KFSK reports on new library project

On Monday KFSK’s Matt Lichtenstein reported on last Thursday’s meeting with the architect for the new library, Paul Voelckers.  Click here to listen to the full story on KFSK’s website.

Did you miss the meeting?

You can read the meeting minutes or listen to a recording of the meeting on the City’s website, click here

 

New schematic drawing is now available

Click here to view the updated floor plan that will be discussed at Thursday night’s meeting. If you can’t make the meeting we’d still love to hear what you think – call (772-3349), email(library@ci.petersburg.ak.us) or drop by the library.

Library Building Committee/Library Board Work Session

Thursday, November 5, 7:00 pm –  City Council Chambers

The architect for the new library project, Paul Voelckers (MRV Architects), will present the most recent schematic drawings of the new library and take comments. The public is encouraged to attend.

Alaska Library Construction Grants – Draft Regulations Published

The State of Alaska has released draft regulations for a grant program that could have a major impact on the new library project.  The Library Construction and Major Expansion Matching Grant Program is a program that could  fund up to 50% of the cost of a new library facility.  While the State has not yet funded this grant program, the development of these regulations is an important step in that process. The proposed regulations for the program can be seen here:

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/pub/LibraryContructionGrantRegulations.pdf 

Comments can be sent to Gail Dabaluz (Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development) at gail.dabaluz@alaska.gov.  The comment period closes September 4^th, 2009.

Fine tuning the floor plan

Currently library staff are working with the project architects to fine tune the internal workings of the new library. We are considering questions such as:  Is there enough space for our collections to expand by at least 20%? Does the layout of the children’s area allow for children’s activities to take place? Is there ample space for our community’s teens?

CLICK HERE to view the updated floor plan for the new library. Call us at 772-3349, email us at libdir@ci.petersburg.ak.us or drop by the library to if you have comments or questions.

An important gift to the community

The Eldor and Polly Lee family have given an important gift to the community which commemorates the hundredth anniversary of Petersburg next year. They have donated the property on Hammer Slough where Eldor was born to the City for the Public Library, which will be called “Centennial Park”. This property is right below the proposed site for the new Petersburg library, and will create a park and trail to the Slough below. It extends the footprint of the library property, and the value of this land donation can be calculated in when foundations formulate matching grants. This is an invaluable step towards realizing the goal of a new library.

~excerpt from a speech given by Julie Hursey, Library Board President, at the May 18th, 2009 Little Norway Pageant

Eldor & Polly Lee Family Land Donation

This Saturday, May 16 the Library Board will be honoring the Eldor & Polly Lee family donation of their Hammer Slough property to the City. The property, which is adjacent to the site of the new library, will be called “Centennial Park”. Everyone is invite to join us in recognizing the Lee family’s generosity by attending either of the events listed below:

2:30 pm – Photograph at the Lee property (Birch Street), Polly Lee will present the deed to Mayor Al Dwyer

3:00 pm- Little Norway Pageant: Julie Hursey, Library Board Chair, will give a short presentation thanking Polly Lee and her family.

If you build it, they will come

The new Gerish Branch Library in Girdwood opened in May 2008. The new 9,000 square-foot Library also houses a Community Center, which gives the Girdwood community a much needed public gathering place.

A six-month progress report has found a dramatic rise in circulation, visits and attendance at children’s programs since the new library opened. Learn more about the new Girdwood Library.

Top ten reasons we need a new library: Reason #1

“When we return to Petersburg to start our own businesses and families we want a modern and welcoming library to match the vibrant spirit of the town we grew up in”. – Elsa Sebastian, high school senior

Investing in a new library for Petersburg is an investment in the future of our community.  Civic causes come and go with the times, but opportunities for a community to truly embrace a project are rare. Such an opportunity exists with the creation of a new library for Petersburg.

This is an exciting time for libraries everywhere. While only a few years ago futurists were decrying the death of libraries due to the proliferation of the internet, the opposite has proven to be true. Libraries have evolved to become places where people gather and exchange ideas. Nowhere is this more important than in small, isolated communities like Petersburg. The community is ready for a library that will truly reflect our educational and civic values for many years to come.

Library Board decides to postpone local bond initiative

This week the Library Board decided to postpone a local bond initiative for a new library. After an encouraging visit from Ed and Cathy Rasmuson, along with the results of a recent survey, it was decided that this was not a good year to make a ballot appearance.

In late April the McDowell Group surveyed 252 Petersburg voters. 75% percent of respondents indicated a moderate to high level of interest in a new library however while 48% said they would approve a sales tax, 46% said they would not.

This is a tough time for folks in Alaska. Many of those surveyed voiced concerns about rising fuel costs and an uncertain economic future. In light of these findings, the library board decided to postpone the ballot measure and spend more time considering a funding plan that would lessen the burden on local taxpayers.

