Attachment

ATTACHMENT #1 Special PR&CE Meeting of 05/03/2006

Dover Public Library The mission of the Dover Public Library is to meet the educational, recreational, and cultural needs of a diverse population through library collections and library services with a well- trained staff available to promote library Dover Public Library Staff resources and to assist with their use.

Library Value “The move of the library into a modern, technology adaptable library located in the core area of Dover would be a significant landmark for downtown Dover. It would greatly enhance the downtown area and be a destination location for Dover and neighboring residents. Because the library would attract many users on a daily basis it would increase activity in the downtown area and support the City of Dover Comprehensive Plan. As library services develops in Kent County, it is anticipated that the Dover Public Library would play a larger and larger regional role and both the new building and any possible addition should support that possibility.” City of Dover Library Facilities Plan, Robert H. Rohlf Associates, May 2004

Dover Public Library In FY2005, we noted our computer use at 53,245 hours. In comparing our value of service, we found that people are charging at a rate of $10 per hour for computer use. Our Library patrons saved $532,450 as we provide this Value to Library service at no charge. patrons $532,450

Dover Public Library In FY2005, 398,842 items were checked out. With the average item costing $25, patrons saved $9,971,050 because they did not have to purchase the materials. Value to Library patrons $9,971,050

Dover Public Library Serving as a regional library, the 17,090 square foot library is a full-service facility: 9 Seven professional Staff with Master’s Degrees accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) 9 Open Seven (7) Days Per Week 9 Consumer Health Circuit Librarian 9 Reference Center With Specially Trained Staff in Conducting Research for all Kent County Residents 9 Separate Children’s Services Department and Staff 9 Teen Services Librarian 9 Local History / Genealogy Center 9 Largest Collection of Books in Kent County 9 Public Meeting Rooms

City of Dover & Kent County Population Estimates 200,000 180,000 2 1 0 13 2 6 5 1,0 0,2 8,7 6,9 4,1 0,2 160,000 7,0 8 14 2 15 3 15 8 16 17 0 18 9 City of 140,000 12 Dover 120,000 Kent 100,000 County 80,000 32 60,000 33 34 35 36 37 ,43 38 ,31 ,27 ,85 ,49 ,51 ,45 4 7 40,000 1 8 9 5 9 20,000 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Statistics provided by the Delaware Population Consortium.

Computer Usage 60000 53,245 50000 40000 41,597 FY2002: 18,629 30000 24,381 FY2003: 24,381 20000 18,629 10000 FY2004: 41,597 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 FY2005: 53,245 Reflected number represents HOURLY usage.

Borrowed Items 450,000 348,269 398,842 400,000 350,000 327,310 300,000 298,424 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 FY FY FY FY 2002 2003 2004 2005

First Floor Door Count 250,000 201,754 217,972 181,412 188,378 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 FY FY FY FY 2002 2003 2004 2005

Dover Public Library Circulation 21 220,000 18 3 ,7 0 4, 8 35 14 19 16 ,6 1,1 70, 7 180,000 14 15 79 0 98 1 16 20, 3,56 47, 88 5 9 Dover City 1 4 140,000 Residents 100,000 Kent County Residents Outside of Dover City Limits 60,000 20,000 FY FY FY FY 2002 2003 2004 2005

New Cardholders In FY 2005 2,200 2,100 2,000 1,853 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 Dover City Residents Kent County Residents Outside of Dover City Limits

Library Improvements Since 2001 1. Expanded parking lot 2. Installed two additional book returns 3. Renovated the Children’s Services Department 4. Upgraded online public access catalog 5. Installed security cameras 6. Augmented shelving for popular materials 7. Increased number of public computers from 8 to 21

Issues Public Computer Access Area Children’s Area Shelving Space

Issues ffice Staff O Space

Other Issues No quiet reading areas & no study or tutorial rooms available Public service desk locations and limited size due to building configuration Restrooms inadequate and pose security problems No delivery or receiving area w/ all materials received through front door and interruptions to major public service desk Inadequate Teen area Collection space maximized & sequence is irregular due to building shape and size Overall poor lighting HVAC system performing irregularly and with some leaking pipes Book lift operation sporadic and undependable Major ADA non-conformance areas Inadequate parking

