Building Project Links

As the heart of our community, the San Juan Island Library has served as a center of knowledge and connection for generations. However, with the growing population, demands, and aspirations of our beloved island, the time has come to envision a bigger, brighter future for our library.

Envisioning A New Library: A Public Forum, June 27, 2023

6.27.2023 Forum Meeting Minutes

Building Project Description

The San Juan Island Library District seeks to build a community embedded, supportive learning center in the heart of San Juan Island. Once realized, this new library facility will be a place where neighbors and friends can come together, forging lasting connections and creating cherished memories. It will provide ample space for community events, workshops, and gatherings that celebrate the rich tapestry of San Juan Island’s culture and heritage.

Expanding Horizons: Envisioning a New Library

The effort to raise funds to complete the 660 Spring Street library is underway!

The new and expanded library facility will feature:

An energy efficient, well designed, functional, user-friendly building
Minimal need for expensive building repairs and replacements, a concern both now and into the future for the current Library building.
The technology infrastructure to support the growing demand for public availability of computer use support services
The ability to meet the needs of a growing population with expanded services both traditional and innovative
Well-equipped meeting spaces, a recognized community need
Ample, flexible spaces for children, teen, and adult materials and activities, considered by the community to be core library services and severely restricted in the current building
Enough space for seating in quiet areas for reading and study (not now available in the library or elsewhere in the community, and a need frequently expressed by users)
Adequate, safely accessible parking, an ongoing problem at the current facility
Outdoor spaces for library programming and use
New technologies and services
Ample staff workspace designed for efficiency and productivity

Your Support: Building the Dream

To make this vision a reality, we need the support of our entire community. As we embark on this transformative journey, we invite you to be a part of our library’s future.

Stay tuned to this page, our social media page, and local newspapers to learn more about our series of community forums and other opportunities to help envision a new library for San Juan Islanders.

SJIL Building Project FAQs

Why does San Juan Island need a bigger library?

The current building was originally constructed as a restaurant that opened in the 1970s.
- Purchased by the Library and opened in 1983
- Underwent a major renovation in 1988
- Expanded and remodeled facility opened in 1995
- Additional renovation in 2005 to maximize usage of available space.
- It’s now been 27 years since the last expansion, and we are bursting at the seams.
- Since 2010, the population of San Juan Island has increased by 22.7%.
Heavy and constant use since the last renovation in 2005 means that maintenance and repair costs will only continue to rise. These costs come out of the annual operating budget and could negatively affect funds available for services, collections, and staff.
Aging infrastructure limits our technical capacity to support all user and staff needs.
We are unable to provide sufficient work stations and outlets in quiet areas for individuals using computers—their own, or the Library’s.
There is inadequate space for children’s materials and activities, and for teen users.
There is no space for additional books and other materials. Offering something new means that something we currently offer has to be cut.
We cannot meet the demands for meeting room space for public meetings, nor to host all Library programs, many of which have to be held offsite.
There are no spaces for individuals or small groups to meet for quiet collaboration or privacy.
The Library is noisy due to the necessary proximity of public service areas to work, study, and reading spaces, and to there being no effective separation between children’s, teen, and adult areas.
Staff areas are crowded and inadequate to efficiently complete work assignments, process books and other media, and prepare programs for children, teens, and adults.
Parking is inadequate and often difficult to access safely.

Why not expand the current building?

An expansion into the parking lot is not an option as parking space is already inadequate.
The building does not have the strength capacity for the addition of a second floor. Another story would also require more parking by regulation, but parking is at maximum capacity and inadequate as it is.

Why not renovate the current building?

Long term costs for maintenance of the current facility will only increase over time, and eventually code related changes will force renovations onto a facility that is not sized for the community anymore.
Costs to renovate the existing facility would, per square foot, be higher than would likely be palatable and would wed the Library to the current building limits, as the current site is already not compliant with fire code.

What kinds of cuts would have to be made in services if the Library stayed in its current facility?

Increasing maintenance and repair costs for the aging building may have a substantial impact on the yearly operating budget which is limited by law to an annual growth of no more than 1%.
If more money is needed for upkeep of the building, less money is available for materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, equipment, databases and other digital resources) and programs for children and adults.
Professional staff hours may need to be reduced, lessening productivity and activities necessary for public services such as interlibrary loan, the development, organization, and maintenance of the Library’s collections of books and other media, cooperation with other community organizations and agencies, public services such as instruction and other assistance with new technologies, and open hours may need to be reduced, etc.

