At the last "community-wide" Mt Pleasant Library design meeting, on March 26, 2009, the community of Ward One voiced two clear positions for consideration:
- A full expansion at the rear of the library.
- A meaningful renovation and limited expansion. Part of the vision for this option was to put any money saved on the MtPl library project towards building another library or libraries in other locations in the Ward. Ward One is the only ward served by just one library.
At the last meeting of the MtPl Library Working Group meeting on Thursday May 28, the second option was dismissed because:
- any savings would be at risk of being taken off the table for Ward One, and
- DCPL doesn't have the operating budget to staff another location.
EMPIRICAL FACTS:
DCPL can, has, and does hold onto capital money on a continuing basis.
Jeff Bonvechio, DCPL's Capital Construction coordinator, has publicly explained that each of the recent library projects have been ongoing since the inception of the idea of revitalizing the library system dating back to 2003. In 2004, the City Council committed to funding the revitalization plan by obligating general bonds to renovate and rebuild libraries.
When initial architectural plans for some of the libraries were discarded in 2005, money remained unspent for more than two years, but DCPL didn't lose the money. No one took the money away.
The fear of having our money taken is weakened by the fact that DC's bond rating is the highest its ever been... DC is good for it! So banks are willing to hold our debt for longer periods of time and are willing to give us more money at a cheaper price.
Another reason why nobody took away DCPL construction money, even though little to none of the bonds were spent for more than two years, is partly because DCPL had some kind of spending plan in place for the money.
DCPL can plan to use any money saved on the MtPl Library for future Ward One libraries.
A DCPL facilities plan would further insulate any chance money being "taken away."
DCPL has written to ANC-1C stating just that: "Any capital funds not expended to renovate and expand the Mt Pleasant Neighborhood Library will be placed in the 'Neighborhood Library Fund' and be applied to future library projects to be determined by the 'Library Service and Facility Plan'."
DCPL Board of Trustees has announced that it is undertaking an analysis this summer to determine citywide needs for a 'Library Service and Facility Plan'.
Ward One leadership and DCPL can and should collaborate on the Ward One portion of this plan.
DCPL can build out and operate smaller storefront libraries for relatively little money.
In the new facilities plan DCPL can consider other models for libraries in Ward One that would be less costly build and operate.
DCPL has proven its ability to provide good services in a variety of smaller buildings -- the storefront model of the interim library in Tenley and Georgetown (4000 square feet) is being used to build a permanent replacement for the old Parklands Turner kiosk in Ward 8. The renovations of two other Carnegie libraries at Eastern Market and Takoma Park (both under 5,000 square feet) have been widely hailed.
DCPL is receiving a "Visons" Award from the Committee of 100 on the Federal City tonight for the Takoma renovation.
DCPL’s Jeff Bonvechio and Chris Wright have quoted construction costs for building out the Georgetown and Tenley storefront interim libraries to be about $750,000 dollars.
The Georgetown Interim storefront library costs about $600,000/year to staff and operate, including utilities & an astronomical lease.
Are these operating costs not able to be found in the City's ten billion dollar budget? Some organizations get ten times this money as a straight-up earmark from the Council.
We can find the money if we had the will.
DCPL can leverage expenses through partnership with other agencies like DPR.
The model for this opportunity is the Deanwood library & rec center project currently being constructed.
Why can’t this happen in Ward One?
LIBRARY
DYNAMOS