Library Expansion
| K. on May 13 the West Feliciana Parish Jury voted to place a 1% Sales Tax increase on the October 4 ballot. The Parish Manager originally hoped to have it on a July ballot, but public and Jury asked for more information and more time. The increase (at present the Sales Tax is 8%) would be dedicated to 4 construction projects in the Parish: the new library, a new jail, a new multifunction building (including a swimming pool) at the Sports complex, and infrastructure of property near the Audubon Bridge outlet in the Star Hill area. Only when the outcome of that October 4 election is known can the Board of Control decide on an architect and move ahead with its plans. If the tax passes, the library hopefully will be started right away. Should the proposition fail, the Board will need to decide how to proceed. All information concerning the 1% Sales Tax increase will be generated by the Parish Manager and Jury; all entities mentioned in the proposition will be working together with the Manager to present this as a package. No one entity will be promoting its own project. It should be noted that all three architect firms finalists asked to be kept "on the list" while waiting for the October vote. J. Between March 31 and April 21, the Library Board of Control met with the 4 firms and heard presentations of their library work and vision for the WFP new Library.Between then and May 5, the Board will contact references for the 4 firms and at the meeting determine which firm they will go with for the new Library. I. Seven architectural firms responded by the February 22 deadline. On Monday March 10, the Board met in special session to make their selection for presentations. After three hours of discussion and deliberations, the following firms were selected (in alphabetical order): Cockfield Jackson (BR), Hidell Associates (Carrollton, TX), J H & H Architects (Jackson, MS), and Tipton Associates (BR). These four were informed and are now scheduled for presentations; firms not chosen have been notified and thanked for their interest. H. RFPs were sent out to 12 architect firms. RFPs consisted of a Project Statement and Background requests on the firm. Deadline for responses is February 22, 2008. All firms were invited to visit the site on Burnett Road and were asked to sign in at Library beforehand to get a survey map.Notification would be sent to all responding firms by March 22, as to those selected or not selected for presentations to be made to the Board. G. THE SIGN IS UP announcing the "Future home of West Feliciana Parish Library"! It faces Burnett Road just beyond the playground on Burnett Road ( heading toward from MacDonald's to Commerce Street). The survey of the 4.49 acres has been completed. RFPs for an architectural team will go out this month. All this good news means this will be The Year of The Library for our Parish. If you are interested in learning more about the new library, please call Linda Fox, Library Director at 784-0260 or 784-8235. F. Update November 1, 2007: Counsel for Parker family has been working on papers of transfer and will be placing them before the Police Jury when they are completed.It was hoped the papers would be on November Jury Agenda, but that will not be the case. The Library Board of Control is waiting to be informed of further progress so they may proceed with sending out RFPs for Architect. E. Update July 5, 2006 The Library Board of Control have officially asked the Parish to accept 8.4 acres as the new location of the parish Library. The appraisal of the property was completed, and the Parish must now draw up letters of transfer. The Board has an RFP form ready to send out to architectural firms once they receive written affirmation (from the Police Jury) that the property is there for the Library! The RFP requests a proposal that will meet the Parish's unique expectations for design ( exterior) and interior (what it needs to provide the best service possible, please refer back to A.for Standards and Needs) D. Update: April, 2007. Parish officials are having an appraisal done of the Parker property. Letters of transfer are being drawn up by the attorney involved and will be sent when appraisal is done and adjacent landowners are contacted. Library Board of Control is working up an RFP for Architectural services; they will be sending out the forms to Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi firms firms that have had experience in building libraries or other similar public buildings. C.Survey Update: March 2007 Surveys (ground and topo) have been completed of the land offered by the Parker family, and are on display in the library. The woods on the section suitable for building will be evaluated; healthy old growth trees will be protected, and will help determine the final shape and placement of the library building. The Board is dedicated to keeping as much forest growth as possible, and will be seeking an architect who shares that feeling when fitting building, parking areas and driveway to the land. B.Concept for New Library Come to the Library to see the conceptual plan for the new Library. This shows what areas will be included in the new facility, with a potential placement of the facility on the property. While not set "in stone" the library areas were a result of considerable Parish input A.History of "A New Library for West Feliciana" The Louisiana Standards for Public Libraries, in its comparative studies of