NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Pamela Kiesner
Bellingham Public Library
(360) 676-7794
pkiesner@cob.org

Tuesday, June, 5 2007

Library seeks consultant for first step in new building design

Library officials say community involvement is central to designing and building a new library, as they seek qualified consultants to lead the next step.

The Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees and the City of Bellingham are soliciting Statements of Qualifications for qualified individuals or firms to provide services to develop a building program statement for replacing the Central Library.

"This essential next step articulates the community's vision of the library's future, provides project cost estimates based on those ideas, and ultimately serves as a set of instructions to the architect," said Library Director Pam Kiesner.

She said developing this "programming statement" is the next step in moving forward a proposed library building and funding package, tentatively expected to be presented to Bellingham voters in spring 2008.

This work from the consultant selected will supplement past facility needs analysis and focus specifically on the current library site, as selected by the library board last winter and affirmed by the Bellingham City Council in January. The consultant will analyze demographic, economic, and planning forecasts for the City of Bellingham, recent Bellingham Public Library performance and activity measures, and will seek extensive community involvement.

The work that results from this contract will include a high level of community involvement, soliciting input and feedback from key community stakeholders and the general public. Other key stakeholders include library staff, the Library Board of Trustees, and City officials - including City Council members and the City of Bellingham administration.

"Community involvement is key to developing an accurate description of the library that the people of Bellingham want, one that captures their visions and goals," Kiesner said. She said the consultant chosen for this work will have a high level of experience soliciting feedback from community members about libraries.

The Library building program will:

" Document the findings of community analysis;
" Use the results of community feedback and input;
" Articulate the library's vision of its future;
" Serve as a set of instructions to the architect; and,
" Define the Library building program for a Central Library to serve the Bellingham community for at least 25-50 years.

The program will describe major programming and site elements such as optimal library size, building footprint, space functions and requirements, and options for future expansion. It will include elements such as pedestrian and vehicle access, parking for library patrons, and will identify how much green space is desirable to be user-friendly for library patrons and to address the community's desire for open spaces.

The program also will address building elements such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and relative impacts of certificate levels on building and operating costs.

Kiesner said she expects to have the consultant to lead this effort on board by mid-August and expects the project to be concluded by the end of December. For more information about planning for a new Central Library, visit the Bellingham Public Library website at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org .

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