Teton County Library Director’s Blog

The next 12 months are going to go by quickly as the library works to design, construct and ultimately open a new branch library in Alta at the end of 2009.  It’s an exciting time for the community.

I want to let you know about several of the key dates coming up on the library’s timeline:

December 17, 2008 :  The Library Board will be meeting in Alta.  There will be a presentation of the building schematics and cost estimates.  The Board will be looking to approve those schematics so that the next steps around securing funding can occur in a timely manner.

January 5, 2009: The Library will be submitting its formal request to the Town-County Joint Information Meeting for the consensus block grant funds made available to Teton County through the State Land Investment Board (SLIB).

 January 2009:  Library staff will be working behind the scenes to finalize the grant application to SLIB.  Staff will also be working to submit the Development Permit Application to the County.

February 2009: SLIB meets to approve grant applications.

May 2009: Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Alta Branch Library.

May - November 2009: Construction of the library facility.

December 2009: Opening Day for the Alta Branch Library!

I’ll keep you posted on the finer details as I get them.  I especially want to be sure you are aware of the times and places for public meetings associated with the library’s permitting process.  I’ll be looking for your comments and support to keep this project moving forward.

Thanks!

Deb

I heard a new term in the Alta Library Community Forum this past Thursday, November 13.  The library’s architect, Dennis Humphries, said that he likes to start a building process with a “mindbreaking” session.  His thinking is that communities need to explore the ideas involved in a library long before they get to the groundbreaking ceremony.

With that thought in mind, Dennis took about 50 Alta Library users on a visual tour of libraries across the country.  He showed pictures of mostly small, rural libraries.  There were photos of reading rooms, children’s storytime spaces, computer areas, teen spaces, book nooks, outdoor program areas, “green” buildings and more.  He asked the community to write down the ideas that resonated with them for sharing.

I would say that he sparked people’s imaginations.  The result was eight big flip chart papers full of colorful sticky notes with ideas for the new Alta Branch Library.  Community members shared ideas around a reading room, children, collections, sustainability, teens, computers, exterior, and building site.  I heard some common themes, such as a desire to take advantage of the view of the Tetons to the east and comfortable spaces for reading for adults and children.  I also heard people express opinions on opposite sides of the fence around some topics.  So, here comes the challenging part — distilling the common themes and finding the most important areas for incorporation into a library building. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m delighted to let you know that the Library Board has selected Shaw Construction & Humphries Poli Architects as the Design/Build Team for the Alta Branch Library project.  Four firms made the short list and all were well qualified.  The tipping point in favor of this team is their experience with designing libraries.  In particular, I’m glad to have someone on board who is familiar with creating libraries for small rural communities.  Humphries Poli has designed libraries for places like Dolores and Paonia, CO.  They were featured on the cover of the December 2006 issue of Library Journal for design of the Granby, CO library.  Their experience will be a key factor in helping us meet our objectives for the Alta Branch Library project.  The overarching priorities for this project are to keep it on schedule and on budget, and to end up with a library that fits the community.  I’m also looking forward to this building meeting LEED Silver certification standards.

Please come meet and talk with the Shaw Construction - Humphries Poli Architects Design/Build Team on Thursday, November 13 from 4 to 6:00 pm at St. Francis of the Tetons Church.  This public forum will include information about the Alta Library building program and timeline.  Library board members and staff will also be on hand to answer your questions.

We are on our way to having a new branch library in Alta in November 2009.

Deb

The Teton County Library Board is currently advertising for a Design/Build Team for the new Alta Branch Library.  The Board is looking for interested parties to submit their qualifications to design, construct and complete the building of the new branch library in Alta by November 2009.

This process of advertising for an architect/design team is governed by County policies and Wyoming State Statute which proscribe specific parameters for the handling of contracts for government work.  Within that context, the Library Board has now publicly advertised its intentions to hire a design/build team for the construction of the library.  The decision about which team or firm to use will be made by the Library Board in its regular meeting in accordance with open meeting law.  Right now, the time frame is for design/build teams to submit their proposals by 5:00 PM on October 1, 2008.  The Library Board will then make its decision at its October 23 meeting.  Please feel free to spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested in this project.  Project details and the RFQ (Request for Qualifications) are available from the library.

After the Library Board selects the design/build team, an Alta community forum is scheduled for Thursday, November 13 at 4:00-6:00 p.m.  This forum will be an opportunity for the community to meet the architect/design firm, to learn more about the project timeline and to share ideas.  Ideas from the community around a meeting space, green building technology and native landscaping have been heard and incorporated into the preliminary building program for the new branch.

The Library Board, facilities manager Dail Barbour and I are working to keep this moving forward as expeditiously as possible.  In order to keep to a Novmber 2009 completion date, the project timeline is pretty rigorous.  I’m committed to meeting that deadline.

Meanwhile, keep supporting your friendly librarians in the Alta bookmobile and at the main library.

Deb

To All Teton County Voters,

I thank you ever so much for your support of the Library on the August 19 SPET ballot. It’s heartening to know that our community believes in books and reading, in spaces for toddlers and teens, and in creating learning environments for everyone.  The funds that were approved by voters will allow the Library to start designing an addition to the main facility on Virginian Lane.  I do not yet know the timing of distribution of the funds for the library, but I am excited to be moving forward to build on the wonderful community center we already have in place.  If you want more information about the priorities for the library’s addition, would you please give me a call or drop me an email?  I’d be happy to talk about the future of our library with you.

