Library task force_minority_reportfnl
- 1. August 25, 2010 Library Task Force Minority Report This report is submitted by the members of the Library Task Force who support returning the Laurel Library to a downtown Laurel location. We have a profound philosophical difference of opinion with the majority report members on the role—and potential role- of the library within the Laurel Community. We also disagree with several of the conclusions outlined for keeping the library at its current site. For this reason we are submitting a minority report relating specifically to the site location. A DOWNTOWN LIBRARY CAN SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH The minority members of the Task Force believe that the Library is not only important for itself as a source of information and learning, but can, and should also be embraced as an important economic force. At the present location the library is and will continue to be an island, isolated and separate from the Mainland-the city in which it lives. The downtown location places it in the heart of Laurel—both historically and from a business standpoint. Studies demonstrate that the presence a public institution—with the large numbers of patrons of all ages and economic levels it attracts, serves as a catalyst for economic revitalization and health yielding increased tax revenues, more jobs, and increased property values. The presence of a library downtown would serve as that catalyst. New downtown visitors would undoubtedly spur new cafes, shops and other establishments, adding to the retail environment. The end result would be increased prosperity and revenues for the City of Laurel. At the same time, the downtown site already offers patrons of a new library a Meat Market, several ethnic groceries and a Post Office, a theater, and several eating establishments on Main Street and nearby Rt. 1 Using taxpayer money to build on the current location gives us a library. Using taxpayer money to create not only a library but an economic engine is a much better investment of taxpayer dollars BETTER ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION While the majority report suggests that the current site has broader public access, the fact is that a downtown library would be virtually the same time and distance from South Laurel as the current site. (Using Montpelier Mansion as a base, the distance would be 8 minutes, 3.59 miles to the current site; 8 minutes, 3.70 miles to the downtown site, a difference of approximately one tenth of a mile). Using the West Laurel Swim Club as a marker for that area, the current library is 5 minutes, 1.80 miles and the downtown site would be 7 minutes, 2.32 miles – approximately 2 minute, ½ mile difference. More importantly, a significant number of seniors, economically disadvantaged people, young people and people with disabilities are not able to drive. The current library is accessible by only two bus routes. The Municipal site is accessible to FIVE BUS Routes, and is also close to MARC. The downtown 1
- 2. location is very accessible by car – Route 1, Main Street, Rt. 216, 197 and 198 are all very close. The downtown location is also within walking distance of a large residential population, many with young children. Ensuring that all our citizens—not just those who drive -- have equal access to the library is an important reason to place it in the public transportation and pedestrian friendly location of downtown. DOWNTOWN IS A GREENER, MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND OPTION. Building on the current site requires the demolition of a perfectly sound structure – the current library. Building in the downtown location demolishes an unsound building, but leaves the current sound library structure available to be repurposed with classrooms, educational resources and other uses that can still be integrated into the Emancipation Park (without diminishing the Park Site). In addition, the proposed building would be constructed outside the floodplain, assuaging any concerns expressed about its proximity to the river. A Green Building is more than LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-compliant construction: it is the wise use of our resources. Building downtown taxpayers get to keep TWO buildings for the price of one. The Grove Community has continued access to an important community resource. RIVERFRONT PARK ADDS MORE AMENITIES The downtown location has an opportunity for the library to interface with an even larger park than the current site – with possibilities for Park activities focused on both nature and history. Riverfront Park, which would be at the gateway of the Municipal Park is a 1+mile combination of a river walk, children’s playgrounds, walking paths, and picnic areas. Its interpretive signs would provide opportunities for outdoor activities. A Downtown library offers an expansive recreational connection for the community and finally puts an underutilized resource to work for the community. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE AN EXTENDED PROCESS WHICHEVER SITE IS BUILT ON. Jack Sloan from Central Services made it very clear that property acquisition (required at either site), bond bills, design etc will be a lengthy process which ever site is ultimately selected. There is no particular time advantage to the current site. Parking: Both sites require property acquisition to meet even minimal parking requirements. As the attached analysis, based on assessed valuations of properties that could be acquired reveals, the costs of 2
- 3. acquiring property on the downtown site are not dissimilar to those of the 7th Street site. No formal appraisals have been undertaken of downtown properties, but at least one owner, Randy Kroop, has formally indicated her possible interest in selling property to meet the municipal site parking requirements. The vision of what the actual Laurel Library building would be as reflected in the Library Task Force’s Majority Report, is one shared by those submitting this report. We share the vision that the Laurel Library should: Feature an attractive, welcoming exterior Be integrated with a park, activities spilling to the outside of the library; Include ecologically sensitive design and materials; Focus on providing and supporting electronic equipment; (though not at the exclusion of a robust collection of books.) Offer multiple rooms for different uses such as group study and as quiet rooms; Provide meeting rooms wired for a variety of media; Be flexible since the future of libraries is change. We believe however, that by moving the Library to the Municipal downtown location a library can be all these things and much more. For this reason we strongly believe the library would be better located in the downtown Laurel location on the site of the former Municipal Building/Police Station. Respectfully submitted Karen Lubieniecki Robert Mignon Jhanna Levin Clare Ferguson August 24, 2010 3
- 4. 4