907-235-3180
907-235-3136
(Fax)
TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Walt Wrede, City Manager
FROM: Helen Hill, Library Director
DATE: January 5, 2006
RE: Resolution 06-09
I’d like to respond to Resolution 06-09, which proposes to combine the college and public libraries into a joint research facility. This subject first came up in May 2001, two weeks after I moved to Homer and became director of the public library. Since then, I’ve spent many hours discussing the pros and cons of this proposal with numerous people, including Carol Swartz (Executive Director of the Kachemak Bay Campus), Steve Rollins (Dean of the UAA Consortium Library), George Smith and Aja Razumny of the Alaska State Library, Karen Weiland (former director of the consortium library in Valdez), David Ongley (director of the consortium library in Barrow), Stacey Glaser (director of the consortium library in Kotzebue), and Christy Schink (former director of the consortium library in Bethel). Across the board, all have said that the benefit of a joint-use facility are a “beefed up” book collection and the availability of academic resources to the public. All also agree that there must be adequate resources to run such a combined facility, such as a well trained reference staff able to answer advanced reference questions and teach public patrons how to use the academic databases, and enough funds to cover public demand to stay open on weekends, evenings, and holidays.
Space
While the new library will indeed be 4.25 times larger than the current facility, there will not be 4.25 times as many shelves. The Space Needs Study recommended that the new public library, serving a target population of 12,510 in the year 2020, would need a collection of 45,015 items. Items include books, periodicals and newspapers, audiobooks on tape and CD, and videos/DVDs for children, teens, and adults. This is based on a moderate standard of 3.38 volumes per capita. Currently, the public library has a collection of approximately 34,000 items. The college library has a collection of 5,000 items; Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) standards require that their collection would need to triple. In other words, the college’s goal is to expand their collection to hold 15,000 items, or approximately one-third of the collection goal of the public library.
There will be a maximum of 4,296 linear feet of shelving in the general stacks of the new library. Currently, the public library has 1,767 linear feet in the general stack area, and the college library has 666 linear feet for their collection. Translated into percentages, the current public library collection will occupy 47 percent and the current college library collection 18 percent of the total linear feet of shelving available in the new general stacks, which leaves 35 percent for growth for both collections. The general collection of the public library collection will need to grow by 2,529 linear feet, or 53 percent and the college library collection will need to grow by 1,334 linear feet, or 47 percent, both of which exceed the 35 percent of remaining shelving available. Therefore, there would seem to be plenty of room for both entities to move their existing collections into the new library; however, there will be insufficient collection growth space for both within a short period of time.
Sirsi Unicorn
Software
When the subject of the consortium library last came up more than two years ago, I had a conversation with Dean Rollins about the possibility of the public library getting added on to the Sirsi Unicorn system as part of the consortium library partnership. He told me that, unfortunately, the University could no longer afford to add new libraries to their contract. He added that the cost for us to become part of the system would be a one-time conversion charge of $30,000 and that we would then be billed annually to participate in the system. The Sirsi representative told me that we would also be required to spend $35,000 on training and $6,000 for hardware, which brings us close to the level that we paid for the Sirsi contract on our own.
Additionally, I had a conversation with Karen Weiland, the former director of the consortium library in Valdez. She informed me that they had received the university system software free of charge from the university for years, but would now have to pay the university for the use of the system.
Timing
The layout of the stacks and offices is complete, and has been so for more than a year. There is neither time nor funds to make such changes to the library design at this time. All the building materials have been ordered and paid for, and unless there are easy accommodations to make to the design, they will cost as much now as they would later.
There is no emergency at either library to warrant this type of derailment to the construction and transition to the new building. Both libraries are functioning at this time, and there is no need to break the agreement made by the City, Carol Swartz, and the LAB to wait until the public library has moved into the new building and has had time to review the new patterns of use and requirements of the community. In fact, Ms. Swartz stated in her letter to Mr. Wrede dated 11/29/05 that, “Perhaps, as was mentioned two years ago, a good time to reexamine this matter might be when the construction of the new City library is completed. One area for discussion would be in reviewing whether or not the City’s new library would be of sufficient size to accommodate our additional resources that would be incorporated and made available to the public as well as a staff office. I understand that the facility’s size and space allocations may have been reduced from its original plan. Reflecting our national library standards, an equivalent of approximately 2000 sq. ft. was previously identified as necessary for shelving, storage and an office.”
Reduction of total
operating costs
Combining two library programs does not necessarily ensure that costs will be reduced for each library partner. According to the researchers of Establishing Joint-Use Libraries, a Report of the Standing Committee on Joint-Use Libraries (College Center for Library Automation, 1996, redistributed in 2001), “While it is true that more resources and services can be provided through a joint-use cooperative endeavor, the actual cost savings may not be as great as envisioned. Indeed, as the range of services expands beyond that which could be provided by the partners individually, ongoing operational costs may actually increase.” (p. 1) The report explains that larger collections, staff size, and longer hours of operation and related maintenance may all contribute to an increase in operating costs for a joint-use library.
Cooperation
The college library and the public library have had a cooperative relationship for years. We participate in the interlibrary loan program and hand-deliver books to each other’s library. We have puzzled over indecipherable OCLC cataloging bills together, and discussed the best methods to approach new technologies. We have sat with each other to watch training videos, and have participated in statewide library teleconferences together. We have proctored tests for college students at both facilities; in fact, when the college was undergoing construction and was closed during the summer of 2004, the public library proctored all tests for students enrolled in the distance nursing program, as well as for students in other programs. Finally, we have filled in at each other’s library when needed.
Conclusion
I respectfully request that the discussion of a consortium library for Homer be postponed, until, as previously agreed, the public library has moved into the new building. As stated in Resolution 06-09, there are advantages to the community from a combined library. However, as you can see, there are also disadvantages to such a proposal, and those will take time to work through so that all may benefit from a joint-use library. As stated in Establishing Joint-Use Libraries, “The operational aspects of a joint-use facility call for unprecedented levels of planning and cooperation.” (p. 6) Please let us get through this labor intensive transition phase from the old library to the new before asking us to take on the next phase of library service to Homer. Thank you.