Brief Description of Point Roberts Library Renovation Project:
- We propose to remodel a building owned by the Pt. Roberts Park and Recreation Commission to expand the library from a 900 sq. foot to a 2,500 sq. foot facility which will provide sufficient space to meet the expanded services (especially digital) that libraries must provide and that are especially needed in a community as isolated as is Point Roberts (see below for detail).
- We have a Feasibility Study and design prepared by Whatcom County Architect David King, who has worked extensively in library design in the County.
- We have a Memo of Understanding between the Friends of the Library, the Pt. Roberts Park and Recreation Commission, and the Whatcom County Library Services that specifies that the Friends group will raise $500,000, the Park and Recreation Commission will oversee the remodeling of their building, and the Whatcom County Library Services will provide appropriate staff, equipment, and services to operate the library, including payment of utilities. This MOU--which extends for 3 more years--will be converted to a legal contract within the next year.
- Over the past two years, the Friends of the P.R. Library has raised $320,000 toward this goal. We have done this entirely within the Community, and this year we are turning toward state government and private foundations in hopes that we will be able to obtain the remaining $180,000.
- The Feasibility Study and the Memo of Understanding, as well as our IRS 501c3 status determination, are all posted on our website, foprl.org
[Context: Point Roberts is an exclave in Washington State. A peninsula of less that 5 sq. miles, with a resident population of under 1,500, the community is too small for any kind of self-governing status. The Point is an isolated area of the U.S./Washington State attached to Canada. In order to reach the mainland U.S. (as well as the County and State of which we are a part), residents here must drive approximately 40 miles and cross two borders. Our isolation from the rest of the County and the rest of the State makes it difficult to gain support, e.g., from major businesses because we have none operating here other than indirectly. We have no reliable cell phone signal and the current library provides the only community wi-fi service. On the other hand, it is a remarkably beautiful place to live.]
1/24/14
foprl.org
For additional information, contact judy ross at foprl1@gmail.com
