ROI for Library Tax Dollars Shows Value

Residents of the Plainfield Public Library District receive an excellent return on investment in service for every dollar invested in the Library. The most common method to illustrate the value of a local public library is to calculate the value of the services used by the community versus the property tax funding invested by the community in its library. By assigning a conservative value for each use of a library service and multiplying that rate by the number of uses, a library can determine the total value received by its community. For FY2015, the Plainfield Public Library District provided the following value to its residents:

Residents invested $3,120,756 in annual property taxes paid to the Library District in FY2015.

For every $1 invested in the Library, the community received $5.93 in services!
Services not included in this calculation include faxing, scanning of documents, notary public, tax form distribution and museum passes. Volunteer literacy and English language learner tutoring, services facilitated by the Library, are also not reflected here.

For more information on the Library’s proposed plans on the March 15 ballot, visit: http://plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/about/building-expansion-planning.aspx

14 Critical Public Library Services Beyond Books

Books are the public library brand, the word most associated with them. With the proliferation of eBooks and online resources, some people question the need for a larger Library building. The Plainfield Library offers much more than simply the physical collections. Here are 14 important things the Library provides beyond its physical collections. 

1.   The Library Provides Early Literacy Support

Right now, Plainfield is projected to have 4,000 more children under age 5 by 2030.  The building was meant for a population of about 30,000. Today, we serve over 75,000.  The Library wants to support the child care centers in Plainfield as a partner in early childhood literacy through story time programs and learning services, as well as collections. We want to make sure every child who is cared for in the home by a relative has a librarian in their lives to deliver the same high quality early literacy engagement they’d receive at a preschool.  If the referendum passes, we will have a library that is not only welcoming, but ready for 21^st century learning.

2.   The Library Helps Hold Kids at Grade Level

The Library supports school-aged kids reading skills and holding them at grade level through the Summer Reading Program. Summer Reading offers special events and incentives to encourage them to read. We want to give every kid in Plainfield the opportunity to participate in Summer Reading. Capacity is limited in the current building to 120 kids per event. Even running two sections of an event, which is costly, we don’t have enough seats for all of the families that want to participate. If the referendum passes, we will have a library with the capacity to get even more kids participating in Summer Reading to set them up for success in the next school year.

3.   The Library Extends Learning Beyond the School Day

The Library is a partner in student success by extending learning beyond the times our schools and school libraries are open. We offer enrichment opportunities like computer classes, programs that are fun and informative, homework help and online learning resources. We want to make sure every student has the learning support they need to be successful. If the referendum passes, we will have a library with the tools and learning environment our students need for 21^st century learning. 

4.   The Library Helps Families with Special Needs Kids

Statistics show alarming increases in children with learning disabilities and autism. Currently, our library provides 6 sensory story times per year for children ages 3 to 9. The Library wants to provide every individual with access to social and literacy resources. The Library can be the perfect public place for these children and teens to cultivate social and literacy skills. These families need programs and space that are adapted to their special needs in order to help them feel secure. The Library can provide a social and educational outlet where they feel welcome. If the referendum passes, we will have the space necessary to support our families with special needs kids and teens to access social and literacy resources.

5.   The Library Offers a Positive Place for Teens to Hang Out

The Library had a teen lounge area at one time, but the space was needed for more shelving. We want to offer a positive environment for teens, as well as a comfortable place for them to hang out. We need to make sure that every teen has a safe haven when they need one and give them activities and resources to help support their development into solid members of the community. Our librarians are experts at connecting with teens and helping channel their energy in positive ways. If the referendum passes, we will have a place where teens enjoy a positive environment that supports their development.

6.   The Library Bridges the Digital Divide

The public library is frequently the only place in a community to get free access to the Internet and the computer or device needed to use that access. Plainfield is no exception. Increasingly, students find it necessary to complete homework utilizing the Internet at public libraries after school. If they cannot access the Internet, they cannot do their homework. The Library bridges the gap for those households that cannot afford Internet access at home. Access to technology is at the heart of 21^st century library services. If the referendum passes, we will provide access to the devices and bandwidth that bridge the digital divide.

7.   The Library is a Retail Anchor of Downtown Area

Hundreds of people visit the Library every day. Studies show that when a library is located in a retail area, spending at businesses near that library increases. Our Library not only increases foot traffic in the downtown area but also partners with the Village to offer public parking that supports downtown businesses. If the referendum passes, library visits will increase which in turn will increase foot traffic for surrounding businesses.

