The HVAC Replacement Project contract has been awarded, submittals approved and four new roof top units are ordered. The total project cost is $330,000 (contains allowances for work that may not be used) to replace the four roof top HVAC units, repair ducts, upgrade control boxes, replace the temperature control system and balance the air handling system.
Monday, January 7 through Friday, January 11, the Library will be closed to allow this work to be done. During that time, you may not be able to access the book drops - particularly when the large crane is lifting the old roof top units off and placing the new roof top units on the building! Check outs will be extended and fines waived during this time. This project will allow you to enjoy the Library in comfort in the future.
As some patrons have noticed and commented about to staff, the recent temperature in the Library is either too hot or to cold, depending on the day. Their discomfort only highlights the issues of our aging Library building. Nearly every building component or system is past its useful life. The HVAC Replacement Project is the first of three projects, identified by KJWW Engineering in the building evaluation conducted earlier this year, as being necessary to maintain operation of the Library building. Look for window and shingled roof projects coming in the spring.
Please call ahead or check our web site for the latest information regarding closings before you visit in January!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Thank You, Friends!
The Plainfield Public Library District will
be spending the entire week of October 21-27, 2012, celebrating its Friends of
the Library group as part of the sixth annual celebration of National Friends
of Libraries Week. The Friends of the Plainfield Public Library goals are to bring together individuals interested in the library,
to promote public awareness and informed community interest in the
library, and to build long term support for the library. The Friends have approximately 120 members and sponsor the following
yearly events: Spring Staff Appreciation Luncheon, May Vendor
Market/Community Garage Sale, August Used Book Sale, and a September Art
& Craft Fair. This year, the proceeds from these events are being used to improve the sound and projection equipment in the Library meeting rooms, including surround sound and a ceiling mounted projector for the Large Meeting Room.
Stop by the Check Out Desk this week to sign our community "Thank You" card to express your appreciation to the Friends - and check out our wonderful Friends on Facebook!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
From the Suggestion Box: A/C is always too strong!
In light of our recent HVAC issues, it is not surprising that library users are feeling the cold, or the heat, too much in certain areas of the Library. The building has four roof-top units (RTUs) that are part of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. They produce warmer or colder air and circulate it through the building. One of the four RTUs is currently circulating air only, not heating or cooling. This cause hot or cold spots in the Library, as the three fully-functional units struggle to keep the average temperature in the building within set limits. The outdated control system on the HVAC in the Library does not allow the kind of granular control that would mitigate the hot or cold spots.
The good news: the project to replace the HVAC RTUs and control system, along with some reworking of air ducts and air balancing, should go out to bid this week. We are awaiting the final set of specifications from KJWW Engineering for the project before publishing the invitation to bid.
The bad news: until the project is done, the best I can do is remind you to wear layers when coming to the Library. With the changing weather, the indoor air temperature is unpredictable.
The good news: the project to replace the HVAC RTUs and control system, along with some reworking of air ducts and air balancing, should go out to bid this week. We are awaiting the final set of specifications from KJWW Engineering for the project before publishing the invitation to bid.
The bad news: until the project is done, the best I can do is remind you to wear layers when coming to the Library. With the changing weather, the indoor air temperature is unpredictable.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Question of the Day: What the Truth in Taxation Act Notice Really Means
Yesterday, the Library's Truth in Taxation Act (TITA) notice was published in the Plainfield Enterprise newspaper. This notice is required by law to be published within a very specific time frame prior to a Truth in Taxation hearing and containing specific wording and calculations. I received my first question in years from a taxpayer regarding this notice following its publication, about how the Library can increase taxes by this amount.
The short answer is, it can't. Regardless of what is levied, the maximum amount of taxes that the Library can collect is set by law and by voters in the district.
The long answer is more complicated.
What the TITA notice does not reflect is the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL aka "the tax cap") and the way in which new or newly improved property is included in the tax extension calculations. The tax cap limits the dollar amount of taxes that can be collected by the Library (or any other taxing body) at what was collected the previous year, plus 5% OR the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year, whichever is less. Generally CPI is the lesser number, as you can see here. Last year, CPI was 3.0%, making the total dollar amount the Library can collect 1.03%.
New property annexed to the district and newly improved property being added to the tax rolls are not included in the base for the tax cap calculation, only in the first year they are on the tax rolls. The Will County Tax Extension Office will reduce the levy amount to that allowed under the tax cap, but they cannot increase it to capture the full amount for new or improved property coming onto the tax rolls. Here's the kicker: it generally takes 12-18 months for a new property to be added to the tax rolls for a taxing district and the levy has to be done far enough in advance that new property figures are estimates. If the Library fails to levy high enough to capture the full value of new property coming onto the tax rolls, the opportunity to increase the tax base amount for subsequent years is lost. The Library is annexing additional property into the district this year, under an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Plainfield. There are properties being improved and coming onto the tax rolls. Levying high ensures that the full value of these properties are captured in their first year on the tax rolls, which in future years will spread that total dollar amount under the tax cap over a larger tax base.
In addition to all of that, the voters of the district and the law set the maximum tax rate for the district. Under the tax cap, the district's tax rate can fluctuate up and down, according to CPI and the total value of property in the district. But the voter-approved tax rate is an additional limit on the amount that can be collected.
Below is the text of the notice published yesterday. Note that new property is not referenced in the mandated text, only the total dollar amount.
The short answer is, it can't. Regardless of what is levied, the maximum amount of taxes that the Library can collect is set by law and by voters in the district.
The long answer is more complicated.
