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Stop delaying
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Based on that study, it was decided the most efficient and cost-effective choice for the town was to build a new facility.
Is the proposed library too large? The size of the new building and what services the library provides, both now and into the future, were discussed at great length. The library building committee did not just pull numbers out of thin air when deciding the size of the facility.
Size was based on the information provided by the architects in the feasibility study based on other libraries in other communities. As well, library standards, as outlined by the Ontario Public Library Guidelines, were used to determine the spatial requirements needed for all of the library functions.
The proposed new public library and technology centre is not too large for a community of our size, but the present library is too small. To compare the size of the new library to the ice surface is ludicrous. One facility has nothing in common with the other.
Costs? One thing everyone agrees on is that costs only will escalate. In fact, the cost to build a smaller library as proposed today is more than the original proposal in the feasibility study five years ago—and costs only will go up if delays continue.
Town council has supported the library board and the building committee on the building for the new library by passing every motion the library board has brought to them. Council also has supported all of our applications for outside funding.
We are fortunate to have the support of the provincial government for $1.6 million. The reason we have that funding was on the understanding that Fort Frances (with the support of council) was ready to proceed with the building of the new public library this past spring.
What if we lose this funding?
In the near future, the town will be forced to bring the old library up to standards for all people with disabilities—and the townspeople will have to foot the entire bill for that if we pass up this opportunity to build a new library now.
Do we have community support? Absolutely. We are fortunate to have been able to raise $530,000 (to date) in donations from the community. To me, that represents a strong “yes” vote to build a new library.
As well, the library commissioned Premiere Incentives to conduct a survey in 2004, which revealed strong community support of a new library and support for the fundraising campaign.
In all of the time I have been involved in this project, I have heard nothing but positive comments and support for the new library and constructive ideas for the new facility—until recently.
In the past few months, there have been a few vocal nay-sayers who have surfaced. Where were you the last 13 years when we were planning our modern, new library and technology centre and asking for your input?
For those of you who love all of the services our library staff provide for us now, just imagine how great our services will be when we move into a larger, modern, technogically-advanced, accessible facility.
I, for one, can’t wait. Council, stop delaying. Step up and vote to debenture the money for this project. This is good for our community and more economically sound for the town over the long-term.
People will move to Fort Frances, but it is the quality of life, including access to sports facilities, theatres, and libraries, that makes them want to stay.
Signed,
Laurel Halvorsen
Fort Frances, Ont.
Dear sir:
I strongly support the building of the new public library for Fort Frances. I have been involved in the effort to make this a reality for 13 years now.
Based on that study, it was decided the most efficient and cost-effective choice for the town was to build a new facility.
Is the proposed library too large? The size of the new building and what services the library provides, both now and into the future, were discussed at great length. The library building committee did not just pull numbers out of thin air when deciding the size of the facility.
Size was based on the information provided by the architects in the feasibility study based on other libraries in other communities. As well, library standards, as outlined by the Ontario Public Library Guidelines, were used to determine the spatial requirements needed for all of the library functions.
The proposed new public library and technology centre is not too large for a community of our size, but the present library is too small. To compare the size of the new library to the ice surface is ludicrous. One facility has nothing in common with the other.
Costs? One thing everyone agrees on is that costs only will escalate. In fact, the cost to build a smaller library as proposed today is more than the original proposal in the feasibility study five years ago—and costs only will go up if delays continue.
Town council has supported the library board and the building committee on the building for the new library by passing every motion the library board has brought to them. Council also has supported all of our applications for outside funding.
We are fortunate to have the support of the provincial government for $1.6 million. The reason we have that funding was on the understanding that Fort Frances (with the support of council) was ready to proceed with the building of the new public library this past spring.
What if we lose this funding?
In the near future, the town will be forced to bring the old library up to standards for all people with disabilities—and the townspeople will have to foot the entire bill for that if we pass up this opportunity to build a new library now.
Do we have community support? Absolutely. We are fortunate to have been able to raise $530,000 (to date) in donations from the community. To me, that represents a strong “yes” vote to build a new library.
As well, the library commissioned Premiere Incentives to conduct a survey in 2004, which revealed strong community support of a new library and support for the fundraising campaign.
In all of the time I have been involved in this project, I have heard nothing but positive comments and support for the new library and constructive ideas for the new facility—until recently.
In the past few months, there have been a few vocal nay-sayers who have surfaced. Where were you the last 13 years when we were planning our modern, new library and technology centre and asking for your input?
For those of you who love all of the services our library staff provide for us now, just imagine how great our services will be when we move into a larger, modern, technogically-advanced, accessible facility.
I, for one, can’t wait. Council, stop delaying. Step up and vote to debenture the money for this project. This is good for our community and more economically sound for the town over the long-term.
People will move to Fort Frances, but it is the quality of life, including access to sports facilities, theatres, and libraries, that makes them want to stay.
Signed,
Laurel Halvorsen
Fort Frances, Ont.
Reply to Stop Delaying
I am happy that the town council has not jumped onto the bandwagon and spent the people's money on a new library. We already have a big tax increase this year and I am sure that next year, it will go up again. With the rising cost of gas, it is costing more to operate the town's vehicles for an example. We have the repairs to the water tower as an extra burden this year. Checkout the letter from "Tired", which appeared on the same page of the Fort Frances Times as your letter. They are complaining about the roads in their area plus no sidewalks and curb & gutter. That is one area of Fort Frances that needs attention - roads. Our roads are in terrible shape. I believe this is not the time to spend money on the library as the town is facing other serious issues. Now the town could do a survey of what people think about the library. Using the tax rolls, send a letter with a ballot to every property owner in Fort Frances, with a postage paid reply envelope. Have them vote yes to a new library or Yes to renovating the current library or NO to any money being spent on the library at this time. Then if the majority of the replies want a new library, so be it. But I think the taxpayers should have a say in this matter. This survey would do that. I would also like to know how many people use the library everyday. There should be a sign in sheet at the library to see how many people use it per day. Then, it would be interesting to know, how many of these people come to the libaray on a daily basis or several times per week. Then you use these sign in sheets to see how many different individuals actually are using the libary. I believe that there are a lot of people that use the library as it is "Free" and they have no other place to go. I am sure the library staff know who their regulars are. If John Smith goes to the library every day, he shouldn't be counted as 7 visitors to the library during the week, but just as one individual users. We need to evaluate and collect more data as to the actual need for a new library. Thank you