Unbridled growth
can be a good thing
Guest
opinion by the Hailey Public Library Board
of Trustees
Circulation
and traffic up over 100 percent in 10 years: are we talking Highway 75?
No, the Hailey Public Library and it’s bursting at the seams!
The Board
of Trustees is very excited about the growth the Library has experienced
since its move in 1994 to the historic Fox Building on Main Street. As
you may remember, in 1994 the citizens of Hailey overwhelmingly approved
a bond for the purchase of the Fox Building for their new Library. The
Library Board of Trustees, with the help of you, the public, secured a
grant from the U.S. Government (Library Services Construction Act Title
II funding) in the amount of $294,300 to remodel the ground floor of the
Fox Building for Library service. The grant mandated that this space be
used exclusively for library services until the year 2015.
It was
originally estimated the new facility would have space to hold
approximately 35,000 volumes. That number was reduced to 29,000 volumes
to comply with ADA requirements. We add new volumes at the rate of 3,000
per year; however, because of space limitations, we now have to remove
the same amount each year. According to the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), a library serving a population center of
our size should have at least 41,000 volumes. We are currently working
to address deficits in our library when compared to the NCES standards.
Computer
usage has grown from 2,400 users per year in 1992 to over 900 per month
or nearly 11,000 in 2002. Computer usage in the original grant was
planned for 3 computers. We now have 8 public computers.
Our video
collection has grown from 110 in 1992 to 420 in 2002. There is no space
for expansion of this collection in the current facility.
The LSCA
Grant called for library seating for 22 in the current facility.
According to NCES statistics we should have at least 56 seats at this
time. We achieved an increase to 55 seats through an Idaho Community
Foundation Grant in 2000-2001. The number of seats needed in the future
increases to 77 seats in 10 years if the current population growth
continues. There is no more space to increase seating and stay ADA
(Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant.
We have
approximately 2,500 patrons, mostly children, served by library programs
each month. These include 12 story hours, reading programs, adult book
discussions and special events. We have experienced large increases in
library traffic due to efforts to increase community partnerships,
cultural events, and displays for public enjoyment.
The
Hailey Public Library Long-Range Plan for January 2003 through December
2005 has as one of its most important Goals, the following: "the
community will have access to a library facility with space for
excellent services, materials and programs." The Library is a
cornerstone of our town. It reflects our community and shows what we
value.
What all
this means is that the Library has run out of space. The Library and
other concerned citizens have been working very hard over the last few
years to come up with plans to address the growth of the Library. The
first step is to expand into the Hailey Public Library Meeting Room. The
funds necessary to utilize the Meeting Room for library services will
come from money already raised by The Friends of the Hailey Public
Library, and grants. The expansion won’t cost the public a dime.
The Board
of Trustees, The Friends of the Library, Library Staff and concerned
citizens will be presenting to the Hailey City Council ideas for
utilization of the Hailey Public Library Meeting Room on Monday, Nov.
18, at 6 p.m. You, the public, are strongly urged to attend this
important City Council meeting concerning our Library’s future.
The
Hailey Public Library Board of Trustees includes April MacLeod, Bege
Reynolds, Carol Shanahan, Susan Carlson, Michael Breen.