How big will the new Library be?

At today’s costs for construction materials and services, the new Library will be approximately 15,000 sq ft., around 50% bigger than the current facility.
But . . . in addition to a larger building, on the new site will be space for increased and much improved parking, plus outdoor green space to hold Library programs and activities, space for public enjoyment, and room to grow in the future.

What benefits would the community gain by having a new facility?

An energy efficient, functional, user-friendly building designed to be a 21st century Library
Minimal need for expensive building repairs and replacements, a concern both now and into the future for the current Library building
The technology infrastructure to support the growing demand for public availability of computer use support services
The ability to meet the evolving needs of a growing population with expanded services both traditional and innovative
Well-equipped large and small meeting spaces, a recognized community need
Ample, flexible spaces for children’s, teen’s, and adult materials and activities, considered by the community to be core Library services and severely restricted in the current building
Enough space for seating in quiet areas for reading and study (not now available in the Library or elsewhere in the community, and a need frequently expressed by users)
Adequate, safely accessible parking, an ongoing problem at the current facility
Outdoor spaces for Library programming and use; currently outdoor programming must be done off-site
New technologies and services
Ample staff workspace designed for efficiency and productivity

Why are you moving to a new location?

The new location is closer to the middle of town.
Students can easily walk from public and private schools.
The Mullis Senior Center and Village at the Harbor will be close by.
Being on the main road through town leads to easier access for more people.
Instead of 2/3 of an acre currently, the Library will have 2 ½ acres with space for activities, extra parking, and room for growth.

How much will a new building cost?

The total project is estimated to cost $20,000,000. An updated estimate by a construction management team lists construction costs at approximately $14,500,000, including FF&E. A 2020 non-taxpayer bond for $2,075,000 to purchase the property will be retired. Architecture and construction management costs are estimated to fill the remainder of the budget amount.

Why is it going to be so expensive?

A new library building must meet current building codes for public facilities, including ADA accessibility, and must pay prevailing wages for construction following state law. Public construction is simply more expensive than private construction, even private commercial construction.
The project needs to meet LEED Silver standards to meet the requirements of a state grant.
There have been significant increases to costs within categories that include metals, concrete, copper, and lumber, and in some cases, labor. The pandemic and downstream effects of the war in the Ukraine have caused significant inflation to many aspects of construction.
Although that inflation may ease between now and the time construction begins, it is unlikely that costs will go back down significantly.
If we wait, it’s only going to get more expensive.

How will you pay for the new Library?

In order to have funds for property acquisition, architectural services, construction, equipment and furnishings for the new Library facility, resources will be sought through:
- Contributions from private donors and foundations.
- Grants from government and private entities that fund library construction projects.
- A bond issue that would be approved by the voters; for a bond to be passed, it is necessary that 40% of voters from the previous general election vote and that 60% of those individuals vote “yes” on the bond issue.

Why can't you pay for the new building with the Library's regular tax levy?

The regular tax levy funds the Library’s annual budget. This is an operating budget based on anticipated income primarily from a tax levy collected twice a year by the County. It does not include funding for large capital projects such as construction, site acquisition, etc. necessary for the creation of a new Library facility. By law, this budget may increase by no more than 1% each year. This would continue to be true in a new facility. The Library does not have a reserve fund dedicated to capital projects.

How much will my taxes be raised?

The total tax increase per property is calculated by taking the total bond amount and dividing it by the total assessed value of land on San Juan Island. Each property owner is then allocated a “cost per thousand dollars” of assessed value. This means that properties with higher assessed values pay more than properties with lower assessed values. Note that the total bond does not change over time. In fact, as more properties are added to the total assessed value of land on San Juan, the allocated tax amount per thousand decreases.
A hypothetical example is as follows:
- For a $12,000,000 of general obligations bonds with a maximum term of 21 years.
- The annual cost to a taxpayer owning a:
  - $250,000 home is approximately $44 per year.
  - $500,000 home is approximately $88 per year.
  - $750,000 home is approximately $132 per year.
  - $1,000,000 home is approximately $176 per year.

Library Building Project