We are headed to voting day (Tuesday - June 12) on the proposed move to the Portland Public Market. The voters will have to decide whether to authorize redirection of previously approved $4 million in bond funds for Monument Square to be used for the purchase and renovation of the Portland Public Market building. The measure also asks the citizens to provide another $1 million in funding (from already existing funds in the City's CIP). This public investment would be increased by the Library's Capital Campaign of $4.6 million.
The last few weeks have led me to many encounters with supporters and doubters through public meetings at the downtown Library and in various communities. This is not a sound bite project and it takes time to explain the general benefits of economic development, transformation of the library system and architectural preservation. One thing is sure, we are more convinced daily that a plan that strives for efficiency and focuses on the users and uses in an inspiring building, has a power of its own. There has been a great deal of misinformation spread including less space when in fact, the library will have a minimum of 85,000 sq feet available and increase of 7,000 sq. feet from the current number. The amount of public spaces to be housed in the Public Market increases by 14% over what could be offered at Monument Square, to say nothing of the overall efficiency and improvement in building climate.
Each community decides what it wants its public library to be. In Portland we have a system of 6 locations which lend well over 700,000 items yearly and have over 600,000 people come through the door. The system needs an investment to allow for collection growth and improve the quality of direct service to our users. Is the request for $ 5 million an unreasonable one? If you compare fairly recent capital investments by other significant Maine towns the request seems reasonable. Approximately ten years ago, Bangor invested $2.5 million in its library renovation. On a per capita investment basis, that comes out to roughly Portland's $5 million. Brunswick in 1996, with socio economic indicators at the state average, provided $4 million for its library project which extrapolates to $12 million if using Portland's population.
Bottom line for us at PPL: we believe we will lend more items, have more people walk through the doors and that they will have a better experience in the revamped Public Market building.
However you view the question of the downtown library please vote on June 12.
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