Fayetteville Library Expansion Remains On Table

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Library Board has a big decision to make on the scope and cost of a major expansion to the 10-year-old public library.

During an all-day meeting Friday at the Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center, trustees and members of the library's foundation board heard several speakers talk about millage elections and fundraising campaigns to help in the decision-making process.

At A Glance (w/logo)

Six-Year Journey

David Johnson, executive director of the Fayetteville Public Library, recounted the six years prior to opening the $28 million building in October 2004. A strategic plan was approved in 1998. Voters approved a three-quarters of a cent temporary sales tax that produced $19.3 million. The $8 million capital campaign received three notable contributions: $3 million from James Blair; $2 million from Barbara Tyson; and $500,000 from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

Source: Staff Report

"We have a lot of work to do," said Kim Agree, president of the library board. "We, as a board, have to decide what can we ask for. The library is a crown jewel of Fayetteville. We have a fantastically supportive community and that's a good problem to have."

Several expansion proposals are on the table, including one adding an 800-seat auditorium. Other plans are smaller in scope and propose more meeting space and more technology for public use and additional parking. The library foundation recently spent $2 million to buy adjoining property.

"We didn't buy the City Hospital property to leave it as is," said Maylon Rice, a library board member.

The proposal that includes the auditorium would add some 80,000 square feet, nearly doubling the size of the facility.

Jeffrey Scherer, an architect who designed the library and is working on the new project, said the largest expansion plan could cost between $40 million and $50 million although specific plans and cost estimates aren't complete.

Scherer urged the board to keep in mind that in 1998, when planning for the library began, the population of Fayetteville was 45,000. The population is about 76,000.

"This is for 50,000 more people, not today's population," Scherer said.

Bobby Roberts, director of the Central Arkansas Library System, discussed library expansions he's been involved in; Stephen Smith, University of Arkansas communications professor discussed local millage campaigns; and Bill Mitchell, of MitchellWorks, talked about capital campaigns.

David Johnson, library director, said the board would need to decide the scope of the project and how to pay for it, likely from private donations and a millage or sales tax put before voters in August 2015.

Smith said a millage increase for the library expansion would need at least 3,000 favorable votes to approve the measure. He suggested the board concentrate on getting those 3,000 votes rather than mounting a marketing and advertising campaign to attract more voters to the polls.

"Look where the yes votes are," Smith said.

Johnson and board members have said on numerous occasions the library has grown beyond initial expectations and has nearly 70,000 cardholders and has become a community meeting place.

"We need to get something from the architect as a starting point," Agee said. "Then we decide if this meets with what we have identified as needs and we need to think about the time line and financing."

The board and foundation board are expected to meet in June to continue the discussion.

NW News on 05/10/2014

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