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COT / COMMUNITY LIBRARY PLANNING STUDY MSU-Billings College of Technology & City of Billings BILLINGS, MONTANA FINAL DRAFT

APPENDIX B - JOINT COMMUNITY LIBRARY PROPOSAL |

LMNARCHITECTS DREW HARRINGTON ASSOCIATES

in association with:

Appendix B: JOINT COMMUNITY LIBRARY PROPOSAL

 

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Parmly Billings Library

MSU-Billings

CovNztutN{TYLrsnnRY

Prescntalion bY:I)r. Ronald Sexton, Chalcellor of MSI l-llillings

Kristoff llauer, Cit-v AdniinistratorJohn Cech, Dean ol' MSti-Billirw Collese of

'fechr-tologT

llill Cochran, f)irector of Parmly Billings library

Jane Howell, Director ol MS[l-Biilings library

April 19,2004

I Table of Contents

Executive Summary

The Concept of a Joint Community Library

The Goals Achieved Through Joint Collaboration

Community Reactions to the Joint Community Library

The New Community College

A Cost Efficient Concept Responsive to Current and Future Needs

The Library Building

Esqmated Costs and Capital Funding

Estimated Annual Operating Costs

Impact to Parmly Billings Downtown and Downtown Billings

Expanded Access via Transportation Improvements

A Vision for the Future

Rationale and Benefits of a Joint Community Library

The Rationale'for the Creation of a Joint Community Library

Issues to Address and Resolve

Benefits of the Partnership

Challenges

Conclusion

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Executive Summary

An Opportunity

A cooperative joint project between Montana State University-Billings and the ParmlyBillings Library is proposed-a community library/information resource center that willserve both as the MSU-Billings College of Technology iibrary and a branch publiclibrary for the weslend Billings community.'The joinruse library will be a.new model ofcooperation in Montana-a partr:ership between the City of Billings and Montana StateUniversity-Billings.

The MSU-Biltings College of Technology is evolving from its traditional vocational,technical role into its new role as a comprehensive community college, and is in an idealsituation to be part of a new community venture. The proposed joint community librarywould serve the rapidly growing west Billings population as well as the students, facultyarid staff ofthe college and would be a community-centered educational resource facilitysupporting lifeJong leaming, recreation and social activities.

A Proposal

The community library would be a building of 50,000 square feet, located on the campusof the College ofTecbnology at 3803 Central Avenue, with easy access from CentralAvenue, adequate parking, and close ties to the existing college building. The librarywould be a valuable community resource, available to children, young people, seniorcitizens and business people in the rapidly growing western part of the city. It would bean immense improvement for students, faculty and staff of the College of Technologywho are using inadequate space and facilities within the present college building.

The Benefits

Among the advantages ofajoint use facility are that the collaboration ofthe City anct theCollege would result in longer hours, larger collections, more staffing, better service, andshared meeting space, at significantly less cost to each than would be the case if twoseparate facilities were to be planned and built to meet the projected needs of thecommunity. The community library would relieve some of the pressure of high use ofthe present library downtowr as well as attracting many people who currently do not uselibrary services.

The Costs

Total projecl costs, including construction, parking, fumihne and equipment, to be sharedbetween t}re College and the City, are estimated to be $9.6 million. Ongoing annualoperating costs, again, to be shared between the College and the City, are estimated to beapproximately $350,000. Several funding options for sharing both the one{imeconstruction and the ongoing operating costs are identified and discussed in this paper'

This exciting project follows the example of several projects recently completed or inprogress in LhVist4 Nebraska, the Twin Cities, and San Jose, Califomia.

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The Joint Community Library PriposalPage 2

The Concept of a Joint Community Library

A partnership ofnecessity has been forged between Montana State University-Billingsand its College of Technology (COT) and the City of Billings through the ParmlyBillings Library for the development of a joint community library and informationresource center, to be located on the southwest comer ofthe College ofTecbnologycampus. This joint community library would serve not only the needs of bommunityresidents and students from the greater Billings community, but library users locatedthroughout the surrounding region.