8.   The Library Supports Job Skills Development

Right now, the Library offers more than 15 computer classes every month. The computer classroom limits class size to 8 people. The Library wants to provide opportunities to improve job skills through computer classes and continuing education. We partner with Will County Workforce Development to bring their Mobile Workforce Center to the Library weekly. We want our labor force to have the job skills needed for success in the workplace. If the referendum passes, we will be able to provide more job skills training for 21^st century workforce.

9.   The Library Offers Job Seeker Support

Today, the Library offers a monthly job club meeting. With a building meant for a population of 30,000 serving a community of over 75,000, our programs compete with each other for the limited space available. The Library serves as an important partner with other agencies focused on employment activities, such as Illinois WorkNet. In addition to helping people find actual jobs, the Library supports preparatory steps such as creating resumes, researching job information, submitting applications online, and receiving training for job-related skills. If the referendum passes, we will be able extend our reach in helping people find jobs.

10.       The Library is an Economic Development Engine

Small businesses that do not have the ability to adapt and reposition their businesses using current and detailed online information are at a serious disadvantage in the competitive, global new economy. The Library strengthens economic growth and resilience in the micro and small business sectors by providing not only the resources they need to be competitive, but also hands-on training in using those resources. Through partnerships with SCORE and the Chamber of Commerce, the Library connects businesses to a broader network of support. If the referendum passes, we’ll be able to extend 21^st century services that give our local businesses a competitive advantage.

11.       The Library Builds Community identity

Plainfield’s rapid growth left the community struggling with its identity. The Library connects people with the larger community, providing a gathering place where all are welcome. The Library has value as a comfortable place where people can gather, especially as opportunities for social interaction have decreased in the wake of more people seeking out services online. If the referendum passes, it will be that comfortable place to gather.

12.       The Library is a Social Leveler

Many of our residents are able to purchase books, subscribe to magazines, and conduct their research online without ever visiting a library. But not all of our residents and families have those options. Universal access is one of the most important strengths of the Library.  Libraries give everyone the opportunity to improve themselves and their life circumstances, as well as enhancing leisure time, by giving them the chance to socialize and by providing access to activities others take for granted because they can afford them. Access for all is at the heart of public library services.

13.       The Library Provides ESL and Inclusion for Immigrants

Plainfield’s immigrant population has been growing – and English language learning and literacy support is critical for them. Learning English can improve so much for these new residents – from better jobs to feeling connected and valued within the community. One of our regular ESL participants, who is now tutoring others, compares our Library to an island. When she came to this country, she felt like she was drifting in an ocean, feeling lost and disconnected. When she found the Library, it became her island, her home and connection to the community. The Library’s English language learning support helps immigrants become engaged members of the Plainfield community. If the referendum passes, we’ll add the needed capacity for these growing ESL classes.

14.       The Library Reaches Beyond Its Walls

With its undersized building, the Library has had to be creative in how we offer service. One thing that makes our Library unique is the amount of programs that are offered at locations throughout the community rather than in the library building. From an “Appy Hour” class on smartphone apps at a local tavern to “Donuts and Digital Books” at a bakery, the Library takes its show on the road. But not all programs can be held at other locations. The Library wants to offer both on site and off site locations for programs. If the referendum passes, we will be able to offer more and larger on site programs while continuing to offer off site programs too.

If the referenda fail, all of these services will be competing for funding with projects necessary to keep the existing building operational in the long term. Services that:

• ·         help our youngest kids be ready for school
• ·         hold school-aged kids’ reading skills at grade level over the summer
• ·         support our kids learning beyond the school day
• ·         support families with special needs kids
• ·         give our teens a positive environment
• ·         level the playing field by providing access to technology for all
• ·         provide job skills training
• ·         help job seekers in their search
• ·         invest in our own community and workforce
• ·         support local businesses
• ·         connect people with their community

It’s not fearmongering or a threat to talk about what happens if the referenda fail. An estimated minimum 20% cut to programs and services will be needed to fund the projects necessary to keep the existing building operational in the long term. That’s the reality of a 25 year old building that’s been heavily used and the needs identified more than a decade ago that continued to grow when the 2009 referendum failed. The need continues to grow today. The proposed plan going before the voters on March 15 meets the needs of today and prepares the Library for the future.

Much Ado About a Shower

Recent commentary of social media points to a single 75 sq ft inclusion in the Schematic Building Program of over 77,000 sq ft as evidence of including unnecessary items in the proposed plan. Also, the Schematic Building Program is referred to as "blueprints."

