Community for a New Silver Spring Library - Letter to County Council

June 9, 2008

Mr. Mike Knapp
Montgomery County Council President
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Council President Knapp and Council Members:

The Community for a New Silver Spring Library (CNSSL) is a group comprised of members of the Silver Spring Library Advisory Committee, the Silver Spring Friends of the Library, and other concerned library patrons. We have three critical goals – 1) Getting a library for our community that is large enough and equipped properly for today’s needs and has room to grow; 2) Getting that adequate library as quickly as possible -- December 2010 should be the opening; and 3) Ensuring that any design options for the site (selected nearly ten years ago solely for the new library) prioritizes library requirements over those of facilities which may share the site. We have testified twice before the Council (February 7, 2006 and February 5, 2008) regarding our frustrations with the delays in the process and the need for a larger library than currently envisioned. Included with this letter is a timeline of key events for your reference.

As the timeline clearly shows, many in the Silver Spring community have worked diligently for a new library since 1997. At that time, the Redevelopment Steering Committee and community groups fully endorsed funding a new, urban library as part of the Civic Center. By 2001, the idea of combining the library with the Civic Center was changed in favor of a stand alone library. The 2001 Site Selection Committee determined that the planned site (the southwest corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street) was the best one for the new library.

It is important to note that, had action been taken in 2002 or 2003, the costs of the land acquisition and building the new library would have been significantly lower than today. In addition, efforts by the state and others to use the land purchased for the library for other purposes such as the Purple Line would not be threatening the goal of an appropriately designed and sized library. We are disturbed that the latest exchanges between the Council and the County Executive seem to be holding the library hostage to the resolution of a debate over Fenton Village zoning issues. There have been real costs due to the delays Silver Spring has already endured and we strongly urge you to push to end the delays and to open our new library by December of 2010. We also insist that the library be the centerpiece and priority in all design efforts. This land was purchased for the library, which is what the community consistently supported for over a decade.

Sadly, it is also worth noting that the main complaint in 1997 is the same one we have today – the current library is simply too small. Despite the best efforts of a very dedicated and hard working staff, the services to the community continue to decline because of the inadequate size and equipment of the existing library. This problem has only been exacerbated in the ensuing decade and will continue to get worse. We are proud to have a diverse and expanding community in Silver Spring. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) provided a demographic update for the new library on 24 January 2008 which makes it clear that the assumptions that went into the last Program of Requirements (POR) (September 2005) are out-of-date and will lead to a new library that will be too small when built.

We urge you to insist on a revised plan that clearly accommodates the library requirements of our large and growing community. On the first page of Chapter One of the latest POR, it says that, “Based upon the demographics of the community, the following services and materials are needed to meet the needs of users…” and on pages 9 and 10 detailed demographic data is included, but the actual updated demographics of our community have not been used. The Program of Requirements determines the basic size of the library needed and is, therefore, critical to preparing any designs for the library and the site as a whole.

As we have examined the Program of Requirements, there are a number of areas where we believe too little space is planned. Here are a few of those areas:

• The new Rockville Library was designed to meet the needs of 53,000 people at 44,670 gross square feet. Silver Spring will serve 86,500 residents today, and that number will grow, but is only planned for 38,440 square feet. Clearly, with 39% more people to serve today, a larger library will be needed. M-NCCP anticipates further growth to nearly 100,000 residents to be served by 2010, when we hope the library will open.

• On page 28 of the POR, we are told that Silver Spring traditionally has higher in-house material use than other libraries in the County (footnote 8), yet the Adult Reading Area is only scheduled to be 1,600 square feet while the adult reading area in Germantown was scheduled to be 3,500 square feet and Rockville’s was scheduled to be 3,560 square feet. Clearly this at least 50% too small.

• One critical area of concern is the number of computers that will be available to the public. The POR indicates on page 64 that there are 17 public computers currently available, but it is our understanding from the Silver Spring Library staff that there are only 10 on which the public can access the internet or use word processing and other software, along with 2 dedicated to the children’s area and 2 that are for 15 minute, express use only. These computers are in constant use and wait times are far too long. On May 21st, patrons were literally waiting two-and-a-half hours to use the computers. The POR only plans on 21 public computers. That is simply not enough for a community where many families do not own home computers or have quiet spaces for work/study available. In addition, it is critical that some computers and study rooms be available for English language training as this is a service in high demand in Silver Spring.

• On page 30 of the POR, we are told that Silver Spring has the largest periodical collection in a community library and that “The collection is popular and heavily used.” With a location in the Central Business District, it is anticipated that the periodical collection will get even more use during lunch hours. The planned size for the collection is only 1,360 square feet, however, when Germantown was planned for 2,100 and Rockville 2,500. Once again, it is clear that the plans are at least 50% too small.

• On page 11 of the POR, we are told that “After moving to a larger facility with space for a larger collection and with adequate parking, use – as measured in circulation – is expected to grow to match libraries of similar size.” Once again, however, that analysis is not followed up by providing adequate space. Instead, the Adult Circulating Collection is given only 3,400 square feet while Germantown was given 5,000 square feet and Rockville 5,260 square feet.

• Again on page 11, we are told that the Silver Spring library’s meeting rooms, “are among the most heavily used in the County.” The new library plan only asks for 2,000 square feet while both Germantown and Rockville had 3,190 square feet planned.