There are many advantages to joint-use libraries, including extended hours, largercollections, more personnel, student recruitment, additional community meeting space,access to computer technology, cooperative acquisitions, and greater service to patrcns,all ofwhich should leld a greater retum on the overall investment as a result of sharedtunding.

It is entirely possible the collaborative efforts of.two or more rnotivated agencies to createa joint-use community library parbrership may result in much better service to the usersthan might be provided by the partners individually. However, this is not done withoutmajor and very detailed planning efforts on a wide spectrum of issues. A joint-use librarydoes offer an athactive opportunity for the students of the COT and the citizens ofBillings and Yellowstone County. The library would serve as a community hub forleaming, information dissemination, discussion, children and youth activities, public andcommunity meetings, and quiet socializing: in short, it will nurture community and all ofits aspects.

In fact, Parmly Billings Library and the COT have been planning for a joint communitylibrary to meet increasingly urgent needs for expanded and improved library space foreach institution since January 2003. Not surprisingly, the Pamrly Billings Library andthe University's Library have collaborated on a number of fionts over the years. In 1981,both libraries were founding members of the Bfllings Area Health Science InformationConsortium, and participation has been ongoing since the consortium's inception. Inaddition, both libraries have shared the indexing of The Billings Gazette, the local dailynewspaper, and both libraries have participated in joint planning for a communityarchives site. Also, both libraries were involved in a coordinated development of a site-based distance learning Master of Library Science program, which was offered by theUniversity of Arizona on the MSU-Billings campus when it was known as EasternMontana College.

Despite these collaborative efforts, the concept of the joint-use library may still beunusual in Montana, but it is not unknown in other portions ofthe United States andaround the world; for example, in San Jose, California, the City ofsan Jose and San JoseState University operate a new joinluse iibrary. Jointuse libraries can also be found in

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.i'The Joint Community Library ProposalPage 3

La Vista, Nebraska (in conjunction with the Metropolitan Commrmity College ofOmaha), and in countries such as Sweden and heland.

In a 2003 study by the intemational library organization OCLC, it was stated that,"susfainability is only possible tlrough collaboration," furthermore, 'Joint use of librariesis something smaller institutions need to look at - combined academic libraries,combined schooVpublic libraries, combined public/academic libraries." (2003 OCLCEnvironmental Scan: Pattem Recopition, page 83).

The Goals Achieved Through Joint Collaboration

As previously mentioned, the idea of creating a Community Library as a joint partnershipbetween the MSU-Billings College of Tecbnology and the Parmly Billings Library carneabout early in 2003 during discussions about the progress ofthe COT and its evolutiontoward the more comprehensive community college model. The need for libraryfacilities for the growing student body and ttre expanding curriculum give rise to theurgent need for a much improved library for students at the COT campus, some sevenmiles away from the main University campus and its cental libwy facility.

The COT has experienced significant grovl'th over the past three yeats, lvith its studentbody growing from 460 students in the Spring of2001 to 733 students in the Spring of2004. The college is expecting to grow dramatically over the next decade, with forecastsof a student population nearing 2,000 within five years. This growth will be fueled bynew programming parbrerships with regional business and indushies ranging from healthcare, service, financial, to manufacturing, and tecbnology

Furthermore, the Billings West End is also experiencing dramatic growth. Currentstatistics reflect that the average daily trafEc count along Shiloh Road is between 9'500and I 1,000 vehicles, and along Central Avenue, theaverage daily traffic count is approximately 8,600 vehiclesper day. Both Shiloh Road arrd3z"o Street Wes! a majorarterial just to the east ofthe College ofTechnology, willsee significant expansion in order to accommodate thegrowing population on the West End.

For these reasons, the following goals to be achievedthrough the j oint parhership would include:

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loformation Commons, MSU-BiUings Library

o To create, build and operate a shared library facility to serve the students of theCOT and the rapidly growing community centered on the West End of Billings.Russ Lane, Director of the Metropolitan Commrrnity College operation in thejoint use facility in LaVista, t{ebraska, reports that "We wouldn't have hadanywhere near as nice a facilify for eilher the College or the Library without thepartnership."

