WHO IS THE CHIPPEWA RIVER DISTRICT LIBRARY? WHO ARE WE?
WHY IS THE CRDL IMPORTANT?
WHY?
HOW MUCH $
WILL THE NEW LIBRARY....?
BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY
HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THE NEXT PAGE? |
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WHO IS THE CHIPPEWA RIVER DISTRICT LIBRARY? WHO ARE WE?Q: What is a district library and whom does the Chippewa River District Library (CRDL) serve? A: A district library is formed when a minimum of two governmental entities join together to provide and fund library services. The Chippewa River District Library was formed in 1998 under the auspices of the City of Mt. Pleasant, the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and Union Township. CRDL serves everyone who lives in Mt. Pleasant, the Mt. Pleasant Public School District and Union Township. [about 2/3 of the county] A: The library is funded primarily with 1.75 mills that was approved by voters when the district library was established in 1998. Due to the Headlee rollback, the library currently receives 1.6984 mills. Q. What about the rest of the county area outside of the district? A. The Isabella County Library Board and the Isabella County Commissioners contract with the Chippewa River District Library Board to provide library services for the area outside of the district.. The district also operates four branch libraries for the County. The branches are located in Shepherd, Winn, Blanchard, and Weidman. No district funds are used for the operation of the out-of-district branches. WHY IS THE CRDL IMPORTANT?Q: How does CRDL benefit our community? A: A modern public library provides resources, programs and services that benefit all area citizens. Regardless of background, race, color, creed, religion or financial means, every person served by the library has access to information from all over the world. From how-to books to entertaining DVDs, from books on tape to a wide variety of music CDs, from classes on how to use the Internet to story time for toddlers, from a vast array of magazine and newspaper subscriptions to a study room for a group project, from help with research questions to readily available genealogical materials, from fascinating programs on almost any topic to copying machines and tax forms, from access to generic legal documents to books for every level of reading and interest, the library has something for everyone. The library also benefits the community as a whole. A modern, attractive library signals that the community values education and lifelong learning, an important factor for families/ businesses looking to locate in the area. Q: How does the library serve different members of our community? A: The library offers something for everyone: ˇ Preschoolers learn to love books and reading. ˇ Elementary and secondary students benefit from comprehensive research and study capabilities, access to practice tests, academic support and a wide range of recreational reading. ˇ College students access all library resources. In particular, education majors access children’s literature and other parts of the collection as learning tools. ˇ English-as-a-Second-Language students use books, books on tape, magazines and other resources to reinforce what they are learning and to master the English language. ˇ Seniors enjoy access to technology and classes to learn how to use it, newspapers and magazines, genealogical research capability, and online investing tools. ˇ Educators count on the library for resources to enhance school curriculum, to encourage students to read, for their own recreational reading, hobbies and lifelong learning. ˇ Business people use entrepreneurial research resources, online investing tools and technology classes. ˇ Students and adults alike take advantage of a wide variety of volunteer and service opportunities. ˇ The community as a whole benefits from an asset that provides access to informational, educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for everyone, regardless of means. As an added attraction to the downtown community, the library also helps to build the local economy. Q: Does CRDL provide services to anyone else? A: Yes, CRDL contracts with Isabella County to provide library services for county residents beyond the library’s legal district. Funds from Isabella County operate four branch libraries in Shepherd, Winn, Blanchard and Weidman. WHY?Q: Why do we need a bigger library? A: Our current facility has long been inadequate to meet the needs of the greater Mt. Pleasant community. Growth in the area, the demand for library services and the increasing role of technology in delivering information require additional space. Even with the addition of the library annex (former post office), the library is significantly smaller than other Michigan libraries serving similar populations. In addition, the configuration of the library with its amalgam of different buildings and multiple floors does not contribute to maximum efficiency and enjoyment. Q. Were there any studies conducted? A. The Library Board utilized several different studies during the planning process.