Library is an essential resource in our rainy town

My name is Karen Quitslund and I currently serve on the library board. My family and I came to Petersburg almost six years ago on our sailboat. Our original intention was to just spend the winter here but Petersburg really captured our hearts and we have felt at home ever since. I believe that the library is an essential resource in our rainy town and I would like to see Petersburg bring our library up to the similar standards as other community libraries in Alaska. Our public library is busting at the seams with collection and popularity. The library board would like to encourage everyone to look at the drawings and weigh in on the plans for the new library. The drawings can be viewed at the library or on line at the library’s website, www.psglib.org. I would like to invite everyone to visit the library and see all the wonderful services our library currently offers and envision the possibilities a new library could provide.

Q&A: Why not use an existing building in town?

There are two essential components to consider with existing buildings:  1) A downtown location that offers safe access for children and other pedestrians and contributes to maintaining our vibrant downtown, and 2) adequate floor space on one floor so expensive staffing increases are not required for security and customer service. The library board has been carefully exploring options that become available and will continue do to so. A cost effective, permanent, City owned solution for the library is a priority.

 

A new library – consider the opportunities

(From the Petersburg Pilot, March 27)

 

To the Editor:

I grew up in Petersburg in the 1980’s and chose to return to Petersburg with my husband, Bob, in 2000, to raise our three children.  The library quickly became our family’s favorite community location because of its excellent selection of books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, audio books and Internet access.  We enjoy great programming there too; like story time for children, after school art, drama, and technology classes, author talks, writing workshops, and language programs.  I now regularly volunteer in the library and serve as a library board member.

But, during our regular visits to the library we’ve made two observations about the building.  First, the Petersburg Public Library has become increasingly busy, sometimes standing room only, despite a leaky roof, inconvenient second story location, inadequate parking, and tightly packed interior.  And secondly, almost every other town we’ve visited in Southeast Alaska: Wrangell, Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines, has a library that is roomy, accessible, attractive and comfortable.

Perhaps these observations have troubled you as well.  Despite its limitations, our public library has never been more popular and many people in our community believe it’s time to bring Petersburg’s library up to the same standard as other community libraries in Alaska. 

I am encouraged that the need for a new facility is one of the Petersburg Library Board’s top priorities.  A grant from the Foraker Group has helped the board develop a plan for a library that is the right size for our community and is within our financial means.  Great attention to energy efficiency and design has been given to insure that it is affordable to own and operate too. 

Drawings of the proposed library can be viewed at the library, on the library’s website: psglib.org, or downtown in the marine advisory window.   Please take the time to look at the drawings and give your input on the floor plan and its features. 

It’s exciting to consider the opportunities an adequate public library building would enable for the residents of Petersburg.  The Petersburg Public Library Board is eager to hear how the proposed library can benefit you and become your family’s favorite Petersburg location too.

~ Becky Martin

Weigh in on the new library plans

The new library building committee invites you to review and comment on the floor plan, site plan, and elevations. These are also available at the library and can be viewed downtown in the Marine Advisory window. Call us at 772-3349, email us at libdir@ci.petersburg.ak.us or drop by the library to weigh in on the new plans.

Community Work Session

Wednesday March 12 @ 6:30pm 

The new library building committee invites everyone to review and comment on the draft plans for the proposed library facility. We hope to see you there!

How much will maintenance costs be in the new library?

The Haines library is very similar to the one we are planning, so maintenance costs will likely to be similar. Maintenance of the Haines Library has been $2,700 – $5,000 annually since construction in 2003. This does not include heating, staffing, etc – just maintenance.However simply comparing our project to another may not reveal the true costs of maintenance in our own facility. So we are currently working on establishing maintenance costs for the new library with the architect, consultants, and the pre-development program. We will to have detailed information available, along with operations (ie: electricity) and staffing costs, in our business plan which will be completed in April.

Concerns about long term operating costs of new facilities are right on the mark. Failure to plan for these costs is one of the biggest mistakes building projects make. With help from the Foraker Group, we are planning to address the ongoing operations and maintanence costs as early and as accurately as possible.

Did you miss the building committee meeting?

Listen to the meeting, read the minutes or view the 3 conceptual options presented by the architect at the library. Comments and suggestions will be taken until Feb 22 at the library or by sending an email to libdir@ci.petersburg.ak.us

Library Bill passes Senate Finance

On Friday Senate finance committee members unanimously passed SB119, a bill that could pay for up to half the cost of new library projects in Petersburg and many other Alaskan towns.

Alaska State Senate Bill 119 is a bill that includes grant funds for library construction and, if it passes, would be an enormous step toward a new library for Petersburg. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Donny Olson and Sen. Bert Stedman.

You can listen to more news about SB119 on KFSK’s website .

 

Library building committee meeting rescheduled

The library building committee will meet on Tuesday, February 12, from 5- 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

The architect will present 3 conceptual floor plans of the new library for us to review and decide what we prefer. After this meeting he will boil down all of our suggestions into one floor plan for the library.This is an important meeting which will help shape the direction of the project. The more voices/opinions we have at the meeting, the stronger our final plan will be so feel free to bring a friend.

Hope to see you there!