We are thrilled to report substantial progress towards making a new, highly functional Kaslo & District Public Library a reality. You may have seen news of this exciting project this fall in the Valley Voice, Nelson Star and Facebook, including conceptual drawings of the exterior.
Land Purchase
Thanks to exceptional cooperation between the Village of Kaslo and the library, an ideal site for the new library has been purchased at the corner of Front Street and 5th Street, made possible through a Land Acquisition Grant from the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) in the amount of $180,000. The library board has committed to raise funds for the remaining $120,000 cost of the land purchase. As provincial law stipulates that libraries cannot own property or buildings, the Village of Kaslo will own the land and new building that the library will lease.
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Grant Submission
On October 1, 2020, the Village of Kaslo, supported by the library, applied for an Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant that, if approved, will cover 73% of the costs of the new building. Through a $7500 CBT grant matched by the library, preliminary conceptual designs for the interior and exterior were prepared by Richard Hunter Architect and Bob Inwood for inclusion in the submission. Strong community support for the project was demonstrated, with $110,000 in donations and pledges being raised during the last two weeks of September. As well, 374 individuals signed statements of approval for the project representing over 16% of the entire Kaslo and Area D population.
Forming a Fund Raising Committee
While it will take some time for a decision on the ICIP grant, we are planning numerous opportunities for community involvement in the new library project. A Fundraising Committee is being formed to plan and organize efforts, which will begin in early 2021. Library representatives on the committee include library board members Charles de Pape and Margaret Wanke, Library Director Eva Kelemen, and Anne Heard (ex-officio as library board Chair). Three to five community representatives will make up the rest of the committee, which will meet early in the New Year.
Q & A
e wish the community to become excited and involved in the new library project and welcome your questions.
1.Why is a new library needed?
After 38 years in the basement of City Hall, we have outgrown the space and run out of options for improvements. Our library is the smallest in BC when compared to other small public libraries and adjusting for population. There is no designated program room or meeting room so most group programs can only be run when the library is closed. The shelves are full and the collection is undersized for our population. Even so, usage per capita is higher than the provincial average with a healthy membership of 43% of Kaslo & Area D residents so the demand for better library services certainly exists.
2.How much will the new building cost?
We are in the early design stages so detailed cost estimates are not yet available, but the projected cost of a building to meet our needs is in the $3M to $3.5M range. Both the library and Village of Kaslo are committed to achieving an affordable building that is in line with other recent small library construction projects in the province. For example, a recently opened new library of approximately the same size was built in Chemainus for under $3M.
3.What protections are in place to ensure donations to the Village for the new library will not be spent on anything other than a new library in Kaslo?
The Village of Kaslo has established a Library Capital Reserve Bylaw to house the donations received for the new library. BC law governing municipalities stipulates that “money in a reserve fund, and interest earned on it, must be used only for the purpose for which the fund was established.” In the unlikely event that a future Council wanted to use these funds for another purpose, there would be grounds for a legal challenge and the Court could overturn that Council’s action.
4. Will taxes go up to pay for the new library?
a. To construct, no. There is no expectation that taxes will be raised for construction of this new building, and construction will not start until funding is secured. In addition to local fundraising efforts, the fundraising plan involves applying for local, regional and federal grants, including the recently submitted ICIP grant. Other grants we will pursue are through Columbia Basin Trust, RDCK and various philanthropic organizations. Of note is that the building will be designed with all feasible energy efficiencies in mind.
b. To operate, yes - a small annual increase. The library is planning for an anticipated $22,000 annual operating cost increase after the move into a new building. These costs include additional staffing needed to support a 25% anticipated increase in library usage, increased utilities & maintenance expenses, and increases related to technology support.
5.How can I get involved?
We welcome people to become Friends of the New Library to spread the word, volunteer or donate to this exciting new project. Please let us know of your interest by completing the attached Expression of Interest Form, and dropping it off at the library. Donations may be made out to the Village of Kaslo specifying the donation is for the NEW Kaslo Library. Donation forms are available here, from our website, at the library and at the Village reception desk.
100 Year Birthday Celebration – December 16, 2020 7:00 PM via Zoom
Please join us in celebrating the library’s 100 years of service on December 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. RSVP by emailing info@kaslo.bclibrary.ca and pick up an Event Bag (to open during the party) before 3 pm December 15.
There will be storytelling, a birthday song, and door prizes!
Seasons Greetings
The Kaslo & District Library Board of Trustees and Staff wish to thank all the library members and residents of our service area for your ongoing support. It has been a challenging year as we have looked for safe ways to continue our services which we believe enhance the resilience of our community. We send out heartfelt season’s greetings to all of you with care for health and happiness in the New Year.
Kaslo & District Public Library PO Box 760 413 4th Street Kaslo, British Columbia V0G 1M0 250-353-2942 https://kaslo.bc.libraries.coop/