Taking Shape!

As we approach the 50% completion mark, this week has seen some major and very visible advances in our Monument Square renovation project. A key element in the design has been to reenergize the Library’s role on Monument Square and to contribute more to the life of this critical location in heart of the City. For the first time there is some definition in the redesigned facade as portions of glass have been installed in the grid.

Galaxy Glass employees installing glass panels

The hidden activity which has made up the bulk of our effort to this point continues. Ceilings, walls, wiring, plumbing, new boilers, etc, are being attended to and it is a mundane yet a critical part of our effort. But it must be appreciated that the public statement for all to see of a library reinventing itself to face the decades ahead is a moment to celebrate.

Library facade as seen from Snell's Family Farm stand at the Portland Farmer's Market

Throwing Sand

Today, we held the “groundbreaking” for our renovation. Since the project is a renovation, we didn’t exactly break ground but in fact threw some sand. Morris Fisher, President of the Board of Trustees, Nick Mavodones, City Councilor and Former Mayor, Scott Simons, Project Architect and I, all spoke to the attendees. Below are my comments made this morning on behalf of our staff and in recognition of accepting this gift from all of those who believe in Portland Public Library.

> Throwing Sand - Steve Podgajny, Peter Benard- Ledgewood Construction, Morris Fisher, Scott Simons, Joe Gray-City Manager, Taffy Field-PPL Trustee, Nick Mavodones
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I first want to join Morris in thanking my colleagues for doing their absolute best to handle the many years, and episodes, of disruption – especially over the past year. To have the opportunity to thank people is always a delight regardless of the reason.

Today, on behalf of the Library staff at all of our locations, I want to express our gratitude. The employees of the Portland Public Library are among the most fortunate in public service - the beneficiaries of a true public-private partnership. It is a partnership that provides resources to serve the City significantly beyond what might be possible from solely public or private sources. We refer to this support as our “Margin of Excellence.”

This morning we celebrate this Partnership, because its fruits have given us a Library that, at the end of Phase I&II, will express widespread levels of quality and excellence unattainable through other means and at the top tier for cities of our size.

Without the selfless commitment of the Trustees and volunteers, as well as the support of the citizens, City Council and City Manager of Portland, the federal, state and county governments, and our hundreds of individual, corporate and private foundation donors, we would not be here today.

Next spring we will have the privilege of occupying new spaces to perform our work. When we accept this gift, the staff of Portland Public Library will also embrace two measures of accountability.
First, we will become the custodians of its physical care, a responsibility that will be there for all to literally see how well we are doing.
Second, and even more importantly, but much harder to see on a casual level, will be the fulfillment of our individual and group responsibility, to, day-in and day-out, reach the service potential that this new building presents in our efforts to improve the lives of our users and to strengthen the fabric of our city.

Boiled down to the most basic level: These two imperatives are individual and organizational, ethical and moral obligations that the staff incurs upon accepting this gift. We recognize and embrace your generosity and the expectations extending from it.

I believe we will make you proud as the receivers of this gift and once again, I thank all of you for your faith and trust in us.

Thank you.

The Library on Elm Street

Today the “Library on Elm Street” opens at Monument Square. While Phase I of our renovation unfolds we will be operating essentially a large branch at the site. The staff have culled as many items as possible that have a high probability of being borrowed by those visiting the space. Otherwise we are counting on being able to efficiently (and as quickly as possible) deliver items that you request, either in person at any of our 6 locations, or on-line via the web catalog.

It is an exciting day for us as we look forward to a huge improvement in the aesthetics and functioning of our main location. This phase of the renovation is scheduled to last at least 10 months but we are hopeful it might be a little longer reflecting our success as we concurrently pursue funds for items that are scheduled for Phase II.



We have done our best to work with the space we have available but it is not by a long shot perfect. There are not enough seats, not enough computers, etc. but hopefully the staff will be able to help you get what you need during your visit. Let us know what we might improve in the space and we will do our best.

As the highway signs say: “Temporary Inconvenience for Permanent Improvement.”

Monument Square Renovation Begins!

The renovation of the Monument Square location of Portland Public Library has begun. For a project that has been going on in some manner - planning, fundraising, community meetings, etc - for ten years, it is exciting to finally begin work that can be immediately seen by our members and staff.


A significant amount of our collections on the lower level have been moved including Government Documents, older magazines and newspapers and we will begin to move tens of thousands of items more in the next three weeks. All of these items are going to the Brown Annex. The collections that will be stored in the annex will be available through our catalog and can be requested and delivered to any of our 6 locations.

Beginning March 16, we will be closed for two weeks as we finish the moving of our materials. The Branches will all be open their normal hours.

For much more about the closing and the details of the project please see our FAQ.

Some PPL@PPM reflections

From my perspective, the defeat of the proposal to acquire and renovate the Portland Public Market building was a golden opportunity lost to the people of Portland. I continue to believe that the project strength was expressed best in the focus on downtown users and uses, the tremendous efficiency and inspirational aspects of the building and the economic development opportunity for the City that was associated with the redevelopment of Monument Square. But the project was not “sound bitable” and I am reminded by Thursday’s editorial in the Portland Press Herald (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=113597&ac=PHedi ) that certain facts never quite became ingrained in the debate. The statement that we are now “not losing some 20,000 square feet of space that the market move entailed” continues to be inacurrate.

The above statement of “loss” applies if one intends to simply replicate what exists now. We were never able to effectively communicate to voters that it was about transformation of the library system as well as the users of the downtown location. In fact, there was 14% more space at the Market building versus the same Monument Square service areas. That would have led to much higher lending, more people through the door and a more enjoyable work environment and user experience. The minimum total square footage that the library would have had at the conclusion of the project would have been 85,000 sq. feet (58,000 in the market building and 27,000 in the basement of Monument Sq.) versus 78,000 sq. ft currently which is a 10% increase.

The PPL system will set a direction sometime in the next few weeks based on our available funds and a reconsideration of our past and current planning including what people have told us about their wishes. We then must get on with the business of improving our ability to deliver better service and make the experience at each our six locations the best it can possibly be. It’s time to move on.

What happens on June 13?

I have been asked by many people what would happen if the June 12 vote is affirmative on moving the downtown branch to the Public Market. The Library and the City would act in the two weeks following to honor the terms of the purchase and sale contract which calls for $2.75 million purchase price. The City would utilize $2.0 million in bond funds while the Library would contribute $750,000 to the purchase. The process to create an RFP (Request for Proposals) for architectural services would also commence and the Library would fund that activity for the next year. The end product would be to produce construction drawings for the use of contractors interested in bidding on the job. The City during that same time would begin its process of deciding how to utilize the current libary structure to maximize economic return. The final goal would be to move into the Public Market space by the end of calendar year 2009 without substantial interruption of library services at Monument Square. In a future post an updated project timetable will be presented.

If the June 12 vote is negative the Library Board will need to convene and determine the future course of the renovation and its timetable.

What is a reasonable investment in a Library?

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.

PPL @ PPM?

It has fired the public imagination and it has generated a level of intense debate. The comments have ranged well beyond just a discussion of two buildings and have touched upon what people think the downtown PPL location is in reality (at present) or should be. In advance of the June 12 bond vote, we will be covering the issue in this blog in hopes of clarifying some of the aspects to enable people to cast an informed vote.

Look for more soon!