Library network to seek $5 million levy

Seven community libraries will ask voters on May 17 to approve a tax levy to improve facilities and meet changing patron needs.

Community Library Network is seeking a $4,979,940 levy spread over three years, which is estimated to cost $16.65 per year for taxpayers with a home valued at $200,000.

In 2005, the district passed a 20-year bond, for which residents with a home valued at $200,000 pay about $3.32 per year.

Libraries in the Community Library Network are district libraries and include Athol, Spirit Lake, Rathdrum, Post Falls, Hayden and Harrison in Kootenai County, as well as the Pinehurst library in Shoshone County.

"We are looking at what the communities desire most," said Anne Abrams, administrator for community resources at Library Network.

Abrams and John Hartung, director of Library Network, discussed the proposal Wednesday at the Coeur d'Alene Press with the newspaper's editorial board.

The library network held community focus groups last year, which were attended by about 400 district residents. What they found, Abrams said, is each community had different priorities, and all except one are undersized by at least 50 percent. The Harrison library is the only facility close to the national standard, which is one square-foot per resident in the service area. Hartung added the Athol library is 159 percent undersized.

While most of the libraries are landlocked and therefore unable to expand outward, the board has a plan to maximize interior space. The money would also go to upgrading and modernizing the technology.

"More efficient use of space — that's really our goal," Hartung said. "Since we don't have enough space, we can't fix that, so we have to make the space we have far more efficient."

Each library has its own list of needs the levy would cover, but one word repeatedly comes up in the system-wide recommendations — flexibility. Hartung said the point of the remodel would be to make the space as flexible as possible, for the purpose of needing more interior space, but also flexibility in adapting to new technology in years to come.

Some of the plans include DIRTT walls, which are made of glass to allow some monitoring by parents, but also allows for silence when needed. They would create areas for meetings, group study and business needs. The walls would also open to allow the flexible space the facilities need for the many programs hosted at each library. Abrams said they have seen the kids' programming "going through the roof," and there is not enough room. To open the floor for larger groups is a priority.

Other recommendations include creating separate, intentional quiet areas, and adding flip-through picture book shelving in children's areas to better connect small children with books. Abrams said low shelving would be installed so there would no longer be blind spots throughout the library and parents could easily find their children.

The carpet would be changed to carpet squares that have "innovative under-carpet wiring," allowing for electrified carpet squares where charging stations for electronics could be added. Desktop computers would be changed out for laptops and tablets. The librarian would then have the advantage of a tablet to take to the stacks to assist a patron in locating exactly what they are looking for.

Outdoor areas, "safe and constructive" teen spaces, cafés with vending machines and updated fixtures and furniture are just some of the improvements the levy would cover.

"What I think is most exciting about this project is we could have libraries that stand up to any library in the country," Abrams said.

Information is available at www.communitylibrary.net