Yes, a 75 sq ft Staff Shower room was included in the Schematic Building Program as a green design and healthy workplace feature. The proposed building is actually 72,000 sq ft, while the Schematic Building Program totals 77,000 sq ft. In other words, 5,000 sq ft of what is in the Schematic Building Program will not be included in the final design. The floorplans as drawn today show aggregate spaces for departments and functional areas.

A Schematic Building program is not blueprints, nor specifications, nor a final design. It is simply a set of instructions for an architect about what space to include in a design, how those spaces relate to one another and more detailed requirements such as: room sizes, activities, occupancy, and equipment needed. The final design process, which will include additional opportunities for public input, will begin after successful referenda. The process will determine what is included in the final design and specifications. This will include all of the things you don't see yet on the floorplans - study rooms, computer classroom, Teen Tech Center, etc.

Now here is the true irony about including a staff shower in the Schematic Building Program: did you know that the current building had a staff shower in the corner of the Boiler Room from the time it opened until late 2013? Yes, it's true. It was used primarily by maintenance staff after a shift of heavy outdoor work and staff biking to work. It was removed in late 2013, to be replaced by a large utility sink, at the request of Maintenance staff. That is the only utility sink in the building.

Providing a staff shower supports Bike to Work initiatives that lowers health care costs by having a healthier work force. Asking workers to bike means giving them a chance to clean up before their shift serving the public. It's what big, smart corporations like Google do. http://www.triplepundit.com/special/business-of-biking/bicycling-cuts-health-care-costs/

Not only that, it can help address the concern over having adequate parking. Fewer staff cars leaves more spaces available for more customer parking.

So staff shower or not, over 5,000 sq ft of space listed in the Schematic Building Program will not be included in the final plan. I hope the public meetings to provide input on these decisions will generate as much interest on social media as the staff shower has!

Top Three Themes of Recent Referenda Buzz

As the March 15 election approaches, Library staff have recognized three recurring themes in the questions asked most frequently:

·         Branches

·         Budgeting for Capital Replacement

·         Technology

Branches

One of the first decisions made in the planning process was to pursue only single location options. Cost was the number one factor in the decision to pursue only single location options. In Illinois, 60-70% of a public library’s annual operating expense goes to staffing. Staffing a second facility would substantially increase annual operating expenses. The Library Board of Trustees began the planning process with the express intention of developing an efficient and cost effective plan that would significantly improve library service to meet the needs of the community for the foreseeable future. A vehicle would be needed to move materials and supplies between buildings, another cost. Other operational costs are also increased by operating multiple facilities, such as maintenance on building systems, utilities, landscaping and snow removal.

The current location is near the geographic center of the Library’s service area. At the proposed 72,000 sq ft size and serving 75,000 people, the Library District would reach the national average for public libraries to deploy a branch facility. The proposed building would maximize the downtown site, leaving deployment of a branch as a strategy to meet future needs. A book return and pick up locker service point could be used as an interim solution to meet more immediate needs. I posted about the decision to pursue a single location on my blog almost a year ago: http://plainfieldlibrarydirector.blogspot.com/2015/03/board-of-trustees-to-pursue-single.html

Budgeting for Capital Replacement

When the Library expanded from 2,700 to 27,000 sq ft in 1990, the operating budget remained the same. A referendum to operate the expanded Library failed in 1993. In 1994, 50% of the Library staff were laid off, Library hours were cut from over 60 per week to 48 and the budget frozen. This deficit in service was only restored by the building boom in Plainfield. Per capita support of the Library has not kept pace with inflation. In today’s dollars, 1990 per capita support would be $51.99. In 2015, the Library received $44.93 per capita.

In the early 2000’s, the Library Board of Trustees made the decision that bonds for expansion and capital replacement would be sought when the 1990 building bonds were paid off. Replacing the existing bonds at that time with new bonds would balance meeting the community’s immediate demand for service with long term replacement costs. The 2009 referendum failed.

Since 2010, the Library Board has spent more than $1 million on capital repairs and replacements to keep the current building operational. In 2011, KJWW Engineering began a full evaluation of the building and its systems. Their report cited over $2.1 million in capital repairs and replacement to keep the building operational in the long term, without addressing bringing it up to current code. http://www.plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/general/board/Building%20Evaluation%202-2012.pdf A Long Range Budget Plan was approved in 2013 to provide for capital repairs and replacements. This included budget freezes in some lines, reorganization of staff including elimination of five positions and reductions in hours. To keep the current building operational in the long term, further cuts will be needed if the referenda fail.

