Libraries for All
www.spl.org/lfa/index.html
Capital Program Office:
capital.program@spl.org
1000 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104-1193
(206) 386-4624

© 1999 Seattle Public Library

Opportunity Fund Information Packet
A chance to improve library services in your neighborhood

Highlights

• The $6 million Opportunity Fund is set aside for neighborhood library facilities.
• Learn how to submit ideas for your neighborhood at one of two public workshops offered in April.
• Monday, May 1 is the deadline for submitting ideas.
• For more information, call Douglas Bailey, at the Seattle Public Library, (206) 386-4173, or contact him by e-mail at douglas.bailey@spl.org.

Background: What is the Opportunity Fund?

In 1998 Seattle voters approved a $196.4 million "Libraries for All" bond measure to rebuild the Seattle Public Library system. The Libraries for All Capital program will improve or replace all 22 branch libraries in the Seattle Public Library system, build three new branches, and construct a new central library over the next eight years.

Also included in the bond measure was a $6 million Opportunity Fund. This fund is to be used for new or unanticipated neighborhood library capital needs that are not addressed by specific projects in the Libraries for All plan. Capital needs are defined as long-term building improvements, such as a library expansion, a new library, or a bookmobile. The fund cannot be used for operating expenses, such as additional librarians, or to expand book collections in existing libraries.

The fund may not be used for the central library, for cost overruns in other facilities specified in the plan, or to replace equipment in existing libraries.

Money from the Opportunity Fund may not be used for ongoing operating and maintenance expenses. The Library will seek operating and maintenance funds from the City Council for any capital project funded from the Opportunity Fund.

This packet will provide all the information your neighborhood group needs to submit recommendations for use of the Opportunity Fund.

Criteria:The Seattle City Council and Seattle voters set the following criteria in 1998 as part of the original Libraries for All ballot legislation:

1. Correction of service deficiencies not identified in the plan.
   Do you feel your neighborhood or group is not receiving enough library service?
2. Target specific user groups that have difficulty accessing existing or planned services.
   Are there people in your neighborhood who would benefit from a different kind of library service? Example: bookmobile visits to a senior home.
3. Improvement of geographic distribution of facilities and services.
   Do you have difficulty getting to a library? Do you live more than one mile away from an existing library? (See map.)
4. Response to Neighborhood Plans.
   Does the plan for your neighborhood suggest a library service or location that is not included in the Libraries for All plan?
5. Improvement of operational efficiency.
   Could the library system's facilities be improved to make them easier to staff and maintain, or to help you find what you are looking for?
6. Response to demonstration of substantial community support.
   Is there a leadership committee in the neighborhood to organize and support your idea? Has your Community Council passed a resolution of support?
7. Enhancement of other city goals, such as historic preservation or environmental stewardship.
   Is there a historic building that could serve this library function? Can your project further city goals of responsible energy conservation?

These criteria are not weighted. Please address as many as possible.

Nuts and bolts: How to submit ideas

The Citizen's Implementation Review Panel (CIRP) and Library staff will explain the Opportunity Fund and how to submit ideas at two public workshops from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• Monday, April 3, Sunset Hill Community Club, 3003 NW 66th St.
• Thursday, April 6, Rainier Valley Cultural Center Auditorium, 3515 S. Alaska St.

The following information must be provided for a proposal to be considered.

• Cover letter: Include neighborhood(s) represented, contact information of submitting group, and a complete description of your project.
• Answers to these primary questions, which are based on the Opportunity Fund criteria. The secondary questions are included to help you define and explain your answers.
  1. Which neighborhood(s) do you propose to serve?
     - Can you identify street boundaries that would be included?
  2. Describe the groups of people who live in your neighborhood that will be served by this proposal.
     - Are these groups currently not receiving library service?
     - How many people do you think will use the proposed services?
  3. Is there a library service need identified in your Neighborhood Plan?
     
  4. Does this project enhance other city goals, such as historic preservation, transportation, environmental stewardship?
     
  5. Does this project have community support?
     - How can you demonstrate this support?
  6. What benefits to the neighborhood do you see from this project?
     - What will be better about your neighborhood afterwards?

Submitting groups should not provide cost estimates for their projects. The Seattle Public Library will generate that information.

A maximum of eight typed pages (four double-sided) will be allowed. Concise and focused proposals are expected. All submittals must follow content, size, and schedule requirements laid out in this packet.

Send submittals to:

Seattle Public Library
Capital Program Office
Opportunity Fund Review
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104

Submittals must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, May 1.
Submittals sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

Decisions: How is the money awarded?

Review groups:

Seattle Public Library staff and the Citizen's Implementation Review Panel (CIRP), or Opportunity Fund subcommittee, will screen all submittals. CIRP is a group of citizen volunteers charged with providing public input and feedback to the Seattle Public Library board of trustees about the implementation of the Libraries for All plan. It is composed equally of members appointed by the City Neighborhood Council and the Library Board.

The review starts with a "sufficiency check" to make sure the proposal has met the criteria and requirements outlined in this packet. If a proposal does not meet the requirements, a library representative will contact the submitter to see if it is possible to revise the submission.

CIRP members will then review all eligible submissions and recommend a preliminary list of projects to the Library Board. CIRP will notify participants by mail of the status of their proposals.

The Library Board will hold public meetings in north and south end neighborhoods to accept comment about the projects that CIRP has recommended. These meetings offer an opportunity for any group whose proposal was not recommended to speak to the Library Board.

CIRP will reconvene to evaluate operation and maintenance costs of each project on the preliminary list and make a final recommendation to the Library Board.

The Library Board will consider feedback from the public meetings and CIRP's cost evaluations before it makes a final allocation recommendation to the Seattle City Council. The City Council will deliberate and pass a resolution allocating all or part of the Opportunity Fund.

Important Dates

Public information workshops
	North workshop: Sunset Hill Community Club	April 3
	South workshop: Rainier Valley Cultural Center	April 6
Proposals due		May 1
Sufficiency check of proposals		through May 15
CIRP review and screening		through August
CIRP recommends shortlist to Library Board		Aug. 22
Notification letters mailed		Aug. 31
Library Board public meetings
	North meeting	early September
	South meeting	early September
CIRP final recommendations to Library Board		Sept. 12
Board makes final allocation recommendation		Sept. 26
City Council considers allocation resolution		October-December
Project planning and implementation begins		January 2001

Key Facts

Deadline: Received by 5 p.m. Monday, May 1.

Send submittals to:

Seattle Public Library
Capital Program Office
Opportunity Fund Review
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104

Opportunity Fund information: For more information about requirements or definitions, contact Douglas Bailey at the Seattle Public Library, (206) 386-4173, or contact him by e-mail, douglas.bailey@spl.org.