Library’s new point of view
Helmut Schmidt, The Forum
Published Wednesday, August 20, 2008
There shouldn’t be any trouble paying for the bricks and mortar for Fargo’s three libraries, the city’s Library Board was told Tuesday. Filling the buildings – that is expected to take more work.
With sales tax revenues, donations, interest income and a transfer last year from a library startup fund, the city will have the $15.5 million to pay for construction of the new main library downtown, and its north and south branches, city Finance Director Kent Costin said.
More than $1.8 million in donations have been received, and nearly $1 million in interest has accrued in the construction and donation funds, Costin said. The city also collected $13.1 million from an 18-month half-cent sales tax, $1.1 million more than first forecast. When the bills are paid, there should be $25,000 left over, he said.
“Unless there are major changes or major contingencies, it looks as though we’re fully funded for bricks and mortar,” Costin said.
The private fundraising goal for the project is $3 million. Library Director Tim Dirks said the remaining $1.2 million is still needed.
There was one library in town four years ago. Now there are three, and each one needs to have its book, music and movie collections fleshed out.
“We are still seeking community partners to help fill that building,” Dirks said, nodding to the downtown library under construction. “One thing we’re going to need help with is that collection. That is mission essential.”
Board members spent the second half of their meeting touring the $8.6 million 54,500-square-foot downtown library as part of a construction update. The two-story facility is going up on the site of the old library at 102 3rd St. N.
Board members were impressed with the panoramic views offered by the plentiful floor-to-ceiling windows.
“I was very pleased,” board Chairman Herb Snyder said. “I like libraries with lots of light.”
Snyder said taxpayers will get “more than their money’s worth. … “It’s going to be an outstanding place.”
Richard Moorhead, president of Image Group Architecture and Interiors of Moorhead, said the building is on pace to be finished by the end of February, meeting deadlines. He said installation of windows is behind a couple of weeks.
The library should be ready to open by late spring after the permanent collection is transferred from storage and the temporary downtown library on Roberts Street, Moorhead said.
City Commissioner Mike Williams said the public and private fundraising partnership has saved money. The city would have had to pay $700,000 a year in interest over 20 years to bond for construction, he said.
“It demonstrates that it’s a good way to do a project like this,” Williams said.
Williams said there are many opportunities for donors large and small, including naming rights for the children’s libraries at the south and main sites ($500,000 each), children’s theater and program room (main library, $250,000), computer lab (south side, $100,000), and study tables and carrels at both libraries ($5,000).
Those opportunities are listed online athttp://www.fargolibrary.org/support/naming.html.
The Dr. James Carlson Library opened at 2801 32nd Ave. S in November 2007. The 15,000-square-foot facility cost $2.8 million. It is co-located with the Ed Clapp Park Senior Center.
There is also a 4,000-square-foot branch library at 2714 Broadway in the Northport Shopping Center. It opened in July 2006. It cost $350,000 for remodeling. About $96,000 was spent to buy books to supplement the 22,200 adult and children’s titles moved to the facility.
The half-cent sales tax that raised the bulk of the funds for the libraries ran from Jan. 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
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