Louisiana libraries show that West Feliciana¡¯s library is at the bottom of the list in per capita space, spending, staffing, and collection size, to only name some areas. West Feliciana Parish Library¡¯s own daily statistics show an increased use and demand on its services. The Library Board of Control recognized that the Library had reached its limit for services and collection, computer space, staff needs, and the service needs of the Parish. The Board determined to raise their Parish Library up from :essential¡± standard to ¡°enhanced¡±. In fall of 2005, the Board made their decision to explore ways to begin a Library Expansion Project. As part of that process, the Board interviewed three professional Library Planning Consultants, and decided to contract with Bill Hidell of Hidell Associates of Carrollton, TX. A Steering Committee was formed, and representative Focus Groups were invited to help identify what the Parish wanted from their Library. These groups included: Professionals * Community Organization * Parents * Youth ( Middle School and High School ) * Educators * Library Users * Staff * Retired residents * Ministers Conference * Businesses of all sizes. It quickly became evident from input from these sessions that the present 2700 sq. ft. facility was not adequate for the services and spaces they wanted. Focus Group suggestions and requests grew from their belief in the importance of a Library¡¯s place in a community and have become Service Goals. MISSION STATEMENT ¡°WEST FELICIANA PARISH LIBRARY provides West Feliciana Parish Citizens of all ages free access to materials in print, audio visual and electronic formats, and offers opportunities for cultural enrichment in the arts and for lifelong learning.¡± Current Services: what we are doing currently with 2700 sq. ft facility space to meet the basic ¡°Essential¡± level of Louisiana Public Library Standards _¡Ì_ 53 open hours. _¡Ì_ Library Director and 6 staff offering excellent customer service to all who come to the Library. _¡Ì_ 10 public access Computer workstations; _¡Ì_ small collection in all formats as space permits _¡Ì_ Inter-Library Loan of items _¡Ì_ services provided in a safe, crowded but friendly setting _¡Ì_ Parish information dissemination point _¡Ì_ Summer Reading Program for all Parish children both at the Library, and in the 6 parish sites. _¡Ì_ limited evening adult, family, and day time story programs The Next Step ¨C toward Improvement in Library Status & Services The following details how an expanded facility, staff, and more accessible location will make the public¡¯s requests and needs. They are listed in order of frequency of request: 1. Public Rooms of different sizes: Adult, Teen, & Family programs, Historical & Cultural programming, Art display and classes, Education Programs, Home School group, Literacy/tutor/ESL, Distance Education, local biz/club meetings, Art / Historical Exhibits, study group/school, tutoring, Literacy / ESL tutoring, AV listening rooms, study/tutor rooms, and continuous art exhibits 2. Separate Children¡¯s area: story-telling, crafts, collection display and shelving, family reading, equipment storage, Children¡¯s resources on their own computers. 3. Enlarged collection and space to display and circulation: adult books, DVDs, Audio Books, Magazines, Louisiana authors and nonfiction, Children¡¯s items and listening stations to keep them reading and learning 4. Teen area( children 6th to 12th grade) homework space, recreational reading, music (headphones), a safe and inviting space 5. More Computers: public access for general public, separate for children and teens, area for computer and Internet classes, distance education, wireless connection. 6. Electronic resources: Library Webpage, online subscriptions, Parish Schools, LAWorks, LA Gov¡¯t, other library catalogues, recommended sites on health, education, law, jobs, reading, etc. Patrons can log on to WFP Library from home 7. Comfortable and adequate seating for all age groups 8. Storage for programming & story time equipment, book sale books, seasonal items, Friends of the Library supplies, Library & office supplies, Outreach equipment. 9. Work areas or offices for staff 10. Kitchen area for programming events, crafts, and for staff (lounge) 11. Parking to code 12. Visible and Accessible for the whole Parish 13. Green space 14. Book Sale Room with potential for coffee area Libraries never stop trying to reach more people, or expand its services. That is the nature of public libraries nationally. That job continues because populations grow and change dynamics; people¡¯s needs evolve and change and so does the available information and the technology to access it. West Feliciana Parish is a rural parish; its population has a broad economic and geographic span. There exists now a better understanding of what its citizens all along that span want in their library. The Mission Statement addresses those needs and expectations. The planning process now becomes a building program, to make a reality those needs and expectations. The Library Board of Control is ready to move ahead with an architect. There is widespread support for the project, a beautiful piece of property has been offered for a new library, and a Library Support Group is eager to begin raising funds to meet costs. With such an excellent school system in West Feliciana Parish of which so many are proud, why not determine to have a library of which we can be equally proud? |
