Voting no is NOT a solution.

This is a guest post by Susan Mickelson, GFPL Board President.

The three-year Library Revitalization process that was spearheaded by local volunteers was effective in its fact-finding, research, comparative studies and planning. The proposed solution has been thoughtfully developed, carefully documented and professionally reviewed. The $20.8 million project proposal was prepared and approved by the Library Board, based on the current situations existing in Grand Forks at this time. It is the proposal that is being offered to voters on May 3 in the form of a special election.

The Grand Forks Public library is well used and highly valued. Based on documented usage, we need a facility nearly twice the size to accommodate existing patron traffic. The proposed $20.8 million library project would be funded by a temporary 1-cent sales tax.

Although we’ve been encouraged by the amount of public interaction that has been generated by the upcoming Library Vote, we are also frustrated by deceptive messaging and blatant untruths that have been distributed by the opposition, Citizens for Responsible Government.

I would like to address five of the most deceitful statements at this time. These bullet points come directly from the flyer that is being distributed by Councilman Terry Bjerke and his supporters.

• The proposed library project is not a Taj Mahal. It’s a functional 21^st Century library.  A library to provide our citizens today and in the future with the necessary space and resources to compete in the classroom, the workforce and everyday life. Additional amenities such as a fireplace or aquarium could be included, but only if private contributions are made available to fund them.

• This project will not exceed the proposed $20.8 million budget. It cannot exceed that budget. The language is specifically included on the special election ballot. All necessary funding for the library project will be provided by the temporary 1% sales tax. As soon as the $20.8 million is raised, the sales tax is retired. It’s done.

• A larger, more energy efficient building with new technology will not demand increased staff. Current library staff will definitely be utilized in different ways, with automated checkout systems, book return processing equipment and radio frequency ID tags performing the tasks that will no longer require personal interaction. Most public libraries installed those technological upgrades several years ago.

• Lack of space is the single largest deficiency with our current library. We have no more space to use, so a remodel of the current building will not solve our problems. Although the building was originally constructed to include a full second floor, advances in mechanical and lighting systems now require 15-foot ceiling heights, and we don’t have that space. We have received opinions from multiple experts, and the current library is not structurally capable of supporting an additional floor, so a third story is not possible. We’ve learned that the library’s current mechanical system is one of the most inefficient models ever made, with heating and cooling running simultaneously 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also have serious issues of accessibility in this building, which prevent some of our residents from fully utilizing their public library.

These are significant problems that require big-budget solutions. We have looked at options and requested proposals, and it would cost approximately $18 million to remodel and add on to the existing building. That is not a cost-effective solution, and it would force us to make the compromising adaptations that are always necessary when joining new construction with an existing building.

• It is the Library Board’s intent that the new library be located where the existing building stands, with acquisition of adjacent property as needed to accommodate the plan. If Councilman Terry Bjerke has a different idea for a location, he will need to pursue that with his fellow Council members. As always, majority will rule.

Voting “no” is not a solution. There are serious deficiencies at our library. Many of these problems need to be corrected immediately. Voting “no” will only prolong the problems, and in some cases the costs for correction will grow higher as each month passes.

What solutions have been provided by Citizens for Responsible Government? What alternatives have they proposed? What professional opinions have they garnered? What comparative facility reports have they prepared? What budgets have they offered?

Where will we carve out the necessary space for our existing library materials, as well as current children’s activities, computers, meetings, study groups, teens, staff and parking? And what about future accessibility for Grand Forks Public Library and our tax-paying citizens?

It’s very easy to say “vote no.” It’s even easier when you don’t bother to put in the time to research the problem, study the possible solutions, support your case with the necessary professional documentation and suggest a solution with a bona fide price tag.

The Library Task Force for Revitalization did their work and they did it thoroughly. The results have been made available to the public since October of 2008. Don’t be misdirected by an easy way out. Be an informed voter. Read the reports, study the research, learn about the advances within the library industry, and review the 35 line items in the proposed budget at www.gflibrary.com.

Most important, be sure to cast your vote on Tuesday, May 3.

Extreme energy usage at Grand Forks Public Library

As promised in this post, here is Dave McFarlane’s full expert opinion about the current energy efficiency (or lack thereof) in the Grand Forks Public Library:

By Dave McFarlane

About four years ago, our company started working with the City of Grand Forks in a process to evaluate energy efficiencies in public buildings. The library was one of the 30 or 40 buildings we looked at, and it turned out that it was one of the top five most inefficient buildings in the city.

Earlier this month, the Library Board asked us to review the energy usage in the building and give our professional opinion regarding efficiency levels. So, we’ve studied the library’s energy bills from the last three years and we’ve made comparisons with buildings of similar size and occupancy in the region. With this information, we are able to determine how much energy per square foot the building is using and calculate exactly how much the library is spending above and beyond normal expectations.