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.tThe Joint Community Library ProposalPage 4

To address the realization ofa west-end branch for the Parrnly Billings Library, aconcep which continues to be supported by the Library Board of Trustees and hasbeen recornmended for further planning by the Billings City Council.

To provide excellent access to library services, study space, computerworkstations, and materials appropriate to the curriculum for the students of theCOT. Excellent online resources are now available to all students, faculty andstaff ofthe entire University, but student access to assistance, insbuction and evento computers on the COT campus is very limited.

To offer public and campus users more hours of access, comparable to the 85.5hours over seven days a week that the cental University Library is open.

To provide adequate staffing of librarians and library support staffto neet theinformation needs of the campus community and public library users.

Community Reactions to the Joint Community Library

By virtue of the Parmly Billings Libtiry's participation in theCommunity Library Project, other partners include the City ofSillings and its many deparments, the Parmly Billings LibraryFoundation, Inc., and the Friends ofthe Library. Existingpartnerships between the MSU-Billings Library and otheracademic libraries will also contribute to the richness ofthe

available to students and others using the Community

ln addition, the business-based Shiloh Task Force, located iathe immediate neighborhood of the COT campus, will lend itssupport to the project. Groups as diverse as the BillingsChapter of the American Association of University Women

(AAUW) and Qslsfmls $illings, a commrmity leadership effort spearheaded by theSillings Gazette, School District Two, and both Billings' local health care institutions,have shown interest in zupporting the partnership. Both Parmly Billings Library andMontana State University-Billings have fomdations dedicated to supporting theirinstitutions-both would be involved in the fund-raising efforts that will be necessary.Close to the COT is one of the largest churches in the region, the Faith Chapel, whichmay parbrer with the college to share new parking facilities that could sewe bothorganizations (including the Commrmity Library) during their busiest times.

The New CommunitY College

The COT is in the process of evolving from its traditional role as a tecbnical college to itsnew role as a comprehensive community college. This new role will enable the

Reference Service at theMSU-Billings Library

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The Joint Community Library PtiposalPage 5

University to better serve the greater Yellowstone region and to attract new students topost-secondary education.

As a fiil-service community college, the coT will be positioned to be more responsiveto student needs and will provide a diverse population of leamers with oppo*unities for

credentialing, professional and personal growtb, technical training and academicprepmation.- The College is committed to providing students and residents (from veryyoung children to senior citizens) of the Greater Yellowstone region with the broadest

iossible range of educational opportunities, both credit and non-credit, and support to

insure their success. The College is poised to dramatically expand its program offerings

to include evenings and Saturdays.

In addition, the College has refocused its emphasis on community outreach andworldorce training. current developments include the addition of a new $1.5 milliondollm high technology ouheach center and the addition of several new computel trainingptogr"-i. Both ofthese additions were firnded largely through Federal Appropriations.

The coT has recently remodeled and refirbished its library, but the library is stillinadequate to meet the needs of students and faculty for the historic mission oftheCofleje, i.e. vocational bducation. The new commrmity college-model underscores the

need for a significantly expanded and improved library.

The College is further committed to those efforts necessary to strengthen our communitythrough partnerships with govemment, business, nonprofit organizations, civic groups,

and arts and educational entities.

A Cost Efiicient Concept Responsive to Current and Future Needs

To effectively serve the population 6f $illings andYellowstone County, Parmly Billings Library should havecollections, computer work stations, public seating, and staffwork space that would require befween 90,000 and 100,000square fee! with a main library facility providingapproximately 60,000 square feet, and branches providing theadditionat 30,000 to 40,000 square feet. ln order toaccommodate growth and the urban spread of Billings' abranch of approximately 25,000 square feet on the west end,half of the space planned for the proposed joint facility, and afuture branch of approximately I 5 ,000 squme feet in theHeights would be optimal.

A joint library project would meet the needs of botl the

The Lavista Public Ubrarv, located insoutheastem Nebrrsk4 serves MetopolitatrCommutrity College students in ajoiDt commurutycollegdpublic tibrary building that opeoed id 1999

College and the commmity, with costs to each estimated to tre L

about half of what the total would be if each pursued sepmate facilities.

