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The City Council is considering plans to shut down and relocate our library. The current scheme hinges on the demolition of the Lake Grove Elementary School but its clear that if this is derailed they will seek another property. The council and staff say our library is substandard and over capacity and the community needs and wants a new, bigger library in another location. But the facts do not support these assertions.
FAN-Forest Hills Board unanimously opposes the proposed closing of the current library located in FAN.
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Watch the our committee testimony to city council (time stamp 35:00)
Write an email to the City Council
Write a letter to the editor at the LO Review
Talking points:
Our library has a 92% resident satisfaction according to the 2023 Community Survey.
Residents stated number one library priority is renovation and seismic upgrades also according to the 2023 Community Survey.
The 2023 Library Visioning study's consultant recommended the library be renovated and a second library added to Lake Grove.
Renovation and seismic upgrades will extend the library building's life 40-50 years!
Renovation would cost $10-15 million, building a new library would cost $85-99 million.
The Urban Renewal District (URD) funding the city is proposing is not free money. URD takes property tax money that would go into the general fund- which pays for all city services like roads, police, fire, public works and yes, our library- and sends it to URD projects only. This can last for decades.The services are still needed and have to be covered by raising fees or reducing the city service levels.
Other communities are doing more in their libraries with comparable square footage; we lack imagination- not square footage.
The library can partner with the recently renovated and under-utilized Adult Community Center (ACC) to provide event space. This facility is only one block away. The Oak Room seats 130 people. But currently the ACC closes at 4:30pm weekdays and all day on weekends.
The library should extend its operating hours to meet the needs of all ages. Reinstate the previous hours and stay open until 9pm weeknights.
Read about the May 21st council meeting in the LO Review
2024 Seismic Evaluation & General Facilities Condition Assessment Report (start on page 116)
Recently Remodeled Adult Community Center
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