 With deep appreciation,

Deb

The Alta Branch Library’s temporary home arrived on Saturday, July 19 when the big white bookmobile pulled into the Alta School parking lot.

For the next few weeks, library staff will be busy preparing for the move into the bookmobile and getting everything settled in its new place.  I ask your patience while the staff works out these details.  Sometimes, the checklist only seems to grow longer and it includes just about everything you can imagine from moving books and program supplies to figuring out power and phone lines.  Now that the bookmobile is on site, library staff can better map out these logistics.

To ensure a smooth transition from the school classroom to operating in the bookmobile, library staff has set Friday, July 25 as the last day of service in the Alta School.  We need time to move and clean and get set up in the bookmobile.  I am anticipating reopening in the bookmobile in mid-August.  If staff and services are ready before then, the bookmobile will open its doors sooner.  Meanwhile, swing by the school parking lot and see the temporary home for the Alta Branch Library.  It’s pretty hard to miss!

And please know that the library board, facilities manager and I are still keeping the long-term plan for building a new Alta Branch in the works, step-by-step.

Deb

Patrons broke the record book last Wednesday, June 11 when nearly 2,000 people came to the library that day!  That’s 400 more people than have ever walked through the library’s doors in one day in the past.

I know part of the reason was that it was the first day of the Summer Reading Program for children, teens and adults.  Still, there were more people in the library that day  than ever before.  Then Wednesday’s record attendance was followed by a close second for the record books with Thursday’s door count hitting 1,796.

Those records are two more mile posts of the significant growth the library has seen since opening its doors in the current building over a decade ago.  It’s been more noticeable this past year when the increases in monthly attendance have been 25 - 40 % more than the previous year.

It’s wonderful to be so well loved by the community, whether it’s children lining up to participate in the Summer Reading Program or adults using the library’s treasure trove of electronic resources.  The growing demand for library resources serves to highlight the need for more room for collections, study areas, a dedicated teen space and programs.

The Library Board is planning ahead for those community needs with a proposed addition to the main library facility.  The starting point for those plans is the design phase.  The Library will be on the Town - County SPET (special purpose excise tax) ballot on August 19 to secure funds for architectural plans as well as technology and “green building” consulting for an addition on the site of the current library.  The SPET ballot allows voters to choose specific projects for funding through the 6th cent of sales tax revenues.  A wide variety of community projects have been funded through the 6th cent of sales tax, including the Recreation Center, Teton County Middle School and High School, Pathways, St. John’s Nursing Home and the library.

I look forward to seeing you in the library this summer.  When you come in, would you please stop by and ask any questions you may have about the library’s future plans?

Deb

It’s official.  At 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, the County Commissioners will officially close on the purchase of the land from S.t Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church for the future Alta Branch Library.  The timing is perfect as the Alta Branch Library hosts a celebration of its 40 plus years of partnership with the Alta Elementary School that day.  I’m looking forward to the library’s continued service to the school and the community.  I think we’re off to a good start for the next stage.

 Deb

I’m delighted to let you know that the library now has an answer for the short-term for library services to the Alta community. After careful consideration of the options, the Teton County Library Board voted on Thursday, April 24 to purchase a used bookmobile as the interim solution for Alta Branch Library services. I really think a bookmobile makes the most sense in terms of being a cost-effective means to keeping library services alive, even as we stay focused on the long-term picture of getting a new branch library built.

Library staff is now busy working out the many details of moving into this operation. I am in communication with the school district to officially request permission to locate and operate the bookmobile on school property. Branch Manager Gretchen Notzold and I are looking at the options for programming. Facilities Manager Dail Barbour and IT Manager Mark Abetz are digging into the logistics of power, phone, insurance, and moving, to name a few of the details. Our goal is to be operational shortly after we have to move out of the school classroom. No official date has yet been set for being up and running in the bookmobile.

For those of you with a little history in rural areas, here’s your opportunity to re-experience some of the nostalgia of childhood. And for the younger generations, here’s your opportunity to get a hands-on experience with a little piece of history. Stay tuned, I think it’s going to be a fun “ride” as we prepare for the building of the new Alta Branch Library.

Deb

I was in a series of meetings yesterday to learn about and map out a path to resolve a little bump in the road that the County has encountered with respect to closing on the purchase of the land for the Alta Branch Library. During the normal process for title insurance, the County learned that there is a glitch with having the necessary access to the property. This is a solvable problem and it will take us just a little extra time to work through the details. The County Attorney’s office has already made contact with St. Francis and they have readily agreed to a two month extension while we work this out. The County remains committed to purchasing the land.

If you want to hear more about county road widths and easements, I’m happy to give you the nitty gritty. I would just like to emphasize that this is only a little bump in the road, the legal details are easily solvable and we are still moving ahead with purchase of the land.

I also learned this week that the County will be submitting the Alta Branch Library on its list of capital projects for State Land Investment Board funding next month. Even though it will be several months until the County receives the money, I think this is great news since it helps to set the library up for moving ahead with construction in 2009.

Deb

P.S.  I should probably temper my unrelenting optimism about the SLIB submission with a realistic note that things always take longer than expected whenever more than one agency is involved.  Still, I’m pretty hopeful about the potential.