[RP TownTalk] Future of the Hyattsville Branch Library

Tue Mar 18 13:22:33 UTC 2014

Neighbors,

I apologize for the long e-mail, but the matter is important to the Hyattsville branch library community.

It’s unfortunate that in response to the community’s call for a responsible, justifiable, and transparent decision-making process related to the Hyattsville library project, PGCMLS has chosen to take a disingenuous and patronizing stance. A quick visit to the library website and you’ll see the following bulleted items (bracketed text added):

•       We have been asked why not just renovate? Our building is old and in need of so much renovation that it is not cost effective, nor will it produce the optimum result. A new building will meet the needs of library users for the next 50 years, where renovations will have a much more limited lifespan. The community deserves a new library building and the monies have been approved by the voters of Prince George’s County to make this a reality. 
[No study or evaluation exists to support the claim that rebuilding is more “cost effective.” Neither are there any studies or evaluations that address the programmatic, historical, or environmental consequences of rebuilding rather than renovating. To make this claim or to claim that a thorough renovation would lead to a “more limited lifespan” demonstrates either incompetence or willful dishonesty. The last independent professional review of the Hyattsville Library is a 2010 facilities assessment by GWWO Inc./Architects and Sidhu Associates Inc. The report finds the Hyattsville “structure appears sound with many years of life remaining.”]
•       The new library will address the issues of any 50 year old building, such as asbestos, the wiring needed for today’s technology, improved accessibility for the disabled and additional parking as well as giving our users an attractive, modern facility for browsing, reading, attending library programs and activities and using computers and other electronic devices in the library. 
[All of the issues that a rebuild might address, a thoughtful and thorough renovation can.]
•       We understand the nostalgia that many feel toward our current building and most especially the saucer. This will be discussed with the chosen architect, and we will make every effort to retain visible parts of our history, in the new building’s design. 
[Again, this is about a responsible handling of public monies, not simply nostalgia. With public funds at stake, it is imperative that PGCMLS and the County demonstrate studied and persuasive evidence for whatever decision they make. They have done no such thing.]
•       We were indeed fortunate that the County Executive and County Council realized how important it is for the community to have a new, state of the art library comparable to branches in other parts of the county. With this in mind, the change from renovation to replacement was made in the FY 2014 CIP (Capital Improvements Program) budget to allocate $16 million to build a new Hyattsville library building on its current site.
[Unfortunately, it seems that the County Executive was not provided responsible and professional guidance with this matter. Until the FY 2014 CIP, the CIP called for a renovation and expansion of the library to meet the needs of a growing community. Now, with the current plan, the community is looking a building that’s 5,000 square feet smaller, with $14.4M not $16M. Make no mistake, the community is grateful for the allocation of public funds and the Hyattsville library community deserves a modernized library, but, again, it is imperative that PGCMLS and the County demonstrate studied and persuasive evidence for whatever decision they make.]
•       Next steps: The County’s bid process is underway to choose an architect. Once an architect is selected public meetings will be scheduled to get additional input from the community. We will post the schedule of public meetings on the Library’s website and request that the Hyattsville newspaper and the Gazette publish the schedule of the public meetings. 
[The next step should be PGCMLS and the County revisiting the decision to demolish the existing Hyattsville branch library and begin a deliberative planning process that is (1) guided by public input, (2) informed by appropriate and standard evaluations, (3) conducted in a transparent manner, and (4) includes an open bidding process.] http://www.pgcmls.info/HYRebuilding

It's time that PGCMLS start being honest with the public.

Help County Executive Rushern Baker, Will Campos, and other local elected officials understand the depth of support for the historical Hyattsville Branch Library. Sign the petition about Change.org today: http://www.change.org/petitions/rushern-baker-save-our-historic-hyattsville-library#share 

If you are interested in preserving the Hyattsville Library, ensuring that the library meets the programmatic needs of the community, that public funds are expended responsibly, and that the public has a voice in the decision-making process, please take a few moments to reach out to our elected officials and let them know. Below are a number of points to help inform your letters and the names and e-mail addresses of the people to contact. 

