town hall meeting
TRANSCRIPT
MISSION
To meet the long term library needs of the Ferndale community by building a downtown information and
education center combining the warmth of a traditional library with state-of-the-art technology:
A community living-room where everyone can read, learn, work, meet and grow.
New Ferndale Library Project
Fundraising Efforts to Date April 2010
$1.06 Million Gifts, Grants & Pledges to Whatcom Community Foundation
$277,000 Whatcom County Library System
$1.5 Million City of Ferndale
$2.837 Million
Funding for Library Expansion Projects
National Statistics for Funding Sources
Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions
Community Campaigns
Baby Lap-Sit to PreK reading activities
Outreach to parents and caregivers
School readiness/academic success
Elevate awareness of the need to read early and often
Elevate levels of early literacy, expand learning resources
Elevate levels of early literacy, improve quality of child care
A New Library Supports Economic Development with…
Early Literacy
Burlington
Growth in all areas marked the first full year in
the “new” Burlington Public
Library. Circulation grew a whopping 46%
over the prior year, more than
2,500 new members signed
up for library cards, and 5,300 people attended more than 175
library programs.
Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions
Access to technologyAccess to internetAccess to trainingEnglish language
trainingAdult literacy
resources & servicesCareer skills
workshops & resources
Expand quantity and competencies of local workforce, long-term community economic capacity
Expand employment aptitudes, competencies
Expand access to employment search and application opportunities
Expand employment skills and opportunities
Expand employment opportunities, economic sustainability
Provide support for career pathways, expand audiences/reach of agencies
Workforce Development
The New Middle Country Public
Library
The new library’s operating and
capital expenditures resulted in increased
output, earnings and employment throughout Long
Island but particularly in
the local community.
Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions
Access to databases and other resources
Technical assistance for start-ups and micro-enterprises
Technical assistance to existing businesses
Strengthen key local enterprise base and stimulate new job creation
Reduce cost for research and planning
Reduce costs & barriers to entering market, reduce failure rates, expand audience for local agencies involved in small business support, expand small business sector
Strengthen viable small business sector, expand reach & lower costs of local agencies with shared facilities & resources, increase clustering of enterprise for competitive advantage
Small Business Support
South Carolina
The total direct and
indirect return on investment for every $1 spent on the state's public libraries by
South Carolina state
and local governments
is $4.48 - nearly 350 %.
Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions
Downtown (often “central” or “main”)
Mixed-use, residential
Mall, commercial development
Joint-Use
Contribute to vibrant urban and suburban life
Anchor development, generate foot traffic, revitalize commercial and cultural activity
Provide amenity value, generate foot traffic, increase quality of life and safety
Generate traffic, but not sales competition, strengthens developer financing pro forma
Reduce development costs, generate synergy of consumers/service providers
Physical Development
Seattle, WA
Visits to the new public library have
increased King County
tourism. And, increased
tourism of one percent yields
$1billion in new economic
activity statewide over
25 years.
For more information…
www.newferndalelibrary.org
www.whatcomcf.org
The Foundation’s New Ferndale Library Project Fund was established in 2006 with an extraordinary $1 million gift.
Sources
Economic value of libraries. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/advocacyuniversity/toolkit/talkingpoints/economicvalue.cfm
Kamer,, Dr. P. M. (2006). The Economic value of the middle country public library in Suffolk County, New York. Long Island Association, Inc.
Public library buildings 2008. (2010). Library Journal, Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/info/CA6622885.html?q=library+buildings
The Urban Libraries Council. (2007). Making cities stronger: public library contributions to local economic development.