The Dover Public Library

The Dover Public Library

Anchor Library Building Project

Home | Dover Public Library | City of Dover

A brief history:

The Dover Public Library was established as a private subscription library in 1885 by a group of Dover citizens. In 1902, the Century Club of Dover sponsored the creation of a publicly supported library in Dover and the Dover Public Library became the first tax-supported library in Delaware. In 1961, a new library facility was constructed on State Street to serve a population of 7,250 people and to house the growing library collections. In 1975, the Dover Public Library became a municipal library for the City of Dover and the building was expanded to include a meeting room and a children’s programming room in the basement.
Why a new library:
A new public library facility for Dover and the surrounding areas will enrich the lives of all citizens by providing adequate space for books; periodicals; audiovisual materials; programming for life-long learning, development, and enrichment; opportunities for literacy and ESL teaching and support; programming for children and teens; space for technological development and technology teaching; meeting space for library programs and for community needs; and adequate parking.
The public library is the one community facility which provides unlimited opportunities for learning, enrichment, development of critical thinking skills, cultural enhancement, and experiences for technological development for all citizens of all ages regardless of stage of life and ability to pay. The public library is frequently the first exposure that very young children have to formalized educational opportunities and social interaction. It provides a place for parents to interact as they raise their children from babyhood through youth. Teens use the public library for access to vital information about their changing physical and social needs as well as assistance with high school class work and the development of college and/or career paths. The public library supports the recreational reading needs, research needs for lifestyle and financial support, career and job enhancement, employment opportunities and more for adults. Seniors have discovered that public libraries offer an opportunity for intergenerational interaction and activities to maintain healthy bodies and minds. A public library facility is a measure of a community’s commitment to the health, well-being and development of its citizenry. A new public library facility is a building designed and built to serve generations of that citizenry for years to come. It is an investment in the future of a community.

The need:
In 2008, the Dover Public Library remains in the building originally constructed in 1961 and serves a population of 46,530 (City of Dover, 34,735, plus 11,795, from unincorporated areas unserved by libraries and assigned to Dover PL service area). With approximately 17,500 square feet on three floors, the main floor houses the adult and teen fiction and nonfiction collections; the Reference collections; the Foundation Center Cooperating collections; the circulating periodicals; the audiovisual collections; the public internet computers; the public access computer catalogs; the reference services desk; the circulation services desk; a staff work room; and public restrooms. The basement (accessible by elevator) houses the children’s collections; the children’s programming room; the meeting room; the Delaware Room; the administrative offices; storage rooms; staff kitchen; and public rest rooms. The third floor houses a staff work room; a librarian’s office; and a rest room. The third floor is not accessible by elevator and does not meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Dover Public Library participates in a reciprocal borrowing agreement which enables residents of Kent and Sussex Counties to use all public libraries interchangeably within the counties. The Dover Public Library expands its collections’ usage into New Castle County through an interlibrary loan process facilitated by the Delaware Division of Libraries.
Statistics show that 396,837 visits by members of the public were made to the Dover Public Library during 2007 (1,087 visitors per day). Those visitors checked out 406,439 items from the Library’s collections. 10,241 persons attended 304 library programs. There were 36,881 registered library borrowers. This exceeds the City’s population by 2,146. [Residents of Kent and Sussex Counties may only have one library card which may be used at any library in the counties.] 51% of the Library’s circulation was to members of the public residing outside of the limits of the City of Dover.

The project:
In 2004, the City of Dover contracted with Robert H. Rohlf Associates to evaluate current library services within the City. The study indicated that existing library services were substandard and “strongly recommended” a new library facility be constructed in downtown Dover.
Link: www.cityofdover.com/media/documents/RDFPlan2004.pdf
In 2005, the State Library commissioned Himmel & Wilson Library Consultants to draft a strategic plan, Twenty Years Forward: a Statewide Library Services and Construction Infrastructure for Delaware Libraries. The strategic plan recommended that one Anchor Library for each county be designated. The Dover Public Library was designated by the State Library to serve as the Anchor Library for Kent County.
Link: www.state.de.us/For_Libraries/Planning/Statewide_Master_Plan/index-20050420.shtml
For the past three years, the Delaware Council on Libraries has identified the building of a new Anchor Library for Dover as its number one priority for state construction funding. The City of Dover’s Mission Statement identifies the establishment of a regional library for Dover as its highest priority. In early 2008, the City engaged the services of Holzman, Moss Architects, LLP to assist with site selection and draft a building plan for the new Dover “Anchor” Public Library.
What is an “Anchor” Library:
Anchor libraries are designed to be sized between 40,000 and 60,000 square feet and are charged with the mission of providing strong collections of materials in a variety of formats and with enough depth to meet the research and popular reading needs of the public; to provide professional staffing for services during extended hours and support for other county libraries; to provide computer training facilities; and to provide meeting and conference rooms for library and public usage.
Where will the new library be located:
The new library facility will be located on land donated by the City for library purposes along Loockerman Street next to the City of Dover municipal offices and across the street from the Delaware State Archives, the Biggs Museum, and the Legislative Green. The facility is planned to be approximately 52,000 square feet.
What will a new library building provide:
The library facility will house expanded materials collections for all ages and stages of life; adequate space for the development of a dynamic children’s learning environment; adequate space for teen enrichment; space to continue Dover’s participation as a Foundation Center cooperating library; a technology center for computer training classes and future technological developments; and meeting and conference rooms to meet the needs of the Library and the community. Of highest priority in the new building will be the expansion of literacy and English as a Second Language programs to meet the needs of a population rapidly diversifying. Adequate parking (identified as a current serious weakness) will ease the parking problem in downtown Dover.