The end result is the Energy Analysis Report we are releasing today. As expected, the energy usage at our Public Library is extreme. It’s significantly higher than it should be. Our analysis indicates that the library complex is using 58% more energy than recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for a building of similar occupancy within the North Dakota region. That inefficiency results in annual energy costs that are $22,500 higher than necessary.

It’s important to remember that the Grand Forks Public Library was built in 1972, and that was a time when energy was very inexpensive. It was so inexpensive that Northern States Power Company was running an ad campaign that proclaimed, “Electricity is penny-cheap at NSP.” At that time, NSP used Reddy Kilowatt as their cartoon spokesperson. You might remember that his arms and legs were made of lightning bolts and his nose was a light bulb.

Since energy was so inexpensive in the early 1970s, it wasn’t a priority to conserve, and there were no building design initiatives that concentrated on energy efficiency. The design professionals at that time did not concentrate on energy usage – electric, gas or anything.  Because of that, the system that was originally installed in our library was a very inefficient one, and after all these years, it has become one of the most inefficient buildings the City owns.

The library building is almost 40 years old, and these types of systems have life expectancies of 25-30 years. Mechanical equipment, by its nature, is going to wear out. It’s not unusual that the library’s system is failing or that the maintenance staff has been replacing components several times a year. This gets to be a very expensive ongoing upkeep for the library administration. It is also a precariously unreliable system.

The question now is, “How do we fix it?” Results from our Energy Analysis certainly lend credence to the need to redo the entire system. The cost to retrofit the library would be significant. We would need to gut the building and basically start over. It would mean shutting down the library for a year; removing all ceilings and some walls, removing the air handling systems and starting over.

Energy inefficiencies alone do not justify the construction of a new library. However, a failing mechanical system is a very expensive component in a public building, so we need to carefully consider whether it is a wise decision to make that investment in a 40-year-old building that has serious space deficiencies.

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!

Funding the Grand Forks Public Library

This blog post is in response to a question we received last week, regarding alternative funding options for the Grand Forks Public Library.

At their April 14, 2011, meeting, the Grand Forks Public Library Board received and reviewed a formal complaint submitted by Molly MacBride in regard to accessibility problems in our library. MacBride’s letter was forwarded to City Hall for official review, and last week library officials met with City Attorney Howard Swanson and City Administrator Rick Duquette to discuss the complaint. We have also contacted Bev Collings, Building Inspector for the City of Grand Forks. Library officials will seek legal counsel regarding appropriate next steps for addressing the complaint.

Within the next 90 days, the 2012 Library budget will be prepared and submitted to City Hall. If the 1-cent sales tax is not approved for the proposed construction project, the 2012 budget will most likely include a request for additional funds necessary to address the immediate needs for safety and accessibility at GFPL. Budget requests are usually funded through the City’s General Fund, which is derived from property tax collections. Library officials will work with City Council to prioritize the biggest deficiencies at the library.

The American Library Association provides a comprehensive report at the end of each year, recapping the size, budget and funding source for all library construction projects. This is a comprehensive document to review if you are interested in learning how other communities have paid for library construction projects.

We are aware of three funding options for library construction projects:

1. Property Tax
2. Sales Tax
3. Private Donations and Grants

Many times, a blend of two or three sources is utilized. Such is the case with the Grand Forks Public Library.

The historic records in our library show that Grand Forks voters approved a public library levy in 1900. In 1904, funding for construction of the first new library in GF came from a private donation provided by library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. As part of the agreement with Carnegie before his construction funding was released, the citizens of Grand Forks voted to provide the necessary operating funds for their public library. The City of Grand Forks purchased property in the center of town and provided the necessary funds for equipment and furnishings, staff salaries and ongoing operating budget. With that decision, future generations of Grand Forks citizens were ensured of ongoing service, free of charge, from a public library.

The current GF Public Library building was completed in 1972 using property tax dollars from a bond issue approved by voters in 1969.  Money from the Anna Lindaas estate was also used to fund the construction. The annual operating budget at GFPL continues to be funded by property tax dollars from the City of Grand Forks and from the County of Grand Forks.

With the proposed library construction project, a combination of revenue sources will once again be utilized:

• 1-cent sales tax would fund the entire construction project, purchase adjacent property as needed and provide furnishing, fixtures and equipment
• Private donations and grants would supplement the project costs and provide additional amenities such as a fireplace or an aquarium. The Grand Forks Public Library Foundation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity, has been created to receive and administer contributions of this type. In November of 2010 and January of 2011, grants from the Knight Foundation ($45,000) and the Otto Bremer Foundation ($93,600) were awarded and utilized for community input and planning sessions for our proposed library project. Additional grant applications are also in the works. Although there are some grants available for ADA upgrades, no applications have been submitted for this funding, since remodeling is currently not planned at GFPL.
• Property tax would continue to be the source for the ongoing operating budgets.

