Transcript Library Committee - Lower Merion Township

Library Committee
October 7, 2009
The Capital Campaign
Momentum!
The Capital Campaign
May 20th
Pledges
$391,300
Cash Gifts $113,125
TOTAL $504,425
The Capital Campaign
October 7th
Pledges $1,436,300
Cash Gifts $217,772
TOTAL $1,654,072
The Capital Campaign
October 7th
Library-specific gifts - $364,355
Unrestricted - $1,289,717
The Capital Campaign
One Third the Way to the Target!
Projected Cash Contribution to the
Ludington Project in 2010
$400,000
The Capital Campaign
On September 30, Charlie Bloom
announced a million-dollar
commitment from a yet-anonymous
donor
The Capital Campaign
The Campaign office has nine private
sector foundation proposals in play for
over $500,000
Two specific and four open-amount
“asks” are pending to individuals for
over $500,000
The Capital Campaign
PR Campaign Launched:
“Tell Us Your Library Story”
People are encouraged to talk about libraries
and their lives
Features a web presence & a blog
Funded by Suburban Square
The Capital Campaign
Campaign Committee participation
grows
System Committee
Ludington Committee
Bala Committee
Momentum!
The Ludington Library
Renovation
Activities Update
The Ludington Library Renovation
The Ludington Library Renovation
Key Activity Dates:
May 20 Library Committee approved sending the project out
for bid
July 1-8 Construction docs submitted for permit review
Aug 14 Permit review completed
Sept 10 & 17 Advertisement of the project for bid
More 60 bid packages have been purchased to date
Oct 5 Over 40 contractors attended the Pre-bid meeting
Oct 27 Bid opening (bids due by 11:00 am)
Nov 18 Bid review & possible award
Nov 19 If bids awarded, Communication Plan initiates
Nov 19 – Dec 31 If bids awarded, contract execution
January 2010 Construction expected to begin
The Ludington Library Renovation
Interim Operations - Update
In September the State Library approved
the Ludington closure
Designated Ludington Lite a “Temporary
Branch” operation
This approval process required by the state
The Ludington Library Renovation
Interim Operations - Plans
Relocate the Ludington collection to:
Processing Center
Ludington Lite
Make Ludington’s collection available by
request from the online catalog
The Ludington Library Renovation
Interim Operations – Plans, continued
Relocate the public access computers to
Ardmore and Bala Libraries
Add story times at Ardmore and Bala
Move Ludington reference service to Bala
The Ludington Library Renovation
Interim Operations Plans, continued
Relocate Ludington’s staff to Ardmore,
Bala & Belmont Hills
Backfill existing vacant positions
Staff 7 additional hours at Bala (state standard)
Assist with remote storage and RFID tasks at
Processing Center
The Ludington Library Renovation
If Bid Approval - Nov 18
Communication Plan roll out - Nov 19:
Brochures
Signage
Web site info
Letters
Email on ListServs
Press release
The Ludington Library Renovation
If Bid Approval - Nov 18
Contract execution with bid award
winners
Contract execution with a regional moving
firm specializing in libraries
The Ludington Library Renovation
Closure of Ludington could begin as
early as December 7th
Closure may be phased so that
Ludington closes & Ludington Lite
opens with minimal public disruption
The Ludington Library Renovation
Why Ludington? Why Now?
Ludington has not been renovated in a
quarter century – leading to
– Significant deferred maintenance, accessibility &
safety upgrade needs
– Technology readiness needs
– Space constriction
Use of the Library is heavy and growing
Capital Campaign interest is strong
Bid environment is very good
The Renovation Project
Sequence
What’s Next?
The Renovation Project Sequence
June 24 CIP Workshop the Department
of Libraries recommended that the Bala
Cynwyd Library Renovation Project be
next
Why Bala?
The Renovation Project Sequence
Deferred Maintenance & ADA
Upgrades
7 areas require immediate improvement
– HVAC replacement (including boiler)
– Roof system replacement
– Upgrade to fire suppression (sprinklers)
19 recommended long-range improvements
– Replace all exterior doors
– Replace all window units
– Make the building fully ADA accessible
The Renovation Project Sequence
Safety & Ease of Navigation
Create open layout with good sightlines
Upgrade fire suppression (sprinklers)
Create intuitive integration of space &
service points
Patrons say finding services is a challenge
Nothing in current layout is user-friendly
The Renovation Project Sequence
Upgrade Library Technology Space
“Libraries have undergone tremendous
change in the past several decades. The
emergence of new technologies has caused
libraries to run ‘parallel systems’ of
traditional services and new, innovative
services. It is important to maintain a
careful balance of the new and the
traditional.”
Rich Bowra, Library Consultant
The Renovation Project Sequence
Upgrade Library Technology Space
Increase space with access to power for laptops
& portable devices
Secure energy efficient power delivery
throughout the building
Change from barcodes to RFID for
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Security
Inventory
Productivity
Self-checkout
The Renovation Project Sequence
Relieve Space Constriction
Space issues at Bala first discussed 1999
At critical mass now
–
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Service & staff work areas inadequate
No quiet study area for patrons
No space for tutoring
Inadequate space for serving Young Adults
Storage space insufficient & scattered
Inadequate space for book sales & merchandizing
The Renovation Project Sequence
Sept 16 Bala Walkthrough was
scheduled to allow commissioners &
staff a first-hand look at Bala facilities
issues
The Renovation Project Sequence
VITETTA design for Bala includes a
small 5,777 square foot addition & a
complete reorganization of floor-plans
and layout to address the issues noted
above
The Renovation Project Sequence
The Renovation Project Sequence
Why Bala? Why Now?
Capital Campaign has gained momentum
– Allow a solid year of donor work to build
momentum toward project initiation
The year-long closure would free staff
– Continue Remote Storage & RFID tasks
– Continue to backfill positions
Keystone grant timing
Urgency of HVAC & Roof replacement
State Budget Impact
Funding Reductions Projected
State Budget Impact
State Budget Impasse has affected many
public services, including libraries
Most-likely scenario could be a 38% cut
For Lower Merion approximately $200,000
2009 LMLS is down $135,000 in state funds
State Budget Impact
Lower Merion libraries use state funds
primarily for
Collections
Technology
Without state funds, local library fundraising may be called on to plug the gap
State Budget Impact
LMLS Board of Directors is also
considering
Fine and Fee increases
Charging for holds/reserve requests
Reducing loan times (reduces items
purchased)
State Budget Impact
All strategies acknowledge state
standards for public libraries which
measure
Local Government Support
Collection expenditure levels
Local Financial Effort
Library Committee 10.07.09
A waiver application process exists if a library
is not able to reach full standards in any
category
PUBLIC COMMENT