Intergovernmental Site Committee To address the issues raised in the report, a site committee was formed to identify potential locations for construction of a new library. Members of Site Committee Tony DePrima, City Manager Eugene Ruane, Councilman & Library Liaison Zach Carter, Director Parks, Recreation & Library Dr. Morris Eskenazi, Library Commission Chairman Sheila Anderson, Director Dover Public Library Allan Angel, Levy Court Commissioner Dick Krueger, Director Kent County Library Anne Norman, Director Delaware Division of Libraries

Site Committee Work Site boundaries for the new location included the following: ----- North: Walker Road ----- East: Route 13 ----- South: Wyoming Avenue ----- West: Saulsbury Road The site committee began with 29 locations, narrowed the list to 10, and visited those sites. The committee chose the top 6 sites from the 10 remaining. At this time there are 3 remaining top sites. Additionally, the committee along with key individuals, including Kent County and Dover residents, toured three libraries that had been recently constructed. Abingdon Branch of Harford County, MD Bel Air Branch of Harford County, MD New Castle County – Brandywine Hundred Branch

State of Delaware Also, during this time frame the State of Delaware completed a “Statewide Library Services & Construction Infrastructure for Delaware Libraries” report February 2005 – three recommended options for Dover Option 1 – New 50,000 sq ft anchor library Option 2 – New 60,000 sq ft library with space for Kent County Library administration & bookmobile operations Option 3 – New 75,000 sq ft anchor library, space for Kent County & DE Division of Libraries administration

Anchor Library Based on State of Delaware Library Plan the new facility should serve as an Anchor Library for the Central Delaware area Anchor Library will be a full service facility: Sized from 40,000 to 60,000 square feet Open seven days per week One square foot per capita Collection to include print materials, DVDs, books on compact disc, music, and electronic resources Meeting rooms for public and staff use Computer stations Computer training center

Site Options Based on the Site Committee review three (3) sites were recommended for consideration as the location of a new Library for Dover. City Parking Lot & Dover Post Office Eden Hill Treadway Towers

Site Options City Parking Lot & Dover Post Office SITE B SITE BENEFITS √ City Ownership of Site CHALLENGE FOR √ Downtown Location SITE WITH √ Part of Government POST OFFICE Complex √ Need to meet parking requirements

Site Options SITE BENEFITS SITE A √ City Ownership of Site √ Downtown Location √ Part of Government Complex CHALLENGES FOR SITE WITHOUT POST FFICE √ Relocation of Dover Post Office √ Cost of Demolition of Existing building

Site Options Eden Hill property Hazlettville Road SITE BENEFITS √ State ownership of land SITE CHALLENGES √ Future residential development nearby √ Site accessibility √ Site flexibility for building size √ Undetermined time frame and configuration for utility and road development

Site Options Treadway Towers SITE BENEFITS √ Downtown location √ Gateway to center city √ Library overlooking Mirror Lake and park SITE CHALLENGES √ Private ownership and acquisition costs √ Relocation of existing occupants √ Cost of demolition for existing building √ Site in flood plain

New Library Building • Library will be 52,000 square feet. • Anchor library based on State of Delaware plan. • Estimate cost $18,200,000. (Cost does not include land)

Dover Public Library Funding Plan Government Cost Sharing State Funds $8,600,000 *Kent County $3,700,000 **City of Dover $3,700,000 Private Fundraising Friends of DPL $200,000 Foundations $850,000 Grants $100,000 Private donations $50,000 Sell existing library building $1,000,000 TOTAL REVENUE: $18,200,000 * Assumes a greater role for Kent County in planning, design, and future operation of Anchor Library ** City of Dover funding will consist of special assessment fees and bond

Dover Public Library Funding Plan *Potential Foundation/Grants/Fundraising sources include the following: Artisan Bank AstraZeneca Bank of America Citizens Bank Commerce Bank Crestler Foundation, Inc. Crystal Trust Delaware Community Foundation Greater Dover Foundation Kiwanis Clubs Kresge Foundation Longwood Foundation PNC Bank Rotary Clubs Welfare Foundation Wilmington Trust

Next Steps o Select one of the three options as the Preferred Site o Select an Alternate Site o Adopt City Funding Plan o Create Library Reserve fund o Designate Pay in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) income for library o Approve Carry Forward Fund balance for Library o Develop bond issue plan o Sale of excess city real estate for library reserve o Develop a model for governance with Kent County and continue the dialogue with the state and the county on cost and space sharing, and governance o Negotiate with current owners of potential sites