Two years ago, on the eve of the Salt Lake City Library's centennial celebration, U.S. Sen. and astronaut John Glenn wrote to offer his congratulations to the library and to say how reading inspired him to "literally ascend to new heights."
Now, just days days after Glenn and other astronauts soared back into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery, library director Nancy Tessman and other library officials say they are looking forward to a new era for the library and to reaching new heights in services.That era will be launched to an even greater extent, they say, if city voters approve construction of a new 200,000-square-foot central library to replace the 34-year-old building at 209 E. 500 South.
Voters on Tuesday will be asked to OK an $84 million bond. It would provide for a larger library, demolition of other buildings (except the present library) on the block east of the City-County Building, 600 parking stalls, a plaza and other facilities. The prospective plans include replacement of the plant that provides heating and cooling for the entire library block and for the City-County Building.
The 20-year bond would also provide funds for expansion of Sprague and Anderson-Foothill branch libraries.
If funded, the new main library building would be constructed north of the current library. City officials have not announced a new use for that building.
If voters approve bonding, city and library officials say it will mean an annual property tax increase of $43.50 on a $150,000 home and an additional tax hike to pay increased annual operating costs for the new larger main library.
Tessman said the current main library "cannot meet the growing demands of our patrons. The building has serious shortcomings and would require expensive remodeling to adapt to future needs.
"And the surrounding block needs immediate attention. The bond request seems to be the most responsible and complete solution. And we are hopeful that city residents will agree."
No organized opposition appears to have surfaced regarding the bonding proposal, which has the support of the city Library Board, the City Council and other officials. But some residents have written letters protesting a city tax increase.
The Utah Taxpayers Association hasn't taken a position for or against the bonding measure.
"We feel the voters need to decide whether they can afford the increased tax. But we applaud the Library Board and the City Council for the manner in which they have placed this before the voters. It couldn't be more fair in the way they have structured the proposal," said Howard Stephenson, association president.
The most common citizen concern, Stephenson said, is that the bond is for more than just a library. "But I think the city has made it very clear from the outset that it is not just for replacement of the main library but for reclamation of an entire city block."
Library officials estimate that increased operating costs of a new main library would amount to 10 percent to 12 percent more per year. The operating increase would boost taxes on a $150,000 home by $7 to $8 per year.
A team of architectural and other consultants who studied the present library during 1997 said it is seriously deficient in several important ways, including its lack of public parking. The consultants said it needs to be upgraded for seismic stability and that it has extensive electrical, plumbing and other problems.
Further, the consultants said collections and services have outgrown the available and often awkwardly configured spaces. Also, they pointed out that community needs and interests have changed significantly since the building was designed. Use of the building has grown steadily, the team said in its report.
Val Summerhays, library building engineer, and Keith Oliverson, manager of computing services, say the consulting team's findings are sound.
"As we are trying to work with technology, the building is sometimes restrictive," said Oliverson. He, Summerhays and Tessman conducted a tour through the five-story structure for the Deseret News.
Burke Cartwright of Edwards & Daniels Architects, the firm that prepared a master plan for the library block, said there's a compelling reason to demolish other structures on the block. They include vacant or soon-to-be vacant court buildings, the Salt Lake County Jail and other facilities, which Cartwright said, all restrict development plans for the entire block.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
How the $84 million bond money would be used
The $84 million bond would provide funds for:
- Construction of a new 200,000-square-foot main city library.
- Expansion of library facilities at Sprague and Anderson-Foothill branches. - Demolition of all structures on the main-library block except the existing library.
- Parking facilities for 600 vehicles (300 or more spaces dedicated for library use).
- Construction of an outdoor plaza for community events.
- Replacement of the plant that provides heating and cooling for the entire library block and for the City-County Building.
Approval of the bond will mean:
- A yearly increase in Salt Lake City property taxes of $43.50 on a $150,000 home to repay the bond, AND
- A property-tax increase to pay operating costs of a new, larger library. That increase is estimated at between $7 and $8 per year on the same home.