Wbile the two libraries have long shared some purchasing decisions and sharedresponsibilities for subject coverage for the community to maximize the use of limited

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The Joint Community Library ProposalPage 6

funding for library materials, the computer age has changed how this is done. Bothlibraries offer easy web-based access to their catalogs. similarly, both libraries havebeen part of shared cooperative arrangements for improving the efficient use of librarycollectioa funding as well as for major automation projects.

The Library Building

The Library building would be located on the southwest comer of the COT campus,located at 3803 centoal Avenue. The new building will need to accommodate 5b,000square feet ofspace, which will allow for growth over the next 5-10 years. It could bedesigp.ed as either one level or two levels, depending on projected use estimates. Thelibrary would include all of the following amenities:

o Resource materials - books, media" joumalsr Information Conrmons - opelr computer accessr Easy access for persons with disabilitieso Classrooms and flexible spaces for group instructionr Commrmity/student meeting roomso Quiet study areae Group study arear Children's reading and ouheach arear Coffee shop (potartial revenue sheam)r OfiEce Eraceo Possible small retail space (potential revenue stream)

An aerial view of the College of Techaologr itr@Billings, \ils66a4 6odified to itrclude a corceptual rcnditioD ofihe Foposed Community LibBry.

"iThe Joint Community Library ProposalPage 7

Knowledgeable professionals will guide people from diverse backgrounds on their

oersonal iaths oi dir"ourry, growti and ieaming' Classes and programs will unitepeople

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hterests to facilitate the exchange of ideas. The new library wltl truty De a

"-q* ""f*"f and intellectual gathering place - a place of diverse ideas' community

involvement and personal development'

Estimated Costs and Capital Funding

The collaboration between the city and the university in the construction of a new joint

community library rcpresents the best of cooperative efforts between a major Montana-

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"tutttity - a partnership that would be supported by the Yello-w-stone Valley's

irmovators and leaders. The estimated construction iosts for the new 50,000 square foot

il"ifaf"g *" SS,62g,4}0,with the City of Billings and MSU-Billings each being

.*p""riUf. for'50 percent. This estimate is based on the following schedule:

o Obtaining 8.3 acres ofland (to relocate University Soccer Field):

r Parking Spaces (250):. Construction ($134lsf+ l2o/o fee + 10% cont):o Fumiture and Equipment (gsf) 30'000 x $20:

Proiected Estimate

$275,000500,000

8,2s4,400' 600.000

$9,629,400

Citv of Billinss Capital Funding - A significant porfion, if not all of the Parmly

illi#;ilt"ty's pu.ticiputiot itt-the capital costs of the joint library project' couldbe

ir,"iua-.a i. u Si to$8 mi1fion general obiigation bond issue currently scheduled in^the

l;lty . C"pi "f

r"provement Pi;n. This is icheduled to appear on the November 2005

eeneral efection ballot. This bond issue would help fund needed renovation ofthe

e;;;;;;iy nittings rftrarvbuilding for code-comirliance' enhancements to the

oublic service areas, and improvetl work flow, with the amount to be determined

i;;;;;;6ed study oithe building in the coming year. A1l or part of the ciry's.

pJ"ip":ri"ri ill ae capital costs of the jo'int proje"t 9o.10 also be included in this bond

irr*, t"i ottttt options include contributions from the Parmly Billings Library

Forrnautiorr, foc., Friends ofthe Library, and other private or grant suppo"' * *"1,1,u: - --,

oursuit of federal funcling. rrre city,s slare ofthe ongoing operational costs would.need

tobecoveredthroughamilllely,whichwouldrequireavoteofthecommunrty,wlrnrneCitvls share ofthe total estimated $350,000 arnual operating costs representing no more

than about a mill and a half.

Two other possibilities from the City of Billings include:

r Application for low interest loan programs for which the City/County would be

elieible.

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The Joint Community Library ProposalPage 8

o Work with a private developer who would build the facility and rent it to thetenants for a period of time for an option to pwchase.

