Capital Standards

“A library outranks any otherone thing a community can do

to benefit its people.”- Andrew Carnegie

• 1903: Public Library Opens with Gift from Andrew Carnegie• 1929: Countywide Service Begins with Julius Rosenwald Fund Grant• 1989: Current Main Library Opens with County and Private Support• 2005: ImaginOn Opens with County, Federal, State and Private Support• 2009: Draft Facility Master Plan prepared for the Library• 2011: Future of the Library Task Force Recommends New Strategic Plan

after funding reductions close four of twenty-four locations

• 2012: Twenty locations serving 941,000 people in 530,000 sq. ft.

1.What standards do libraries use that trigger the need for additional infrastructure investment?

Libraries use square foot per capita as a guide to whether capital infrastructure adequately meets community needs.

2.What are the existing standards for determining the County’s capital needs for the Library system?

• 2008 Previous CCBAC endorsed: 0.7 sq. ft. per capita for the Library system

• 2009 Draft Facility Master Plan recommended: 0.8 sq. ft. per capita

2.(cont.) What are the existing standards for determining the County’s capital needs for the Library system?

2011 Data• Mecklenburg County population: 941,000• Existing Library system: 428,000 sq. ft.*• Library system: 0.45 sq. ft. per capita

At 0.7 sq. ft. per capita - Additional 231,000 sq. ft. 659,000 sq. ft. total

At 0.8 sq. ft. per capita - Additional 325,000 sq. ft. 753,000 sq. ft. total*excludes ImaginOn

3.Does the current standard adequately address the needs of the County?

• June 2009 Draft Facility Master Plan 0.8 sq. ft. per capita

• Currently the Library has: 0.45 sq. ft. per capita 428,000 square feet total*

*excludes ImaginOn

4.When was the standard revised last?

• 2008 - 0.7 sq. ft. per capita Previous CCBAC

• 2009 - 0.8 sq. ft. per capita Draft Facility Master Plan

• 2011 Future of the Library Task Force “Library neither over-built nor under-built relative to peer libraries”

5.What is the basis for the standard?

Nationally, there is no single standard for libraries, as community needs and resources differ.

Many large urban public library systems use a 1.0 sq. ft. per capita standard.

5.(cont.) What is the basis for the standard?

Locally, the draft Facility Master Plan:

• used local transportation area zones (TAZ) from Charlotte’s Transit Plan to map Library Service Areas

• developed a needs assessment for the next two decades with the most accurate data available.

6.What entities do you benchmark for comparison?

Nationally: Four dozen large library systems serving a population between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people.

Regionally: A dozen library systems selected by:• Chamber of Commerce

Cities against which we frequently “compete”

• Mecklenburg County Balanced Scorecard Comparisons

March 2011: Future of the Library Task Force Report

Chapter 2: Status of the Library before Funding Reductions

Contains a review of capital infrastructure“The number of branches and the total square footage again placed [the Library system] about the middle of the pack relative to peer libraries. In reaching this conclusion, the Task Force has recognized that ImaginOn is a unique community asset, as reflected by the collaborative use of the building by the Library and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.”

-Future of the Library Task Force Report page 19

7.What are you basing your capital submission on when you submit new projects?

We will not submit capital projects for building new locations while any existing library branches are operating less than 5 days a week.

7.(cont.) What are you basing your capital submission on when you submit new projects?

Existing infrastructure will require renovationAge/ConditionEmerging Community NeedEfficiency

Thank you

Questions?