What the TITA notice does not reflect is the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL aka "the tax cap") and the way in which new or newly improved property is included in the tax extension calculations. The tax cap limits the dollar amount of taxes that can be collected by the Library (or any other taxing body) at what was collected the previous year, plus 5% OR the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year, whichever is less. Generally CPI is the lesser number, as you can see here. Last year, CPI was 3.0%, making the total dollar amount the Library can collect 1.03%.
New property annexed to the district and newly improved property being added to the tax rolls are not included in the base for the tax cap calculation, only in the first year they are on the tax rolls. The Will County Tax Extension Office will reduce the levy amount to that allowed under the tax cap, but they cannot increase it to capture the full amount for new or improved property coming onto the tax rolls. Here's the kicker: it generally takes 12-18 months for a new property to be added to the tax rolls for a taxing district and the levy has to be done far enough in advance that new property figures are estimates. If the Library fails to levy high enough to capture the full value of new property coming onto the tax rolls, the opportunity to increase the tax base amount for subsequent years is lost. The Library is annexing additional property into the district this year, under an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Plainfield. There are properties being improved and coming onto the tax rolls. Levying high ensures that the full value of these properties are captured in their first year on the tax rolls, which in future years will spread that total dollar amount under the tax cap over a larger tax base.
In addition to all of that, the voters of the district and the law set the maximum tax rate for the district. Under the tax cap, the district's tax rate can fluctuate up and down, according to CPI and the total value of property in the district. But the voter-approved tax rate is an additional limit on the amount that can be collected.
Below is the text of the notice published yesterday. Note that new property is not referenced in the mandated text, only the total dollar amount.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
FOR PLAINFIELD PUBLIC
LIBRARY DISTRICT,
WILL AND KENDALL COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
I. A public hearing to
approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Plainfield Public Library
District, Will and Kendall Counties, Illinois, for 2011 will be held on
September 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Plainfield Public Library at 15025
South Illinois Street, Plainfield, Illinois.
Any person desiring to
appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing District may
contact Julie Milavec, Library
Administrator, at the Plainfield Public Library at 15025 South Illinois Street,
Plainfield, Illinois, phone (815) 436-6639.
II. The corporate and
special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2011 were $ 3,340,000.
The proposed corporate
and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2012 are $3,880,000. This represents a 16.16% increase over the
previous year.
III. The property taxes
extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2011 were $
-0-.
The estimated property
taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for
2012 are $ -0-. This represents a zero %
increase/decrease over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes
extended or abated for 2011 were $3,340,000.
The estimated total property
taxes to be levied for 2012 are $3,880,000.
This represents a 16.16% increase over the previous
year.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
One Down, Three Cooling
The news is not good. One of the HVAC roof top units (RTU's) is no longer functioning. With a price tag of about $5,000 to fix and the HVAC Replacement Project specifications and bid package slated to go before the Board of Trustees tomorrow night, the Library will limp along with three functional units. The age of the RTU that is down is a factor in the cost of the repair, making replacement parts expensive and difficult to find.
Please be aware that this will only exacerbate the problem of hot and cold spots in the Library, as the remaining RTU's struggle to keep the temperatures down in the building. Because our antiquated control system does not allow for granular control of air handling, the options for dealing with this problem are limited.
Wear layers and bear with us as the Library addresses its aging infrastructure issues.
Please be aware that this will only exacerbate the problem of hot and cold spots in the Library, as the remaining RTU's struggle to keep the temperatures down in the building. Because our antiquated control system does not allow for granular control of air handling, the options for dealing with this problem are limited.
Wear layers and bear with us as the Library addresses its aging infrastructure issues.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Too Hot or Too Cold, Never Just Right
The Library is again experiencing a problem with the HVAC. One of the roof top units (RTU's), the one that cools the Large Meeting Room, Storytime Room and Outreach Office, is not working. It's pretty warm down there!
Due to the HVAC control issues, since the summer heat wave ended, it has been too cold in the Library more often than too warm. The control system does not allow for finite or area specific adjustments.
Needless to say, it's impossible to keep a comfortable temperature in the Library as the systems are failing. Thankfully, the replacement of the HVAC system is on the Board's agenda for Wednesday, August 29.
Due to the HVAC control issues, since the summer heat wave ended, it has been too cold in the Library more often than too warm. The control system does not allow for finite or area specific adjustments.
Needless to say, it's impossible to keep a comfortable temperature in the Library as the systems are failing. Thankfully, the replacement of the HVAC system is on the Board's agenda for Wednesday, August 29.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Infographic: Why Support Your Local Library?
FIND A LIBRARY NEAR YOU
FIND YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
INFORMATION INTEGRATED
WITH GOOGLE MAPS
DATA SOURCE: IMLS
INFORMATION INTEGRATED
WITH GOOGLE MAPS
DATA SOURCE: IMLS
Sources:
- ALA Library Fact Sheet
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - Data
- Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Northwestern University Libraries information
- MIT Library Data
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Census.gov - Public Libraries in the U.S. 2009
- ALA - Funding Technology Access Study
- Volunteer Match - Engaging Volunteers
- Pew Internet - Libraries, patrons & ebooks
- ALA Quotable Facts - American Libraries
- Harrison County Library - Facts and Figures
- Stanford University - Library Facts
- Library of Congress - Fascinating Facts
- Libraries for Real Life
- Houston Library - Facts
- Library Journal - Annual Library Budgets Survey
- ALA - State of American Libraries Report - 2012
- NationalService.gov - Benefits of Volunteering
- ALA - Library Operating Expenditures
Thank you to StateStats.org for providing this infographic and other free web guides and tools.
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