Cross-country library volunteer

This lady, Carol Nicolary, came from California to spend a week shelf-reading and shifting our Children's collection -- very cool. Thanks to Post-Crescent reporter Cheryl Sherry for taking the time to tell her interesting & worthwhile story!

Cheryl Sherry: Wife, husband pursue mission work during EAA
As Carol Nicolary was shelf-reading rows of books in the children's department at the Appleton Public Library Wednesday, she, unsurprisingly, found an out-of-place book on blimps.

Within the first few pages, the 38-year-old woman saw a familiar face. It was husband Nick Nicolary, who piloted the Goodyear Blimp for 35 years and now is part of Wings of Faith Ministries...

Thanks to Carol Nicolary and all our other great volunteers.

"if anything remains constant, it's our thirst for knowledge and community connection"

Four good library stories in today's Post Crescent...nice job by our paper in delineating library issues for Appleton, the Fox Cities and beyond.

Laurie Kaiser column: Library gives connection to community
Experts not so long ago predicted that the Internet would wipe out the need for public libraries. After all, so much information is just a keystroke away. Who needs dusty reference books and a trip...

Internet offerings keep libraries booked up
Just when folks thought the Internet would send libraries the way of eight-track tapes, it has made them busier than ever.

Public libraries are keeping up

Over the past two decades, Wendy McMorrow has seen the public library grow and change alongside her four children, who range in age from 20 to 12.

Audio books allow 'readers' to get up and go

Cruising down the interstate, Shanna Buettner often pops an audio book in the car stereo and settles in for a long ride.

Libraries Shine In Tough Economic Times

Appleton has certainly seen growth and stories similar to the NPR report. If our growth this year has not been as dramatic as some places, it may be due to our consistent steady growth for several years, even when the economy was doing well. But we're certainly seeing more growth and record-breaking circulation.

Libraries Shine In Tough Economic Times [4 min 7 sec]

All Things Considered, July 29, 2008 With the economy slowing, many Americans are doing research in the public library. Boyd County, Ky., Library Director Debbie Cosper says public-use computers are always full and people are checking out books rather than buying them.

Thanks to Lawrence University Library Director Pete Gilbert for pointing out this radio story.

7 Ways Your Public Library Can Help You During A Bad Economy

The Consumerist blog had this very interesting post -- check it out! And the comments from readers were terrific as well, with people sharing other ideas of ways libraries help in tough times.

Highlights:

1. You can get pretty much any book at the library
   
2. Yes, we have movies
3. Kids Activities
4. Save Money and maybe your life!
5. Make new friends
6. Find a new job!
7. Libraries listen to consumers!

Comments include:

• And they have databases where you can find investment info, info about a company you might want to work for, and even databases of car repair information.

• 
  
• You forgot one of the best ones! Free computers and internet use!

Thanks to Librarian in Black via Carpe Hootem for sharing this.

Turn and face the strain

Some people just can't see the justification to spend money on the library. It's legitimate to discuss priorities for public funds, but some folks just think that we ought to be a 1950s library. Some think we are a 1950s library, only with pretensions.

Sorry. The world has changed and so have we. And things will keep changing, and the library will help people adjust to those changes.

Among assertions I disagree with:

• it's wrong for the library to provide Internet
• it's wrong for the library to circulate anything but books
• it's wrong that there are lots of children in the library -- too noisy!
• it's wrong that anyone can use a cell phone anywhere in the library
• it's wrong that I can't use my cellphone everywhere in the library
  
• it's wrong that some parts of the library are noisy
  
• it's wrong that some parts of the library are quiet

We're not your grandma's library, but we still have the same values, and some new ways to fulfill them. It was way back in 1969 that the Wilson Library Bulletin published the famous "No Silence" sign, indicating a sea change from traditional roles to more dynamic libraries.

Since then, not purely on our own initiative, but in responses to changes, we've changed further. We've responded to changes in technology, and even more, to changes in community needs. Yes, we circulate media, including a lot of DVDs you won't find in video stores. Yes, we provide public Internet, along with instruction and expert assistance in how to use it as well as free wi-fi and value-added databases. Yes, we provide books in many formats, including print, large print, download, audio, audio download -- and we believe books will be important for a long time. Yes, we provide meeting rooms for community groups, study rooms for small groups, and educational and cultural programs for all ages. We educate, inform, digitize,collect and gather. We help children and families learn to love reading. We provide everyone with opportunities to learn whatever they want, and a variety of viewpoints on any issue you care to name.

