In early 2006, the need for a long-range vision for
Marin County Free Library’s facilities was identified by the Board of Supervisors
and Library Administration. The Library embarked on a Services and Facilities
Vision Plan project in late 2006 with the intent of studying the community’s
needs and desires for these or other improved library services and developing
a services and facilities plan that would support needed service improvements.
This work builds upon the Library’s Strategic Action Plan for 2006-2009 and
is a response to unmet and growing needs of the community.
The resulting Services
and Facilities Vision Plan articulates a direction for the future of Marin
County Free Library that was developed through a highly participatory process
and includes overall service recommendations and improvements for a revitalized
system. The Vision Plan
identifies viable options for improvements to facilities and associated project
costs, including capital costs, and implementation strategies for the overall
plan, including capital funding strategies. The Library encourages those in
the community to review the Plan and share with us your thoughts.
As County Library Director I am extremely grateful to the more than 1,500 community
members and volunteers who have participated to date in the discussion and design
of our "vision plan." This plan details the facility needs of our 4
large regional libraries and 7 branches and includes more than $135 million in
necessary improvements and will serve as the basis of our planning for the next
20 years.
While the need for improvements to our facilities has not changed over the
two years that we have been developing this plan, the political realities and
the available financing alternatives have taken some rather drastic twists and
turns. As the economic pressures of the recession have increased, resident financial
support dropped from $65 for the average homeowner (in 2007) to less than $45
in 2008. We prepared a smaller measure that would address the most critical
needs of our libraries while still minimizing the cost to taxpayers.
More than a year ago, the library and our financial and political advisors
met to begin discussing the best way to finance the vision plan with a ballot
measure. Up until about a month ago, we were planning a general obligation (G.O.)
bond measure (the same mechanism used by many school districts to finance facility
improvements). As a result of recent meetings with bond attorneys and review
by the county, we have been informed that we are legally unable to pursue a
G.O. Bond because of the fact that the bond would need to be levied by the County
and our library district does not encompass the entire county.
Alternative funding mechanisms to a G.O. Bond do exist. These include a Mello-Roos
district bond assessment, a parcel tax, a countywide bond measure in conjunction
with the city libraries and other alternatives. However, we don't have enough
time to do our due diligence and adequately explore all of the alternatives
prior to the first week of August 2008, which is the legal deadline for the
Board of Supervisors to place such a measure on the November 2008 ballot.
While we're disappointed that we won't be pursuing a ballot measure this Fall,
we are encouraged by our chances for success on a future ballot. With a (hopefully)
healthier economy, a proven financing plan and an even stronger coalition of
volunteers and backers, we are confident that we will be positioned to present
a winnable package to our constituents at a future date.
A Future for Marin Libraries (video) Sounding Board, produced by Soroptimist International of Novato,
presents an interview with the Library Director on the future of Marin County
Free Libraries. (54min, May 2007)
Spotlight on our Future Libraries (video) The G-Channel
presents an interview with the Director of County Library Services, highlighting
the Facilities Planning Process and the future of public libraries in
Marin (16 min, Jan 2007).
The Marin County Free Library, at the direction of the Board of Supervisors,
sought to
profile current library users as the first step to better understand and respond
to
community needs. The goals of this 2005 project was to define characteristics
of those most
and least likely to use the library, to identify unserved populations within
the Library’s
jurisdiction, to better understand the role of local libraries as a community
resource, and
to gauge the public’s perceived value of various services.
Information presented in the resulting Library
User Profile was intended for use by Library Administration, branch mangers,
and service committees to plan facilities, guide decisions regarding services
and
collection development, target outreach efforts to new and current patrons,
and design
effective marketing strategies.
The Marin County Free Library is a special district within County government
and has been in existence since 1927. Since this time, the County Library has
established a network of regional and branch libraries: the Civic Center headquarters
in San Rafael; regional libraries in the communities of Corte Madera, Fairfax,
and Novato; and branch libraries in Bolinas, Inverness, Marin City, South Novato,
Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo Valley, and Stinson Beach. A bookmobile provides
additional service to isolated communities, schools, and residential facilities.
Library staffing includes 108 permanent employees, assisted by 200 volunteers
who contribute almost 10,000 hours each year more...
In preparation for a ballot initiative, originally planned
for Fall 2008, Marin County Free Library (MCFL) commissioned Godbe Research to
conduct a tracking survey of Marin County voters residing within the MCFL service
areas to assess the feasibility of passing a library bond measure to fund the
improvement of public library facilities; survey the tax rates at which voters
will support the measure; prioritize potential projects to be funded based on
voter reception; and test the influence of supporting and opposing arguments on
potential voter support. More information is available in the March
2008 Topline Report. Other County Planning Documents
Interested in learning more about planning projects in Marin County? Check out
some of these other local planning websites:
The Marin County Free Library offers several ways to get
involved and learn more about the Services & Facilities Vision Plan for our
community.
Call or visit your local
branch to ask your question. (available during libraries' open
hours)
Ask us a question via email. Contact Library@co.marin.ca.us (e-mail us anytime--responses usually given in two
to three working days)
Write, FAX, call, or visit our central office:
Marin County Free Library
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Ph: (415) 499-3220
Fax: (415) 499-3726
The Services & Facilities Vision Plan online publication is distributed
by Marin County Free Library as part of our extensive community planning process.