Q: Why do we need an expanded library when CMU has a new library and the public schools also have their own libraries? A: A public library is very different than a university library or school libraries. Park Library provides resources to support areas of study and research within CMU. School libraries provide resources to support and complement their curriculums. A public library’s resources are much broader and focus on meeting the educational, recreational and lifelong learning needs of everyone in the community it serves. Interestingly, CMU students regularly use CRDL. Its education majors, in particular, use the children’s resources for class work, but other students also use the library for research, recreational reading and to access CDs and DVDs. Q: Why did library leadership decide to conduct a capital campaign as part of the funding plan for the expansion? A: Library leadership wanted both to provide an opportunity for community members to invest personally in this important project and to keep the millage request as low as possible. The majority of the capital campaign funds will be used to furnish and enhance the facility. These funds will allow the library to increase Internet access, outfit the computer lab, and to provide updated technology throughout the building. HOW MUCH $Q: How much will the renovation and expansion of the library cost? A: The total project cost is approximately $8.5 million and includes renovation of the current Veterans Memorial Library building, razing of the library annex (former post office) and construction of two stories at the site of the library annex.
Q: How is the current library funded? A: The library is funded primarily with 1.75 mills that was approved by voters when the district library was established in 1998. Due to the Headlee rollback, the library currently receives 1.6984 mills. Q: How will the expanded library be funded? A: The plan to fund the renovation, construction and operation of the expanded library combines both private and public funding. Library leadership has initiated The Next Page capital campaign to raise $500,000 for the expanded library. Following completion of the campaign, district library voters will be asked to approve a total of 2.6 mills for 20 years, which represents a .85 increase over current funding. From the millage funds the library would sell a bond to cover the remainder of the construction expenses (roughly .6 mils of the 2.6 mils would be for construction expenses). Q: How does the project cost allow for unexpected construction/renovation problems? A: Appropriate project and construction contingencies are included in the budget. Q. What is included in the miscellaneous costs? A. Miscellaneous expenses are for items like builders risk insurance during construction, printing of the construction documents, legal fees, financial costs, bond discount costs, advertising, and other expenses that do not fall directly under construction but are needed for the building project. All expenses are carefully reviewed and audited. WILL THE NEW LIBRARY…?Q: How will the expanded library be different? A: The expanded library will provide an attractive and comfortable destination and will be designed to improve and enhance services and programming for patrons and visitors. Barrier-free entry, well-spaced aisles and elevators will invite everyone to take advantage of everything the library offers. Patrons will enjoy comfortable seating in quiet, cozy areas that will encourage them to spend time relaxing and reading. Separate from the adult collection, children and teens will have their own areas with a variety of seating, as well as study rooms and programming space. Increased and enhanced technology will enable more people to use online resources, email friends and family and to learn more about navigating the World Wide Web. The expanded library will be a community gathering place, an attraction that will bring more people downtown and a visible sign of the greater Mt. Pleasant area’s commitment to progress. Q: What new resources, programs and services will be available in the expanded library? A: The new children’s floor will provide a dedicated story time area, greater computer access, a craft area to encourage more creative learning and expanded space for collections. The new teen area will feature study rooms, an expanded collection and a much needed dedicated programming area for teens to interact in a positive environment. Adults also will be pleased with a quiet reading room, increased access to local history resources, more space for bestsellers and A/V materials, and a convenient drive-thru for picking up and dropping off materials. The media center will accommodate up to 30 computer users. The community room will handle both small and large groups and will feature a kitchenette and technology capability. Q: How will the Veterans Memorial building be incorporated into the expanded library design? A: The Veterans Memorial Building will be totally renovated to meld with the new space. The first floor will serve adult patrons with updated technology, better access to bestsellers and A/V materials and will offer both a quiet reading room and a local history room. The upper floor will be transformed into a contained teen area with expanded space for resources, programming and studying. Q: What will happen to the library annex (former post office)? A: The annex will be razed to make room for a new two-story addition. Q: How long will the expanded library meet the needs of the community? A: Based on population projections, the expanded library should meet community library needs for at least the next 40 years. Q: How will the library be easily accessible to everyone? A: The layout of the library will allow easy access to materials for patrons of all ages. The community room and the media center/computer training center will be located on the first floor to allow quick access for large groups using the library, with little disruption to other patrons. Drive-thru access to the library also will enable busy patrons to utilize the library in a more timely fashion without taking up parking space. Q. Why is the children's area on the second floor? A. The second floor allows the children’s area the necessary space to accommodate the growth and patron demand that the library is already experiencing and to prepare for the future. We hope to create a wonderland for children of all ages to explore. There will be space for expanded collections, computer access, storytime, and programs. And even more importantly the new children’s area will be large