Seattle Public Library -Libraries for All Capital Projects home page

Libraries for All Index Library Home Page
Capital Project Information New Central Library Neighborhood Branches Information for Architects, Consultants, Contractors & Bidders Oversight & Citizen Review Financial Summaries Archive Libraries for All Capital Program Office: capital.program@spl.org 1000 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 206-386-4624		Frequently asked questions about “Libraries for All” construction closures at The Seattle Public Library Q. Why are so many branches under construction? A. Seattle voters approved the $196.4 million “Libraries for All” bond measure in November 1998. The building program plan calls for improving or replacing all 22 branches, adding five new branches and building a new central library. Q. Several branches in my neighborhood will be closed at the same time. Why didn’t you plan to close only one area branch at a time? A. We apologize for the inconvenience. The original construction schedule for the projects was staggered to avoid overlapping closures, but lengthy site acquisitions, our commitment to involving communities in the projects, and the permit and landmarks review processes contributed to delays. Q. If the projects are already delayed, can’t you delay them further so you don’t close more than one branch at a time in the same area? A. Further delays would drive up inflation costs and delay the openings of new, expanded and renovated branches promised to the community. In addition, federal regulations require us to spend the bond money on the projects as quickly as possible. The program calls for completing the entire project by 2007. After that time, the staff members who are currently running the project are no longer funded and available to manage the work. Q. Are you doing anything to help the communities affected by the closures of several branches? A. We’re taking a number of steps to help provide service, which include: 1) Adding staff members to branches that remain open. 2) Replacing open hours on Sundays, where possible, at branches that remain open. 3) Operating the temporary Rainier Bookmobile to serve southeast Seattle. (Until May 22, 2004.) 4) Opening the Northgate Temporary Service Site to serve northeast Seattle. (Until June 25, 2004.) 5) Partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to hold summer reading program events and story times for children at area community centers. 6) Continuing community outreach to children and young adults. 7) Making school visits in neighborhoods. Q. Why are you building/expanding all these branches during this time of budget cuts and shorter open hours? A. The recent cuts in the operating budget are related to a shortfall in the city’s general fund, which is different from the money earmarked for the “Libraries for All” (LFA) building program. Seattle voters passed the $196.4 million LFA bond measure in 1998 to build a new Central Library, improve or replace all 22 existing neighborhood libraries, and build five new branches. The Library is required by law to spend that money on the building program, not for other uses. For example, we couldn’t build smaller libraries and transfer the savings toward buying more books and staying open longer. Q. Where can I get more information about plans for my branch? A. You can ask your branch librarian, call the Library’s Capital Program Office at 206-386-4624, or check the Library’s Web site at www.spl.org. If you give us your name, mailing address and the branch that you’re interested in, we’d be glad to add you to the mailing list to make sure you receive branch news. The Library sincerely regrets that this construction period is affecting our patrons. We look forward to opening improved and expanded libraries and hope that you will find them to be worth the wait and the inconvenience. Until The Seattle Public Library is whole again, we thank you for your patience and support. Please join us for the grand opening festivities! Content modified: 27 May 2003 12/30/2005 © 1999-2006 - The Seattle Public Library

Frequently asked questions about “Libraries for All” construction closures at The Seattle Public Library

Q. Why are so many branches under construction?
A. Seattle voters approved the $196.4 million “Libraries for All” bond measure in November 1998. The building program plan calls for improving or replacing all 22 branches, adding five new branches and building a new central library.

Q. Several branches in my neighborhood will be closed at the same time. Why didn’t you plan to close only one area branch at a time?
A. We apologize for the inconvenience. The original construction schedule for the projects was staggered to avoid overlapping closures, but lengthy site acquisitions, our commitment to involving communities in the projects, and the permit and landmarks review processes contributed to delays.

Q. If the projects are already delayed, can’t you delay them further so you don’t close more than one branch at a time in the same area?
A. Further delays would drive up inflation costs and delay the openings of new, expanded and renovated branches promised to the community. In addition, federal regulations require us to spend the bond money on the projects as quickly as possible. The program calls for completing the entire project by 2007. After that time, the staff members who are currently running the project are no longer funded and available to manage the work.

Q. Are you doing anything to help the communities affected by the closures of several branches?
A. We’re taking a number of steps to help provide service, which include:

1) Adding staff members to branches that remain open.
2) Replacing open hours on Sundays, where possible, at branches that remain open.
3) Operating the temporary Rainier Bookmobile to serve southeast Seattle. (Until May 22, 2004.)
4) Opening the Northgate Temporary Service Site to serve northeast Seattle. (Until June 25, 2004.)
5) Partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to hold summer reading program events and story times for children at area community centers.
6) Continuing community outreach to children and young adults.
7) Making school visits in neighborhoods.

Q. Why are you building/expanding all these branches during this time of budget cuts and shorter open hours?
A. The recent cuts in the operating budget are related to a shortfall in the city’s general fund, which is different from the money earmarked for the “Libraries for All” (LFA) building program. Seattle voters passed the $196.4 million LFA bond measure in 1998 to build a new Central Library, improve or replace all 22 existing neighborhood libraries, and build five new branches. The Library is required by law to spend that money on the building program, not for other uses. For example, we couldn’t build smaller libraries and transfer the savings toward buying more books and staying open longer.

Q. Where can I get more information about plans for my branch?
A. You can ask your branch librarian, call the Library’s Capital Program Office at 206-386-4624, or check the Library’s Web site at www.spl.org. If you give us your name, mailing address and the branch that you’re interested in, we’d be glad to add you to the mailing list to make sure you receive branch news.

The Library sincerely regrets that this construction period is affecting our patrons. We look forward to opening improved and expanded libraries and hope that you will find them to be worth the wait and the inconvenience. Until The Seattle Public Library is whole again, we thank you for your patience and support. Please join us for the grand opening festivities!

Content modified: 27 May 2003

12/30/2005