MSU-Billings Capital Funding - Montana State University-Billings would use tuitionand fee income as part of the operating support cost, and could receive some operationaland construction funding through the State of Montana. The University would alsopursue its portion of funding for the joint community library from three basic categories:(1) Federal appropriations; (2) Federal and State gants; and (3) private and/or corporate,foundation funding, and individual gifts. The MSU-Billings Foundation would mostcertainly be involved in fund-raising campaign efforts throughout the community.

In December 2003, both the University and the City of Billings submitted an Applicationfor Planning Support to the Celebrate Billings group, which invited applications from thecommunity for plarming grants. The Community Library, in conjunction with thedevelopment of the community college concept, received the highest ratings of all thedozens of applications submitted. Possible funding awards are still pending at this time.In the meantime, the University and the City of Billings have both included theCommunity Library as a priority on their list of federal appropriation projects for thecoming year,

Fbderal Funding Possibilities

r The Billings community does not currently have a full-fledged adult literacyprogram. Such a prognm could be integrated into the new library. Appropriatedfuiids for the facility could include literacy programming personnel as well asassistance to help construct the facility.

o A west-end site for Head Start. This could be incorporated into the Librarybuilding and the link could be helping to address literacy issues and to preparechildren to acquire reading skills.

r Providing a conrnunity hub or center for social, political, and informationgatherings. For exarnple, the new library could serve as a community center,providing the public with opportunities to seek help with services ranging fromtax information, E-job searching, to career comseling. The library would havesoftware available.that would help students assess their personal and professionalaptitude, job skills and career profiling. The effort could be linked with theGreater Yellowstone Business and Education Council "Cluster" effort.

o Possible grant proposals to the Institute for Museum and Library Sewices.

. Appropriation through the rural development aspect of HUD.

o US Departrnent ofEducation: Early Reading First, part ofthe President's "GoodStart, Grow Smart" initiative, which is designed to transform existing early

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iThe Joint Community Library ProposalPage 9

education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-qualrty, earlyeducation to yormg childreq especially those from low-income families. Theoverall purpose ofthe Early Reading First Program is to prepare young childrento enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early readingskills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success.

State Funding Possibilities

r Pass-tlrough funds (Federal funds given to the State of Montana for projects thatthe new facility could help the State achieve: e.g. providing public informationdissemination on issues such as bioterrorisq tobacco use prevention, or otherareas where federal pass-through fimds are available. These firnds would likelybe supportive of programning rather than consfuuction.)

Private and /or Corporatg Foundations, and Individual Gifts

r Kresge Foundation (supporting Capital Projects)o Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (interested in Libraries)r M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust (interested in philantbrdpy in this region)o Homer and Mildred Scott & First lnterstate BancSystem Foundationo Bair Family Formdationr Keck Foundationo Ford Foundationo KelloggFoundation(interestedincommunitydevelopment/low-income)o Individual Corporations and Donors

Estimated Annual Operating Costs

LaVista residents of all ageq as well asMetopol-itan Community Collegestudents, enjoy comfortable reading areasin the joint community library establishedby the College and the City of Lavista,Nebraska"

open hours, tlree classiied or zupport staff and about 2 FTE student assistant hours(probably 8 - 10 workstudy students working 8 - 10 hours/week). Total costs for thislevel of staffing, shared between the MSU-Billings Library and Parmly Billings Library

Preliminary estimates for total annual operating costsare approximately $350,000. Personnel costs wouldbe, by far, the largest component of operating costs.Building costs would include a cost per square footoperating costs, covering utilities, IIVAC, cleaning,etc. The other significant operational costs would bethose athibutable to maintaining the collection andcomputer hardware, software, and database licensing.

Personnel costs are estimated based on having openhours of 80-85 hours per week, with hours from earlymoming to late evening on weekdays, plus bothSaturday and Sunday hours. The joint library wouldneed a librarian in charge, two librarians to cover all

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,'The Joint Community Libmry PioposalPage 10

would be $240,000 per year for salaries and benefits. This is only 54% of the staff coststhat would be incurred by branch public and COT libraries if separate facilities werecreated to give this level of service.

