Your Questions Answered
We're happy to answer your questions about the capital campaign and the library building project. Below you will find answers to some of the more common questions we hear.
THERE ARE MORE ANSWERS AVAILABLE ON THE BUILDING PROJECT "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS" PAGE. For more information, Click here, or email us.
| What is the new library going to cost? To keep the amount of the bond as low as possible the DPL Trustees are committed to raising $2.1M. As of March 2010 we had received $1.2M and the we are committed to raising another $900,000. By meeting this private fund raising goal the bond will be no more than $2.7M. The current library operating budget is a tiny fraction of the tax bill - about $265,000 or around 1% of a property tax bill. The new building will require additional staff hours if we open 38 hours/week as we do now which will increase staff spending by approximately $27,000. The annual energy cost for the building operating the same number of hours, as estimated by the project engineers, is approximately $27,000 over what we now spend. This additional expense of operating the new building will be offset by the $56,500 we presently spend on rent each year. There will be an anticipated increase of $10,000 - $15,000 in operating expenses the first year if we open the new building for the same number of hours each week. For a detailed breakdown of estimated operating expenses for the new building, Click here. |
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How will the new library affect my taxes?Looking at borrowing costs provided by the Town Business Office, several variables affect the tax impact of a bond including length of borrowing time and interest rate. Using the data provided, the average cost per year of a $2.7M bond is somewhere between 23-34 cents/$1,000 of property value.
To view a 30 Year Estimated Debt Schedule, Click here.
The current tax rate is $27.28/$1,000 of property value. The tax increase for this bond would be between .8 - 1.2% of a property's tax bill. Given that, a $300,000 property would pay an average of $70 - $100 per year - or the price of a nice dinner in Portsmouth - over the life of the bond, with the highest payments in the early years.
This is $6 - $8.50 a month or the price of a paperback book. Or $1.35 - $1.90 a week or the price of a small cup of coffee.
To put this in perspective, try the Library Use Calculator to see how much you might spend on books, DVDs, and other library materials if you purchased them instead of checking them out from the library.
Why build a new library?
The new Durham Public Library will be an active, vibrant cultural center connecting the people of our community to information, resources, enriching activities, and each other. The current Durham Public Library, located in a storefront in the Mill Plaza, was always intended to be temporary rental space that would be replaced by a standalone facility owned by the Town.
Why not rely on e-books and the internet for expansion?
E-books and the internet are great tools that will impact our future, but books in print will be with us for quite some time. Book sales and book circulations are up nationally, and since 2005, materials loaned by the Durham Public Library increased 65%. This much growth requires collection, processing, storage, and service space. Many towns throughout New Hampshire recently expanded or built new libraries. Each one experienced significant growth in use, the ability to provide more activities and programs, and created an active center for community engagement – something eBooks and the internet cannot accomplish.
When will it open?
With a successful bond vote in March 2012 and a year or so of construction, the new library should open by the summer of 2013.
Where will the library be located?
The library will be located at 49 Madbury Road, on a 2.8 acre property formerly owned by Dr. Arthur DiMambro.
How big is the building?
Determination of library size is based on the Building Program developed by Lushington Associates as well as comparisons to recently built New Hampshire libraries in communities demographically similar to Durham. We are striving to keep the total amount of assignable space to an adequate size while remaining sensitive to the concerns of the residents of Durham and have scaled back the amount of square footage from 14,500 originally called for in the program to 10,500.
Approximately one-third of this space would house the collection, two-thirds would be “people space” for patrons and staff, underscoring our vision for the library as community space.
How "green" will it be?
We are seeking to build a LEED level facility, whether or not we apply for certification. We will investigate such “green” systems as energy-efficient digitally controlled mechanical systems, lighting systems with occupancy and day lighting sensors, full audio/visual capability in the meeting rooms. Maintenance costs can be kept to a minimum with durable exterior finishes that are easy to maintain and a highly insulated building envelope. Well insulated windows will provide abundant natural light and views to the surrounding landscape.