The resolution, introduced by council member Matt Shadle and later amended by council member Mike Heimbuch, sets a timetable for a cost benefit and space analysis of moving books, computer systems and a college-paid, part-time employee, into the new building.
The city, library staff and college will work on the analysis, submit a progress report to the council by July 10 and complete the report by May 20, 2007, for approval and implementation. The new library is scheduled to open this summer.
The Friends of the Homer Public Library is a nonprofit organization established in 1982 that raised more than $600,000 from individuals for the capital campaign for the new library.
In its release Tuesday, the Friends called the city council’s resolution ill-advised, hasty, passed in a closed process and inappropriate.
“It did take us by surprise, and I think it took the public by surprise,” said Claudia Haines, coordinator for the Friends.
The Friends’ resolution says the missions of a public library and an academic library are different and difficult to blend without compromising both. Combining the two libraries would deprive the new facility of the space needed to fulfill its promise and purpose, the resolution says. And donors who gave money to the Friends did so for a public library, not one that is a combination of public and college libraries, the resolution says.
With the money to build the new library now in the hands of the city, the group is trying to determine its next step.
Ann Keffer, vice president of the Friends board, said the organization may have to reevaluate or change its mission if the city goes forward with combining the two libraries.
“It’s not altogether clear at this moment,” Keffer said. “We haven’t had long to look at this.”
At the council meeting last week, council member Heimbuch said his amendment gave the city, college and library staff the time needed to see if the idea would be beneficial for the city. On Wednesday, college director Carol Swartz said a professional cost benefit and space analysis needs to be completed before moving forward with the plan.
But Keffer, and several other public library proponents viewed the council’s resolution as a step toward combining the two libraries.
“As I read that resolution, it is a mandate,” said Keffer.
What a combined library will mean for the general public is also being debated.
Council member Doug Stark said he’s heard from major donors to the library that have no problem with the idea.
Keffer said she has heard the opposite, and people are asking her how they can help convince the council to rescind its resolution.
The books and other college materials won’t be moved into the library until the study is complete and approved by the council and the college
And the public might not see a problem right away, Keffer said.
“You won’t notice any particular lack of space,” Keffer said. “But you may notice that the library staff is exceptionally busy. An academic library places demands on staff that a public library doesn’t.”
The space issue will become more evident down the road, as both collections and the population of the area grow, Keffer said.
The library eventually will fill up, and much more quickly than the 20 years of growth it was designed for, Keffer said.
Stark said such a problem could be solved by adding on to the library later.
The architects have allowed for expansion to the west.
But Keffer said people will be less likely to contribute to such a project if their dollars are spent differently than they intended on this current library projct.
“I don’t think people will hold it against the library,” Keffer said. “But people will hesitate to contribute to any capital project the city holds (in the future).”
Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@ homernews.com.
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