The new joint community library operating in a 50,000 square foot facility wouid need anopening day collection base of 50,000 items. Assuming a plan to update 5% per year,that would be 2,500 items, and assuming a $25 cost per item, the ongoing annualcollection maintenance cost would be $62,500. The number of computer workstationsand a replacement cycle for them remain to be determined. Computers likely would needto be replaced on a three-yeax cycle due to the high volume ofuse. The replacement costwouid involve multiplying the number to be replaced by an estimated cost per station,approximately $1,500, and figure 33% ofthat per year. The annual operating costswould also include the additional database licensing cost for workstations at the jointcommunity library, although these costs would likely represent only a modest increaseover costs for the larger main facilities.

The City's share of the ongoing operating costs ofthejoint library would need to becovered through an accompanying mill levy, which carries an approximate value of$100,000 per year per mill.

The annual operation costs ofthe COT library, which are presently about $60,000, wouldbe rolled into the project. MSU-Billings would need to budget for the increased ongoingcosts ofthejoint community 1ibrary through the University's budgeting process. TheCOT is projecting dramatic growth over the next five years as it adopts a full-fledgedcommunity college operating model. The College presently has 620 students and isprojecting over 2,000 students by the year 2008.

Impact to Parmly Billings Downtown and Downtown Billings

The establishment of a joint community library on the COT campus will reduce the useof the downtown Library by some current users who will chose to use the branch closerto where they live. Given the limitations of the current downtown Library facility, whichis significantly undersized to serve Billings and Yellowstone County, it would be mostaccurate to view the establishment ofone or more branches as relieving pressure on thedowntown facility so that it can keep up with its disproportionately large and growingdemand for service. Longer term, branch libraries will attract many more new users,some of whom will come to use the downtown library as well as their local branch.

Expanded Access via Transportation Improvements

The expected expansion of 32nd Street West to include a major arterial from ZimmermanTrail south via Arlene through the Peter Yegen Golf Course connecting to 32nd StreetWest and continuing south to King Avenue will make the COT located at 3803 CentralAvenue a prime location for the new joint community library. Vehicle traffic in the 3803region of Billings is already very high with the following traffic counts:

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The Joint Community Lib.*y fiopo.utPage I I

o central Ave. west of shiloh Rd: - Average Daily Traffic (ADT) 3,000 vehiclesa day.

r Central Ave. East of Shiloh Rd.- (ADT) 8,600 vehicles a day.r Shiloh Rd. North of Central- (ADT) 11,000 vehicles a day.o Shiloh Rd. South of Central- (ADT) 9,500 vehicles a day.

with the projected increases in enrollment at the MSU-Billings college of rechrologyand the career center, similar increase projections for traffic, and the-activity ofnear1ybusinesses, the public works departrnent is planning in anticipation to implementsignificant improvements on Shiloh and the key intersections to accommodate theseprojected increases.

Billings residents will be able to much more easily access the new library from all pointssouth and north of central Avenue. In addition, people living in the Atkali creek area orthe Billings Heights may {ind it faster to travel to th;3g03 central Avenue location of thejoint community library than to travel downtown.

A Vision for the Future

Looking forward, it appears that the expansion of the Billings west-end will continue intothe future for quite some time. The concept of the Joint community Library is apragmatic solution to projected increases in the use of library serviies. the followingkey points describing the project are reiterated:

' A fully integrated facility that is tibout 50,000 square feet located on the MSU-Billings College of Technology campus

o Fully integrated staffing, management, and budgets between the city of B lingsand MSU-Billings.

. Expanded services and collectionso West-Billings community gathering placer Source of collaborative community leaming programs in:

1. Career planning2. Career opportunities (tied into the G\BEC Cluster Initiative)3. Small business development4. Arts and humanities for adults and children5. Computer technology6. Senior and retiree programming7. Children's programming8. Young adult educational and recreational prcgamming

There could be many co-sponsors and underwriters for these events. Based on a new andinnovative parbrership, the potential for collaborative community programming andpartnership underwriting is very positive.

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The Joint Communify Libr*y erJporAPage 72

Both the COT and Parmly Billings Library have extensive experience in planning anddelivering community programming. The combined library facility can bring the marketresources to bear on diverse, enhalced community programming for all'ages andinterests. It also broadens the opportunities for athacting public and private sectorsupport. The net result is not only good quatty community programming but heightenedvisibility, support and good will for the college and the library prcgrams and services.

