— from Phil Heikkinen —
Construction is underway for the Orcas Island Library expansion. In response to community feedback and long-term evaluation, the Library has added more space, more technology and a larger collection. The expansion will nearly double the size of the Library, including a 30% increase in collection size, pockets for quiet reading, more worktables, a dedicated computer area, new Children’s and Young Adult Rooms, two new small-group meeting rooms, and an outdoor patio for reading and wi-fi access. Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2017.
The Library has raised $3.5 million of the funds needed for the $4.2 million expansion, including a $1.4 million gift from the Robert and Phyllis Henigson Living Trust, $1.4 million in Washington State capital funding, more than $100,000 from the Friends of the Library, and $600,000 from private donors.
As Board President Margaret Payne describes, “For three years, we have all worked very hard to secure the State and private funding for this necessary project. We’ve come a long way — over 80% — toward full funding.”
The Orcas Island community voted to create the Orcas Island Library District in 1987. There has been no levy increase since that time. Due to the passage of State Initiative I-747, limiting property tax revenue increases to 1% per year, funding for the Library has not kept up with inflation. As a result, in recent years, the Library has dipped into its reserves to maintain basic services.
On July 27, the Library Board of Trustees approved a resolution to adjust the levy rate from 30 to 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, to be included on the ballot for the November general election. This levy will enable the Library to complete funding for its expansion and maintain the current level of services in the newly expanded facility. The estimated tax increase for a $250,000 property will be approximately $37 per year.
The Orcas Island Library ranks consistently in the top five libraries in the state, per capita, for number of cardholders, user visits, checkouts, and collection size. Clearly, the community values its library. Come by in person or visit www.orcaslibrary.org to see the ongoing changes, or contact Library Director Phil Heikkinen for more information, either about the project or the ballot measure, at 376-4985, or pheikkinen@orcaslibrary.org.
If interested in filing a ballot statement or joining a committee to advocate against this measure, please contact the Library Director or the San Juan County Auditor.
What a deal! Count me in.
We have an excellent library and Librarian, and the staff is terrific. Let’s give them all the room they need – it would be cheap at twice the price.
I’m in. Yes.
“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.” Andrew Carnegie
The Orcas Island Library deservedly gets a lot of community support. That said, the increase in the levy is 50% and that hypothetical $250,000 property will pay $112 per year for the library under the proposed levy rate.
I would be curious to know how many active members the Library has and if there are comparable property tax levies in other Washington state communities for library services?
Were other funding models considered that might be at least partly covered by user fees?
Don, thanks for your questions.
We have about 6000 cardholders, many of them part-time residents who don’t count toward our census figures.
Many library districts in Washington are at the maximum $.50/$1000 rate as allowed by law for public libraries.
We do receive some support through the Friends, grants, and general donations.
Public libraries are very limited in what they can charge for user fees; for example, copies, printouts, and some meeting room cost recovery.
I can’t think of a better way to define this wonderful community than with an exceptional library on the hill. It’s worth the price.
Phil – Thank you for addressing my comments.
In an era where governmental organizations strive to levy more and more “user fees” it is an interesting paradox that the government also limits the abilities of the Public Libraries to do the same.
I remembered the following quote from Carl Sagan and it so captures my own thinking and the occasion of our wonderful library’s present expansion project that I thought I would offer it here: “The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.” ~Carl Sagan, Cosmos
Wonderful quote, Harvey, thank you for sharing it.
If I understand the finances correctly, and the need for a levy, the Library Board has committed the community to this project and signed contracts for its construction even though the funding for the expansion is not complete.
What happens if the bonding levy does not pass? Though the Library District has support similar to the Fire District, motherhood and apple pie, I really would feel better knowing that the Board has a “Plan B” !!
Ed, your questions lead to some important considerations.
The Library continues with a multi-pronged funding approach, including the levy lid lift, grants, private fundraising, and possible loans or lines of credit. At recent decision points, despite escalating costs in the construction industry and for the project, the Board has felt strongly that going forward was important in addressing community needs. Also, the drawbacks of not going forward include the potential for losing the State grant funding, and the fact that delaying the project would result in additional costs of at least $500,000.
This is not a bonding measure, though it does include funding to complete the expansion project, in addition to maintaining our services. As the press release discusses, due in particular to I-747, revenues for maintenance and operations have become increasingly stretched even without the expansion, resulting in having to draw down reserves. Plan B would involve increased reliance on other funding sources and significant attention to all expense outlays.
We will continue sharing information about the levy lid lift measure, including on our website, http://www.orcaslibrary.org.