enough for families to spend quality free time together without feeling crowded and pressured. Q: Will the expanded library be open additional hours? A: The library currently is open four nights a week and weekends during the school year. Because new/expanded libraries generally experience a sustained 40% increase in usage, additional hours may be warranted. Library leadership will assess the need for additional hours and make an appropriate determination after the expansion is complete. Q: What additional staff will be required by the expanded library? A: Some additional staff will be needed for the expanded teen and reference areas. Most of the new building operating expense will be for more materials (books, magazines, DVDs, etc.), technology, and general maintenance. Q: How will the expanded library impact parking? A: The library expansion will provide two larger parking lots to accommodate patrons and visitors. Q: Will I be able to enjoy food in the expanded library? A: Yes, a small café will provide light refreshments. After-school kids, lunch-time patrons and families especially will appreciate the availability of food at the library. Q: Won’t technology make libraries obsolete in the not-so-distant future? A: No. Libraries will continue to serve their communities as repositories of local, national and world history; access points to information in all manner of formats; resources for entertainment and recreation; gateways to local, national and world art and culture; and as community centers. Libraries are ever evolving and changing to accommodate new means of accessing information and providing that access to everyone in their communities regardless of means. Since the first public access computers were installed in libraries in the 1980s, the public’s utilization of and demand for access to technology and high-tech operational systems has increased. This trend continues today. People now are borrowing more books for leisure and research than ever, but they depend on online databases for intensive research information that would quickly be outdated in print format. Libraries are leading the way in bringing advanced data to the public. Many of these resources are expensive and not available free on the Internet. Beyond access, public libraries, both locally and nationally, continue to provide instruction on how to make the best use of the internet as well as advanced instruction on how to use specialized databases or to search for specific information. Libraries also play a pivotal role in evaluating the web and bringing order to it. Q: Why is it important for the library to be located downtown? A: The library serves as an important anchor for the downtown community, as well as a boon for local businesses. Library visitors also patronize local businesses, which helps strengthen the local economy. Q: Are the design plans final? A: Currently we are using working drawings. Plans will not be finalized until the capital campaign is completed and the millage approved. Q: How long will it take to complete the expansion and renovation of the library? A: The timeframe for renovation and construction is twelve to sixteen months. Q: How will the library continue operating during renovation and construction? A: Some programs will be located off-site, and staff space will be consolidated. Some closures will occur to allow collections to be moved and renovations to be completed. A. Dennis Jensen of C2AE, Inc is the design architect. Mr. Jensen has significant experience with library design and has recently completed the public library projects in Alma and Clare. BUILDING OUR COMMUNITYQ: Why is it important for the library to be located downtown? A: The library serves as an important anchor for the downtown community, as well as a boon for local businesses. Library visitors also patronize local businesses, which helps strengthen the local economy. Q: Why did library leadership decide to conduct a capital campaign as part of the funding plan for the expansion? A: Library leadership wanted both to provide an opportunity for community members to invest personally in this important project and to keep the millage request as low as possible. The majority of the capital campaign funds will be used to furnish and enhance the facility. These funds will allow the library to increase Internet access, outfit the computer lab, and to provide updated technology throughout the building. Q. How is the library involved in the community? A. The library has many partnerships with local organizations, agencies, and other governmental units. The library has as its mission to facilitate information and resource sharing wherever possible. In our 2002 planning study the library took as its motto to collaborate and never to duplicate. This philosophy has resulted in many partnerships such as with daycares, schools, and PEAK to serve children; with the Commission on Aging to reach out to seniors; and with a wide variety of other groups as well. Please click here to see a listing of more community partnerships. Q. How does the library work with its neighbors? A. Mt. Pleasant is very fortunate to have ArtReach of MidMichigan as a strong advocate for the arts. Through ArtReach’s efforts our area enjoys art in the schools, live music, and several venues for artists to showcase their work. The library is actively working with ArtReach to ensure that all future building plans are done cooperatively and that resources (land and funds) are maximized. Q. Is the Mt. Pleasant Community Foundation involved with the library’s funding plan? A. The Friends of Veterans Memorial Library have an endowed fund with the Community Foundation that provides very welcome support for special projects and programs at the library. While the funds being raised during this capital campaign are needed immediately for the building project the Community Foundation is an amazing way for individuals and businesses to give long term support to the library. HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THE NEXT PAGE?Q: How can families and businesses support the library project? A: Many opportunities exist to support this important community project. Volunteers are needed for both the capital campaign and the millage election. In addition, contributions from individuals, families, businesses, foundations, civic groups and community organizations are needed. For more information about volunteering or making a contribution, contact Lise Mitchell, Library Director, at (989) 772-3488, x 12 or at lhmitch@crdl.org. |
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