Rationale and Benefits of a Joint Community Library

This community library facility will represent a aew partnership between the acaderniclibrary and public library environments. Because it will serve two populations with ahigh degree of integration of services, a new mission statement is appropriate andtr"ie..-y. The additional step of deveioping a strategic plan for the community librarywill pay many dividends in the future. The process of developing a mission statement aspart of the strategic plaruring process will help resolve any philosophical differencesbetween the principals.

The Rationale for the Creation of a Joint Community Library

The idea of a combination public/academic library located on th" "u*pr,.

of the MSU-Biliings college of Techlology would be to create an information resource, a leamingand study center for all age groups:

. Providing a fuIl range of highJevel library and information sewices, progtamsand collections to the students, faculty, and staff ofthe college, and the west-endcommunity of Billings and Yellowstone County.

. Offering the community innovative services and programs that complement,rather than duplicate, those provided by other sources.

o Providing its users with access to the combined resources and services ofitsparent institutions and parbrers.

. Offering opportunities for collaborative programming and communityinvolvement for the benefit of all.

. Serving as a showcase for cooperative ventures, with innovation, cost control anda clearly synergistic relationship.

Issues to Address and Resolve

1. There wiil be an Intergovemmental Agreement, addressing:

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r Land user Funding model

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The Joint Commrmity Library PdposalPase 13

r Principles of operation (agreement to jointly plan, design, fumisbstaff, equip, operate, and maintain a joint community library on theCOT campus.)

o Public space of the joint library to be open for common use by theCollege's students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

. Providing quality library service and materials to the users, who willhave unlimited use ofthe resources, materials and services ofthe jointlibrary subject to the policies and regulations regarding the use andoperation of the library.

The joint library shall be jointly owned: 50% by MSU-Billings and 50% by theCity of Bifings, or in some proportion not to exceed a 60W40% division.

The building plans, desip, and specifications shall be jointly developed andagreed to by MSIJ-Sillings and the City of Billing5.

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The joint library signage will clearly indicate thelibrary's affiliation with both MSU-Billings and theCity of Billings.

The name of the joint library will be detemfned bymutual agreement of the University and the City.

Library Collection

o The resource collection for the joint libraryshould be broad and general in nature, tocomplement the academic and public libraryneeds. Each library shall be the owner ofthematerials it brings or purchases for the Joint Library. More specializedmaterials will support specialized college programs, in addition to thegeneral collection.

. The parties shall consult with each other to coordinate the acquisition ofnew materials including the opening collection, so as to best serve theneeds of all users.

The parties shall incorporate existing automation systems for use in the JointCommunity Library. The parties will work closely with each other to ensureinterconnectivity between the catalog databases for automation supportincluding transfer of cataloging and acquisition records, circulation,regishation" related subsystems, and needed telecommunications.

Parties agree that joint standards for processing library materials will bedeveloped. Each library will order and purchase their respective materials.

Metropolitatr.Commudty College bcultyatrd staf provide technical support to thepublic library in the joint facility theyshare in Lavirt4 Nebraska.

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The Joint Community Library P6posalPage 14

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o Each library will take prirnary responsibility for some collection andservice areas, while others will be shared. Parmly Billings Library wouldemphasize areas such as children's and young adult mati:rials, fiction andpopular bestselling titles, and audiovisual resources. MSU-Billings wouldtake responsibility for journals and magazine subscriptions, interlibraryioan services, and library instruction, while both libraries would cooperatein selecting and maintaining the reference collection, programs and events,circulation ofmaterials, and local history or special collections ofmaterials and resources.

Benefits of the PartngrshiP

Hours ofAccess: As a rule, the creation ofajoint-use library results in the librarybeing open more hours per day and per week. Thus, patrons benefit from greateraccess to the community library and its services.

Lareer Collection: When two existing libraries contribute materials and commitsigrrificant acquisitions funds, the predicted outcome is that more materials and alarger collection will be available to the users of the combined library.