North Dakota State Century Code plays an integral part in public library governance. The City of Grand Forks must adhere to these laws regarding any plans for our public library.

3 clarifications about tax and location.

The hard-working volunteers, who have piloted the GF Public Library Revitalization Project for more than three years, appreciate this opportunity to correct erroneous information that has been distributed and redistributed recently through a very deceiving email thread.

The majority of the information in the email message was based on conjecture and untruths. The most egregious of the misstatements are corrected here:

1. The amount of public dollars (sales tax revenue) to be spent for all costs needed to construct, furnish and equip a new library will not exceed $20.8 million.
2. Property tax revenue will not be used for the proposed library construction project.
3. The new library will be built at and on property or properties adjacent to the existing building at Library Circle and Library Lane, Grand Forks, N.D.
   (Source:  Minutes of the March 9, 2011, meeting of the Grand Forks Public Library Board.)

It’s important for Grand Forks voters to be correctly informed about the proposed library project. Our library website contains complete information on current usage data, consultant’s reports, feasibility studies/traffic studies authorized by City Council and official meeting minutes from the three years of working through the planning process.

Probably most important: Visit the library and see for yourself. GFPL has 825 visitors per day checking out almost 2,400 items daily. That’s more than any other public library in North Dakota.

The problems at our 40-year-old library will not disappear with a “no” vote on May 3. Total lack of ADA compliance, exploding light fixtures causing fire, antiquated HVAC systems, insufficient space for materials, programming, meetings and parking, as well as total absence of insulating material will continue to render our library inefficient, hazardous and noncompliant.

Let’s rectify the problems by approving a carefully researched, all-encompassing solution paid by a 1-cent sales tax with a hard sunset clause.

Vote “yes” on May 3 to provide the citizens of Grand Forks City and County with a 21^st Century public library.

Immediate needs at the Grand Forks Public Library.

The Library Board and Task Force members are very concerned about the immediate needs of the Grand Forks Public Library should the May 3 ballot measure fail for the proposed 1-cent sales tax. We have several issues that will require City Council intervention (in the form of property tax dollars) such as:

A wheelchair user and GFPL patron demonstrates the difficulty of accessing the librarys non-ADA-compliant shelves.

• The elevator MUST be replaced in 2012 (mandated by manufacturer).
• The bathrooms have to be made ADA-compliant – entrances and stalls.
• The stacks need to be made ADA-compliant – get rid of about 1/3 of the existing shelving, maybe more.
• The HVAC system needs to be replaced.
• The lighting system needs to be replaced (they’re extremely dangerous and have caused two fires).

With no long-term plan to rectify these deficiencies, immediate stop-gap corrections must be put in place. The Grand Forks City Council would be the appropriate governing body to make decisions regarding the inadequacies at the public library. Depending on how comprehensively the problems are addressed, our best guess for an initial cost estimate is between $2 and $5 million. It’s going to cost tax dollars, one way or another.

With stop-gap corrections, the space shortages at GFPL are completely ignored. Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy way to arrive at a cost-effective solution for the lack of square footage. 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 totally 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 21^st Century Public Library.

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

Let’s go behind the stacks!

Here’s your virtual opportunity to go behind the scenes stacks of the current library. Please post your comments below.

What’s your library story?

Grand Forks Public Library staff members know some great stories—and these tales are not on the shelves. These are people’s stories of their own library experiences, such as:
– The young professional who came in daily to use the computers, printers and Internet access to fine-tune her resume and land her first career job.
– The gentleman who re-discovered mystery novels after losing his eyesight: he checks out several audio books each week.
– The young mom forging her way as a new full-time stay-at-home-parent to three young children, with the help of our weekly story times (she’s the first to admit it was wonderful to have a reason to shower before noon at least one day a week).

Share your tales
Please share your library story with us. We’d love to hear about it, and if you prefer, we’ll keep you as an anonymous author. Thanks in advance for telling your story.

Here’s how else you will be heard:
– Complete our survey (You could even win an iPad!)
– Comment here
– Comment on our Facebook page
– See upcoming community meetings

Welcome

We’re working on rejuvenating the Grand Forks Public Library, and we’d love to hear your ideas on its location, offerings, services, programs, staff members, hours—whatever is on your mind for our library. Please send us your comments or join us on facebook.