Capital Standards
“A library outranks any other
one thing a community can do
to benefit its people.”
- Andrew Carnegie
• 1903: Public Library Opens with Gift from Andrew Carnegie
• 1929: Countywide Service Begins with Julius Rosenwald Fund Grant
• 1989: Current Main Library Opens with County and Private Support
• 2005: ImaginOn Opens with County, Federal, State and Private Support
• 2009: Draft Facility Master Plan prepared for the Library
• 2011: Future of the Library Task Force Recommends New Strategic Plan
after funding reductions close four of twenty-four locations
• 2012: Twenty locations serving 941,000 people in 530,000 sq. ft.
1. What standards do libraries use that trigger
the need for additional infrastructure investment?
Libraries use square foot per capita as a
guide to whether capital infrastructure
adequately meets community needs.
2. What are the existing standards for determining
the County’s capital needs for the Library system?
• 2008
Previous CCBAC endorsed:
0.7 sq. ft. per capita for the Library system
• 2009
Draft Facility Master Plan recommended:
0.8 sq. ft. per capita
2. (cont.)
What are the existing standards for determining
the County’s capital needs for the Library system?
2011 Data
• Mecklenburg County population: 941,000
• Existing Library system: 428,000 sq. ft.*
• Library system: 0.45 sq. ft. per capita
At 0.7 sq. ft. per capita - Additional 231,000 sq. ft.
659,000 sq. ft. total
At 0.8 sq. ft. per capita - Additional 325,000 sq. ft.
753,000 sq. ft. total
*excludes ImaginOn
3. Does the current standard adequately address
the needs of the County?
• June 2009  Draft Facility Master Plan
0.8 sq. ft. per capita
• Currently the Library has:
0.45 sq. ft. per capita
428,000 square feet total*
*excludes ImaginOn
4. When was the standard revised last?
• 2008 - 0.7 sq. ft. per capita
Previous CCBAC
• 2009 - 0.8 sq. ft. per capita
Draft Facility Master Plan
• 2011
Future of the Library Task Force
“Library neither over-built nor under-built
relative to peer libraries”
5. What is the basis for the standard?
Nationally, there is no single standard for
libraries, as community needs and resources
differ.
Many large urban public library systems use a
1.0 sq. ft. per capita standard.
5. (cont.)
What is the basis for the standard?
Locally, the draft Facility Master Plan:
• used local transportation area zones
(TAZ) from Charlotte’s Transit Plan to map
Library Service Areas
• developed a needs assessment for the next
two decades with the most accurate data
available.
6. What entities do you benchmark for comparison?
Nationally: Four dozen large library systems
serving a population between
500,000 and 1,000,000 people.
Regionally: A dozen library systems selected by:
• Chamber of Commerce
Cities against which we frequently
“compete”
• Mecklenburg County
Balanced Scorecard Comparisons
March 2011: Future of the Library Task Force Report
Chapter 2: Status of the Library before Funding Reductions
Contains a review of capital infrastructure
“The number of branches and the total square footage again
placed [the Library system] about the middle of the pack relative
to peer libraries. In reaching this conclusion, the Task Force has
recognized that ImaginOn is a unique community asset, as
reflected by the collaborative use of the building by the Library
and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.”
-Future of the Library Task Force Report
page 19
7. What are you basing your capital submission on
when you submit new projects?
We will not submit capital projects for building
new locations while any existing library branches
are operating less than 5 days a week.
7. (cont.)
What are you basing your capital submission on
when you submit new projects?
Existing infrastructure will require renovation
Age/Condition
Emerging Community Need
Efficiency
Thank you
Questions?