More Bane for the Buck: Through combining construction firnds and operatingbudgets the partners should be able to realize a greater retum for funds spent onlibrary buildings and collections. Additional space for library users from thecollege or public libr'ary community will be a major benefit. Pleasant, well-designed, flexible space with good natural lighting, comfortable fumishings and awelcoming ahnosphere will be conducive to irmovative service and usetsatisfaction.

More Personnel: To operate the combined library facility, the existing librarieswill each commit staff and additional positions will be budgeted for both parbxers.

Meeting Rooms: Again, as one of the partners is a public library and the newfacility is located on a coilege campus, their need for large meeting rooms resultsin an enormous benefit to the college. Not only is the space beneficial for allusers, but the combined efforts and funds of the parfi:ers makes it possible forsuch facilities to be better equipped. Study and meetilg rooms will be used forstudent and community meetings.

A Hub for Leamine, discussion, children's and youth activities, meetings, andquiet socializing. The library would contain a space with comfortable seating fora private vendor partnership where coffee and snacks would be sold. Retailspace, such as a college bookstore branch might be located in the building,providing supplies for communities and students.

Busiless Supoort: Resources and progranrming to serve the business communityand to support the college curriculum; collaboration with community businessleaders; Geographical Information Systom (GIS) station.

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The Joint Community Library PioposalPaee 15

Computer labs arc located thpughout theshared faaility ofthc Metopolitancommunity college and LaVista PublicLibmry in southeastem Nebraska.

8. Student Recruituent: As tle facility is located onthe COT campus, and the other partner is the publiclibrary; the college benefits, because the manycommunity patons will then be exposed to theactivities of the college.

9. Consumer Health Information: The library couldprovide resources and programming to promoteconsumer health literacy and cooperative oubeachprograms for rmdersewed areas and populations inconjunction with the College's health occupationsprogams.

10. Librarv Instuction: One of the library's primarygoals would be to establish a program of bformation literacy for lifelong leamingby teaching library users to: (1) Recognize and define information needs; (2)Develop research skills; (3) Critically evaluate information; and (4) Useinformation effectively, responsibly, and ethically.

Challenges

Operatine Costs: The increase in size and scope of the project will result inincreased costs for both parbrers over current operating costs. Retum oninvestrnent will be seen in better access, increased service levels and communitysupport.

Schedules. Salaries and Adminishation: Personnel reporting to MSU-Billings andto the City of Billings will have different pay schedules, benefits, and holidays. Apossible solution is for respective library administrators to create a positive andcooperative climate for all personnel and to create specific position descriptionsfor this new library, with salary and benefits specific to these positions. The JointLibrary will have a librarian appointed as manager-an employee of one of theparber libraries, but reporting to both the MSU-Billings Library Director and thePBL Library Director or their designated administrator. Library use policies andprocedures will be carefully set to be appropriate for this Joint CommunityLibrary, and may differ from those in place in both parent libraries.

Collection Manasement: Both parbrers must work cooperatively to ensure thatcollections stay up-to-date, and appropriate in size and content. This involvesselection, cataloging, weeding snd management of electonic resources'

Ouiet Studv Areas: Academic libraries.need to provide quiet space for study,which will also be used by the community.

Parkine: A considerable amount of planning will need to go into the parkingissues, as the COT lots are nearly full between 9 am and 12 noon Monday thloughFriday during semester.

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Conclusion

An innovative and feasible proposal for providing a needed expansion of liblary servicesto our cornmunity is now possible through the joint partnership forged between the Cityof Billings and MSU-Billings College of Technology. In addition to major cost savingsin capital expenditures and continued operational costs, the potential to offer expandedhours of access, and the opportunity to provide excellent access to a full range of libraryse ices (study space, computer workstations, curriculum materials, etc.), the JointCommunity Libmry as a concept has gamered broad support from a number of areagroups and organizations.

As we look forward to the future, the scmcity of resources is a constraint the makes theidea of the joint use library a pragmatic solution to projected increases in the use of suchfacilities. This dynamic approach offers the potential for enhanced community programsand service options to serve the diversity of library users for many decades to come.

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