The needs of a 21st century library are very different from a library which was built almost 40 years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that a new library would enhance our community. We need this new library so it can reshape the role that it plays in the community, we need sufficient parking, and we need public support. My husband and I will be voting YES on May 3, and we would invite others to as well.

Video: Books as Dominos.

This video comes all the way from Ireland, but we stumbled upon it and found it worth sharing. The Huffington Post says, “Play dominos with books and you can bring down a whole library.” It’s an interesting way to show the connection between libraries of the past and libraries of the future.

Your thoughts?

5 reasons why the Grand Forks Public Library won’t become obsolete in your lifetime.

#5 – Library usage increases with the addition of new formats.

Public libraries are constantly adapting to meet the needs of their users. Grand Forks Public Library is structured to provide materials in the format that is most desirable. Communication formats have changed dramatically since the current library opened its doors 40 years ago. Although hardcover books have remained constant, many formats have come and gone throughout the decades. For instance:

1960s – LP phonograph records
1970s – Cassette tapes
1980s – VHS videos
1990s – Compact discs
2000s – DVDs
2010 – eReaders

Each time a new format is introduced, patrons have responded with growing interest and expanded usage. Paperbacks became a part of the GFPL holdings in the 1970s, and their portability soon became very popular. Because a paperback’s production cost is much less than a hardcover, overall cost of acquisitions was reduced. The end result was more budget dollars to purchase additional materials (and formats) for GFPL patrons.

Ultimately, introducing paperbacks increased demand for all Grand Forks Public Library materials. The same is true of digital formats. By adding new formats and offering downloadable books, the library is attracting more users and increasing existing patrons’ usage levels.

Downloadable books represent a small percentage of the current holdings at GFPL. As usage and demand increase, portions of the collection will expand while others decrease. Necessary adjustments will be made in the storage and display of the library’s collection. Rest assured that a new library will be designed to flexibly accommodate the next popular format—whatever it may be.

#4 – Most books are not yet available in electronic format.

In 2011, a very small percentage of the total books in print are available in digital format. A vast majority are not available from downloadable sources. Because of this disparity in format availability, patron’s today are more likely to request library books in traditional format. Certainly digital availability will increase, but it’s going to take many years before books drop out of the #1 spot for preferred patron usage at GFPL.

Digital formats are currently available at the Grand Forks Public Library. As user demands change, materials will adjust accordingly—just as they have for the past 100 years.

#3 – A public library’s primary mission is to provide information.

As long as we continue to nurture a society that seeks information, the need for a public library in Grand Forks County will never diminish.

Our public library is not only a warehouse for books. It is a source for knowledge, a community gathering space and a hub for exchanging ideas. Program events at the library provide connectivity, social interaction and inspiration, as well as information—positioning the library as a center for lifelong learning.

Public libraries serve as crucial technology hubs, not merely for free internet access, but for those who need computer training and assistance. Perhaps most important of all, a public library is a testimonial to the community’s values—demonstrating our belief in universal access to literature and knowledge.

In 2010, program offerings at the GFPL expanded significantly to include children’s reading events, youth activities, computer training and adult book clubs. All programs have been very well received. Daily library visits have increased by 4 percent, from 827 in 2009 to 864 per day through February 2011.

#2 – Usage at the Grand Forks Public Library is at an all-time high.

For the past 25 years, circulation numbers have increased steadily, from 360,128 in 1980 to 789,983 in 2010. Books continue to be the most requested format, representing 56 percent of circulated materials in 2010 (up from 49 percent in 2009). The second most popular format in 2010 was DVDs/videos, representing 33 percent of circulated materials.

The number of Grand Forks Public Library users is also increasing. More than 3,600 new GFPL cards were issued in 2010, and 3,800 in 2009.

We are a community that loves our library! Unfortunately, we have “loved” the current building to death.

Five-year-old Claire uses a library book to demonstrate her recently acquired reading skills.

#1 – Six-year-olds are still learning to read… on books.

Young children today are technologically savvy. In most cases, they are computer literate before they start kindergarten, and many have access to their own personal computer. Some elementary schools now provide all textbooks in digital format. Introducing new classroom technology is ongoing, and electronic reading devices are often available at home.

But check out a first grade classroom, and you will find that six-year-olds are still learning to read the “old-fashioned” way—with books. These youngsters are developing a learning pattern that will last for a lifetime. With life expectancy in the U.S. approaching 80 years, it’s safe to say libraries will be lending books well into the future.

Our library is well-used and valued, and we have exhausted the viable options for making do with what we have. We are no longer able to provide some programs due to space issues, the physical plant services are woefully in need of upgrade and the technology capacity has been maxed out. Perhaps most horrifying, the Grand Forks Public Library is out of compliance with nearly all ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, as mandated in 1990.

The proposal for a new building is long overdue. A new, updated and enlarged library will serve all current and future citizens of our region. We cannot put this off any longer.

(Note: All usage numbers for GFPL are electronically tracked and documented in the library’s circulation department.)

Grand Forks Public Library speaks up: We’re more than books.

All this while, we’ve been asking you to speak up, and now it’s our turn. We’d like to start by making this point:

The Grand Forks Public Library is about more than books.

A library is not a warehouse for books alone. The Grand Forks Public Library should be the heart and brain of our community – a unified hub providing knowledge, connectivity and services for all regardless of age, economic status, location, literacy level, ethnicity or ability.

A library is a central source for information in all formats. A public library should be viewed first and foremost as a community gathering spot – a place where people can get what they need, free of charge, in a trusted setting with experienced, hands-on assistance. In fact, the Grand Forks Public Library has over 800 unique visitors daily. It’s a central location for people who wish to exchange ideas. It is a place for lifelong learning. It’s a technology hub, providing computer and internet access – again, free of charge – as well as a resource for technology training.

In the 1960’s, public library collections contained LP records, which eventually were replaced by 8-track tapes, cassette tapes and compact discs. In the 21^st Century, public libraries are digitalized, and our collection now contains databases and downloadable materials. Of the 2,355 items checked out daily at the Grand Forks Public Library, books continue to be the most popular by far. Books are not dead or dying.

Does anyone know what the popular format will be in 2050? Certainly not any of us! We do know, however, that flexibility is the key to a successful public library collection. The materials must be representative of the public’s wants and needs. Information will always be a sought-after resource at public libraries across the nation.

The Grand Forks Public Library aims to be that library – the heart and brain of our community – now and into the future.

We hope this explanation encourages you to become an informed voter, so that on May 3 you can cast your vote with confidence for the proposed one-cent sales tax to fund construction of a new Grand Forks Public Library.