• We were also disturbed to see that no space was planned for a children’s quiet study room or for a children’s “Discovery Center”, even though Germantown has 360 and 400 square feet devoted to these purposes.

• We also noted that the Special Display Area is only planned to be 50 square feet, while Germantown was planned to have 160 square feet. As a designated Arts District, we would like to see community art displayed at our library. It makes no sense to us that our new library would only have one-third of the space Germantown has for such displays. Particularly as we already know that we will need 5x16 feet for installation of the “The Old Tavern” mural.

• On page 13, the POR indicates that a single story building is desirable, “A level site, which can accommodate the library program in a single story building, is desirable.” It is not at all clear to the community why this would be so. We are open to seeing multiple design options, as long as they provide us with a large enough library. We are opposed to being forced to accept a Purple Line cutting through the ground floor space of the library and constraining design options. While not our primary issue, we do not see the logic of having the Purple Line routed on busy surface streets in the Central Business District.

• The POR calls for limited on-site parking for handicapped and families with small children. We believe that this is appropriate, but recommend consideration of a pedestrian access bridge over Wayne Avenuefrom the Wayne Avenue Garage for patron safety and addition of on-site parking for the staff.

These are just a few of our specific concerns with the 2005 POR. We hope that you will thoroughly analyze the existing Program of Requirements as well and insist it be revised to reflect the reality of our community’s demographics and usage needs. Such a revision should be a top priority for the Library Department and completed quickly to ensure no further delays.

In addition, we believe that several new program areas should be considered for inclusion in our new library, including the following:

• Early Children’s Literacy Center – In keeping with the Maryland State Department of Education state-wide effort to promote school readiness using libraries, it is critical that the new library contain a large children’s area with room for varied learning experiences for younger children. For example, group reading sessions, book sharing, chanting rhymes and songs, and regular dialogue with children would continue to be part of the children’s program. In addition, throughout the children’s area, there would be small, self-service, child-size areas with other learning stimuli like magnetic boards, alphabet magnets, puppets, small puzzles, and trains. This encourages children to roam the collection and stop to interact with other children or adults using these stimuli. Ideally, the children’s area will be accessible through a creative, child size entry space (some libraries have small tunnels, fake castle doors, etc.).

• Arts Community Connection – As a designated Arts District, the community would welcome establishing connections to the arts community through regular programming of all forms of the arts.

• Enhanced Electronic Resource Center/Business Center – The new library must have more computers. Given the downtown location and the demographics of Silver Spring, we would like to see a more comprehensive set of digital media and software resource services offered. There must be space for teaching individuals and groups how to use technology. A lab that could also be made available to local businesses would benefit everyone. In addition, digital media should be available so that patrons can learn and use advanced publishing software, photography/brochure making programs, and color printers. Silver Spring has a large small business and entrepreneurial business population, as well as many families that do not own computers. The basic reference and electronic resources that are critical to success in the modern business world must be available to allow our citizens to thrive.

• Green Roof – The new building offers a wonderful opportunity to provide a green roof that could be used to educate children and the community about gardening; that would provide a beautiful and natural oasis for lunchtime and other patrons; that would enhance the environmentally friendly design of the building; and that might be a good location for a coffee bar.

• Designated and Enhanced Foreign Language Center/Collection – It is critical that the new library accommodate the languages spoken in the homes of many Silver Spring residents and the efforts of Silver Spring schools to teach native English speakers foreign languages so that they can be competitive in the global economy. We have a large French speaking community and a French immersion program at Silver Spring International, but only a small French collection. There must be space for expanding this, as well as other foreign language collections and learning materials.

• Coffee Bar – A coffee bar would be a wonderful addition to the library space. It could either be in/on the building itself, or adjacent to it.

These are all programmatic ideas that would enhance our new library and that we hope will be incorporated in the plans for the new library. We believe others in the community will have additional ideas and hope you will work with us ensure that the community has an active role in determining the scope of the library. Much of the data that was gathered initially to define the new library is outdated. Therefore, it is vital that the design process occur at times when diverse elements of the community can participate.

Last, we as citizens have question about this process and the way forward. To date, we do not feel that communication between County government and the community has been adequate regarding plans for the new library. We hope you will be able to answer the below questions and allay some of our concerns.

Key Questions:

1. How large can the new library be? Are there any absolute limits based on other goals?
2. What are the other goals and when were they publicly debated and decided?
3. Will you ensure that the Program of Requirements is updated within the next month to more accurately reflect the demographics and needs of Silver Spring?
4. What trade-offs do elected officials believe must be considered in the design of the new library? Again, please clarify when any decisions that will impact the new library’s size and design were publicly discussed and decided.
5. What is your commitment to ensuring real public participation in the design process?
6. Can we get our new library open by December 2010? If not, why not?

We recognize that the new library is a major undertaking, but we hope that you will understand that after over a decade, we are no longer content to see it further delayed nor to support a plan that only gives us a fraction of the library that we need. The County Executive, the County Council, and the Library Department have all claimed that they support our new library, we hope those words will be supported with an aggressive effort to build a library large enough for our community by December 2010.

We look forward to you answers to our questions and to working with you to build Silver Spring a new library that meets our needs and of which we can all be proud.

Sincerely,


Erin Marie Logan
Chair
8715 1st Avenue, #1122 C
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-585-4828