Despite changes, we're doing what libraries have always done: collect, organize, preserve, and make available the cultural record. And we're doing what American public libraries have always done: providing opportunities for everyone to change their life and improve their choices on their own terms.

They used to call this "the people's university" and now they call it "libraries transforming lives." It's what we do, and the need for it is not getting less, nor is the need for people to come together in community.

Communities that support such efforts are better places to live, work and raise a family.

Revised building cost estimates

Official challenges cost to build new Appleton library
Source: www.postcrescent.com
APPLETON — The city's construction chief says a reported estimate of about $40 million to build a new downtown library is too high. ...

We've been trying to tell people that's it's premature to talk about costs, and have characterized published numbers as estimates, not a plan. Thanks to City Facilities Director Dean Gazza and Durrant architect Jerry Olson, we have a better approximation of potential costs for a new library. The estimate is under $30 million, not the $41 million the newspaper had previously reported -- based on a ballpark per square foot that one consultant reluctantly used.

But even this better number is still preliminary. Until there has been program design, site selection and engineering study to determine site preparation costs, cost estimates will be guesswork and speculation. There are too many unknown variables, and choices yet to be made. We need to keep thinking, talking and asking questions. We should keep taking careful steps forward.

Library building cost estimates

We just sent out the following press release :

July 21, 2008

For Immediate Release
For more information contact:
Terry Dawson, Appleton Public Library Director at 920-832-6170
Dean Gazza, City of Appleton Director of Facilities & Construction at 920 832-5572
Michael Kenney, APL Marketing & Development Coordinator at 920-832-1695

“I am optimistic that a new library could be built for under $30 million,” says Appleton’s Director of Facilities & Construction

The release of a library facilities study final report, commissioned by the Library Board and the City of Appleton, and released July 10th, has caused some misunderstandings related to the cost of constructing such a facility.

“Many in the media keep using $40 million and $300 a square foot,” stated Dean Gazza, City of Appleton Director of Facilities & Construction. “As I noted, I don't think the building would be that high. I am optimistic that it could be done for under $30 million.”

“The estimated cost would be significantly lower than initial projections sited by the news media, based on clarification of square footage expenses,” stated Gerald T. Olson, Director of Architecture & Principal of Durrant Architects, the library’s consultant.

“The dollar figure of $300 per square foot was based solely on a national average that included the more costly East and West coast costs,” said Olson. “When estimating this project, it is advised to stay within the general Midwest to look at comparable costs to Appleton. In my evaluation, I believe the cost of building construction will be in the neighborhood of $180 - $210 per square foot and furniture and equipment will be in the neighborhood of $18 - $25 per square foot,” Olson continued. “Total will therefore be approximately $200 per square foot, or closer to the $30 million estimate Dean Gazza was working with.”

“I’m glad to get greater clarification on these cost projections,” added Library Director Terry Dawson. “The Appleton Public Library is a valuable asset to the people of Appleton, and I hope this more realistic budget number will be seen as more achievable. Re-using shelving and furnishings from the current building would also save costs, as could donations. The next phase in planning, which is preliminary design, will help further refine possible costs,” Dawson concluded.

A copy of the full report is available from the library’s website, at www.apl.org.

Library, Transit & Washington Square: an urban downtown

When we think about considerations for a new or remodeled library facility, accessibility is high on the list. While there are a lot of issues we can consider in the area -- including parking, ADA concerns, bicycle parking, and easy pedestrian access -- one issue that stays near the top is access to our transit system.

In our facility study, our consultants’ report on focus groups noted:

...participants talked about the perceived security problems with the transit center and its users being located between the library and the parking ramp. Some thought that threat kept people from coming downtown to use the library.

This is, unfortunately, an unfair misperception, both of security and the nature of the perceived “threat.” We believe the area is safe, and that any problems, real and perceived, are not due to transit users, nor library users, but to general downtown loiterers. The problem is complex, and pointing a finger at transit users is unjust and unhelpful.

Our current location is across the street from the Transit Center, which is the hub for all the bus lines in the Fox Cities. This is a great asset for our operations, and even if we were to have a new building, I would not want to be too many blocks away from this hub. Our facility study consultants asked members of our building committee and library staff what was most important in choosing a location for the library. One of our key criteria was: “Downtown location ... close to bus lines.” When they interviewed community leaders, Terry Bergen, our Library Board President, said it was important for the library that “you can get there in one bus ride ... every special population and children use the transit center. It’s important for the library to be close to the transit system.”