Questions? E-mail hyattsvillesaucer at outlook.com or visit www.facebook.com/saveoursaucer. 

•       Urge them to ensure that PGCMLS and the County revisit the decision to demolish the existing Hyattsville branch library and begin a deliberative planning process that is (1) guided by public input, (2) informed by appropriate and standard evaluations, (3) conducted in a transparent manner, and (4) includes an open bidding process. 
•       Urge them to advocate for a feasibility study and needs assessment so that informed consideration can be given to the preservation of the library with the necessary upgrades and sympathetic renovations.
•       No effort was made to account for the financial, environmental, historical, and programmatic costs and consequences of rebuilding rather than renovating the library. 
•       PGCMLS has conducted none of the evaluations necessary to determine whether a rebuild is fiscally responsible.
•       Note that given the County’s tight budget, the decision to leap, without due diligence, from renovation to new construction will be seen by taxpayers as rash. 
•       The County’s FY2012-2017 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes a renovation of the existing library and the construction of a 20,000 square foot addition. This renovation and addition was justified by the “development in the area” and “to meet the needs of the growing community.” The FY2013-2018 CIP also called for a major renovation and an addition. Not until the FY2014-2018 CIP is the project proposed as a rebuild and a reduction in size of the building—despite the continued growth of the community. 
•       The Gateway Arts District Sector Plan recommends that the “Hyattsville Branch should consider expansion of its building to accommodate more arts-related holdings, art exhibits, and galleries,” and notes that the branch accounted for one-sixth of the entire library system’s annual circulation. 
•       No evaluation of the community’s needs was conducted to support the change from renovation to new construction and an expansion in size to a reduction. Such a dramatic change in a project’s direction is usually justified by (1) a needs assessment, (2) a library plan of service, (3) a library building program, and (4) an evaluation process for renovation vs. new construction (i.e., a feasibility study). 
•       PGCMLS’s 2010 Facilities Assessment, conducted by GWWO Inc./Architects and Sidhu Associates Inc., found that the Hyattsville “structure appears sound with many years of life remaining.” The 2010 report indicates $2.4 million in deferred maintenance existed, most of which remains unaddressed. The failing roof needlessly threatens the well-being of the library’s staff, patrons, and collection. 
•       With public funds at stake, it is imperative that PGCMLS and the County demonstrate studied and persuasive evidence for whatever decision they make. 
•       The County should open a competitive bidding process for the project architect to yield the best value and the most dynamic design for the future Hyattsville branch library.
•        
E-mail Rushern Baker:  
countyexecutive at co.pg.md.us 
Copy the following employees/officials:
Thomas Himler 
Roland Jones 
Floyd Holt 
Betty Hager-Francis 
Kathleen Teaze   
Sylvia Bolivar     
thimler at co.pg.md.us; ocsdirector at co.pg.md.us; feholt at co.pg.md.us; bhfrancis at co.pg.md.us; kathleen.teaze at pgcmls.info; sylvia_bolivar at yahoo.com 

E-mail Will Campos:
wacampos at co.pg.md.us
Copy the other County Council Members: 
Mel Franklin
Mary Lehman
Eric Olson
Ingrid Turner
Andrea Harrison
Derrick Davis
Karen Toles
Obie Patterson 
MFranklin at co.pg.md.us; CouncilDistrict1 at co.pg.md.us; EOlson at co.pg.md.us; 
IMTurner at co.pg.md.us; councildistrict5 at co.pg.md.us;  CouncilDistrict6 at co.pg.md.us; KRToles at co.pg.md.us;  opatterson at co.pg.md.us 

E-mail the District 22 Team, Senator Paul Pinsky and Delgates Tawanna P. Gaines, Anne Healey, and Alonzo T. Washington:
tawanna.gaines at house.state.md.us; anne.healey at house.state.md.us; alonzo.washington at house.state.md.us 

Thank you,
Bart Lawrence
Hyattsville, MD 

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