Technology

The way we live has changed drastically in the last 25 years. The proliferation of technology has increased demand for library service, not reduced it. Since 1990, the number of questions answered at the Library increased 2,500%, from 2,236 to over 56,000. The number of people attending Library programs increased 2,100%, from 2,214 to over 50,000. 21st century library services reflect the changing world we live in, utilizing the latest technology and responding to the changing needs of our community. These services include technology support, hands-on individual instruction, loaning devices and teaching software applications. The current Library building is not designed for 21st century library services.

More information and documentation of the planning process can be found at: http://plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/about/building-expansion-planning.aspx Visit the Library to view the 3D model on display near the Check Out Desk. View renderings of the proposed exterior on bulletin boards over the book return, near the elevator on ground level and in the lower level lobby.

Proposed Library Exterior Sparks Comments

Love ‘em or hate ‘em – the buzz around town on exterior renderings of the proposed Plainfield Library hits both extremes.

Comments include:
• Can’t wait to see this
• Offensive to our sensibilities
• Vibrant and glowing
• Too big to be welcoming
• Modern with classic elements
• No elements of historic setting
• Beautiful windows for natural light
• Doesn’t fit with downtown

Either way, the renderings as shown are not the final design. So the library can guarantee that the exterior will not be exactly like the renderings as they are drawn today.

The final design process won’t begin until after successful referenda. Library officials have committed to an open, public process for finalizing the proposed plans. Specific dates have not yet been announced, but library officials point to scheduled open house events during National Library Week in April as potential opportunities to begin the process. Last year, during National Library Week, the Plainfield Library held four public open house events where attendees provided input on 21st century library services and features they wanted in a new library. This year, the Library may begin the final design process with similar open houses to engage the community on the exterior design.

The design concepts balance the many diverse needs that influence the exterior. For example, at a public meeting, participants discussed making the west elevation quieter and less intrusive for our residential neighbors by reducing the number of windows. After seeing it drawn that way, residents and Village planners wanted windows on that side. It was redrawn shortly before the final rendering was made with windows.

Considerations in the development of the proposed exterior include both physical site needs and architectural context of the location. For the physical site, adjacent properties have residential, commercial, religious and educational uses. Locating the entry on the west side of the site facilitates pedestrian access. A service drive separates vehicular and pedestrian access points. South facing windows maximize natural light. Patterned brick, a strong cornice line and stone detailing mimic architectural details of the downtown.

Visit the Library to view the 3D model on display near the Check Out Desk. View renderings of the proposed exterior on bulletin boards over the book return, near the elevator on ground level and in the lower level lobby. Renderings and documentation of the planning process can be found at: http://plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/about/building-expansion-planning.aspx

To the Person in the Ski Mask Putting Vote No Information on Cars

Dear Masked Person,

In the Library parking lot at approximately 6:30pm last evening, you were seen by a Library Trustee placing something on the windshields of vehicles. Because your behavior was suspicious (you were dressed in all black and wearing a ski mask), she looked to see what it was you were distributing. You were placing "Vote No" doorhangers on cars at the same time that the open, public Board Meeting was beginning, with the opportunity for you to voice your opinion and ask any questions about the plan, how it was developed, what's included and why. Next time, please come in and be part of the process! We look forward to you removing the mask and engaging directly in the public process.

Sincerely,

Julie M. Milavec

P.S. Further research shows Citizens for a Reasonable Library, listed as paying for the doorhangers, does not yet appear as a registered political action committee on the Illinois State Board of Elections web site.

More Emails Spreading Misinformation

At least two more emails, similar to the one addressed in my February 1 blog post, are spreading misinformation about the Library's referenda.

The Library is committed to getting the correct information out to residents. Please attend a drop in question and answer session, ask a library representative at a community event, submit questions online, or call, text or chat with a librarian. Submit questions directly to the library here.

There is an open Drop In Q&A in the lower level lobby of the Library from 1-5pm on Sunday, where anyone can stop by and get complete answers to any questions they have.

Here are a few points addressing the latest emails:

There are two ballot questions because one funds the building bonds and one funds the ongoing operational costs of that building. The Library Board of Trustees includes good stewardship of taxpayers dollars their Strategic Plan. They provide ready access to all of the library district's financial information.

The Library District serves 75,337 people in the Village of Plainfield, Village of Bolingbrook in Wheatland Township, Village of Romeoville in Plainfield Township, all of unincorporated Plainfield Township and most of unincorporated Wheatland Township. A map of its Will County boundaries is available here.

The estimated cost calculator, which includes both referenda, is here.