As the library is part of an urban downtown we do have a neighborhood problem with people loitering, littering and talking loudly, occasionally with explicit loud obscenities and often blocking the sidewalks. This problem is most concentrated on the sidewalk which is outside the library, adjacent to our parking lot and across the street from the Transit Center. This problem was exacerbated a few years ago when a direct legislation referendum banned smoking on transit property, which created sort of a smoking area on this sidewalk and made it into a designated hangout.

Some of the people who hang out on the sidewalk are transit users, many are not. Some are library users, many are not. Some are homeless, most are not. Many are smokers. Many are decent and friendly, if you take the time to talk to them. Some are middle class, most are not. Some are mentally ill, or cognitively delayed. Some have been banned from the library and some have been banned from riding the bus. Some know the police well. Some take their meals at the Salvation Army. Some are there for a quick smoke. Many have no other place to go, but they are hanging out on the sidewalk because that’s where they want to be. All of them are human beings.

It’s upsetting to transit supporters to have problems unfairly laid entirely at their door. It’s upsetting to us every time our staff hears the complaint about people hanging out. It’s upsetting when we get letters from parents and statements from local clergy citing the library neighborhood as unsafe. It’s upsetting when people tell us that they will use libraries in neighboring communities rather than come into an unfriendly environment. It’s upsetting when the women on our staff have to walk through occasionally hostile groups to get to their cars, often at 9:00 PM.

I think the key word in the consultant statement is “perceived.” There do not seem to be actual safety and security problems. There are problems of cleanliness and a sometimes unfriendly environment, but to our knowledge no-one has been hurt or assaulted by the sidewalk groups. People have been forced to walk in the street, and women have been subject to unwelcome remarks and taunts. Though this may not be unsafe, it is unacceptable.

The problem is that people are congregating in a place that was not designed for groups to gather, but which is needed as an effective clean, safe, and friendly passageway for the library. It is not a clean and friendly passageway. We need to give the groups who loiter on the sidewalk a better place to be and to provide effective disincentives for behaviors that create problems for others.

A group of neighborhood stakeholders has been talking for over a year about improving our area. We're working to find solutions to our common neighborhood concerns, including this loitering problem. We came up with the name “Washington Square” as encompassing our neighborhood. Appleton Downtown Inc. has assumed a coordinating role. Participants include many City departments (Library, Transit, Police, Public Works, Community Development, Park & Rec.), Harmony Cafe, the Children’s Museum, Appleton Area School District and others.

There may not be a security threat, but there is a problem. It didn’t develop overnight and we’re not going to fix it quickly either. But we’re working on it.

Bicycles - a good problem

We've received a couple of complaints this summer that we need more bicycle parking. These pictures, snapped outside the library last week, bear out the need. We know that more bike parking is needed downtown in general. We also know that in any planning for changes to the library, bicycle access needs to be factor.

As the photo above shows, bikes are sometimes parked on the sidewalk and outside a fire exit. In summer, we seem to have regular problems with bikes parked outside the doors or in the entryway. We've had more than a dozen stolen bikes complaints the last few years. Ensuring that there are enough places to appropriately lock and store a bike while at the library seems like a real need.

As gasoline prices continue to soar, it's an incentive for more people to ride more often. And that's a positive thing for the health of the community. As library use grows, more people are bringing their bikes to the library. Once here, they need a good parking place. Bike racks, and even lockers, may be cheaper than parking ramps, but they still need to be budgeted somewhere.

Brett Favre at the Library?

As reported on a Fox Sports blog, there are "Top 10 Reasons to Believe the Vikings Tampered with Green Bay", and at number 10:

Brett has been spotted at local libraries reading up on Scandinavian American culture.

Now, of course, with respect to confidentiality, we could not say if Mr. Favre had been using our library, but if he were, we would try to recommend useful books to him. F'rinstance, he might find the following titles from our collection interesting:

• How to talk Minnesotan
• So Ole says to Lena ...
• If you're clueless about retirement planning and want to know more
• Do what you love for the rest of your life: a practical guide to career change and personal renewal
• The little book of letting go
• The best of waffles...
  
• You wouldn't want to be a Viking...
  

While I hope these would be useful, I'd encourage him to talk to our helpful reference librarians who can point out many good library resources for tough life decisions.

Thanks to Jamie at Nic Bits for pointing out this story! Thanks to Miss Kathleen for the Viking suggestion!