Timeline:

A Steering Committee is established by the City of Dover to begin the library building process
Citizen committees are established: Building Design Committee, Public Relations Committee, Fund Raising Committee
March, 2008: City of Dover contracts with Holzman Moss Architects, LLP to design a new public library facility
Spring, 2008: Committees and Holzman, Moss begin discussion and planning for community and building needs
August, 2008: Holzman, Moss begins monthly planning visits and community informational meetings
September, 2008: Holzman, Moss meets with committees, staff and members of the public. Meetings are held with representatives of community stakeholders to discuss building size, parking needs and options, and possibilities for community collaboration
October, 2008: Holzman Moss meets with staff to begin to align spaces within a new building, to discuss activity areas within the boiling and future needs and size of the Library’s materials collections. A public meeting is held to ask members of the public their hopes for the new building
The City of Dover advertises an RFQ for a professional fund raiser
November, 2008: Holzman Moss visits to continue space needs planning and begin discussion of cost estimates. A public meeting is held to target families with children and their needs; and a meeting with teens to talk about their hopes for the new building.
December, 2008: Fund Raising Campaign begins
March, 2009: Schematic Designs are complete
Spring, 2009: Bidding and contract award process begins
Early, 2010: Ground Breaking ceremony!

Personnel:
Dover City Manager, Tony DePrima tdeprima@dover.de.us

Director of Parks and Recreation, Zachery Carter zcarter@dover.de.us

Library Director, Margery Kirby Cyr Margery.Cyr@lib.de.us

Assistant Library Director, Joan Stover Joan.Stover@lib.de.us

Dover Public Library Advisory Commission:
Dorothy Snyder, Chair DBONAFIELD@aol.com
Lois Dunning
Gertrude Jackson
David Lewis
Beth Petit de Mange
John Olenik, President, Friends of the Dover Public Library
Eugene Ruane, Council Liaison

Holzman Moss Architecture, LLP www.holzmanmoss.com
Doug Moss
Debbi Waters
Margaret Sullivan
Becker Morgan Group
Arden M. Bardol, AIA abardol@beckermorgan.com

Committees:
Building Design Committee: J im Stewart, Chair     dewey742home@comcast.net
            Public Relations Committee: N. C. Vasuki and Kay Dietz-Sass, Co-Chairs
Fund Raising Committee: Gwen Elliott, Chair    gtelliott@bemd.com

Fund Raising:
It is expected that the project to build a new “Anchor” Library for Dover will cost $18.2 million.

The Funding Plan:
State of Delaware Funds                   $ 5,664,300 [committed]; $3,700,000 req. FY 2010
Kent County Funds                           $ 3,700,000
City of Dover Funds                          $ 3,700,000 [committed]
Friends of the Dover Public Library   $ 200,000 [committed]
Foundation Grants                             $ 850,000
Grants                                               $ 100,000
Private Donations                              $ 50,000
Sale of Existing Facility                      $ 1,000,000

The City of Dover has established a Reserve Account into which all funds for the Library’s capital campaign are deposited.
The Dover Public Library plans to establish an Endowment Fund and a Capital Fund to be managed by the Delaware Community Foundation.

The City of Dover has issued an RFQ for a fund raising consultant to assist with the search for major private and public funds.
The Fund Raising Campaign will begin in December, 2008 with a Kick Off Event planned for January, 2009.
Donations for the Library Building Project have been made to date by:

Friends of the Dover Public Library
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Mask
Sons of Italy

Donation Form:

Dover “Anchor” Library Building Fund Donation Form

_____ I have enclosed a check for ________________ for the Library Reserve Fund.

_____ I would like to make a pledge to the Library Building Fund. My pledge will be __________ per year payable in 2009, 2010, 2011.

_____ I would like to make an appointment to discuss a potential donation and/or Naming Opportunity. Please contact me.

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

Telephone: ____________________ email: __________________________

Best time to reach me is: __________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to the Dover Library Reserve Fund.
All donations are fully tax deductible.

Dover Public Library
Margie Cyr, Director
45 S. State St.
Dover, DE 19901