Milwaukee Begins to 'Rethink Libraries for the 21st Century';

Mixed-use facilities are part of the blueprint; community meetings are ongoing

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 08/04/2009

• Four configurations could save up to $1.1 million a year
• First mixed-use library already on the way
• Seven branches need HVAC work

Faced with budget challenges that make the current system unsustainable, the Milwaukee Public Library has begun a series of community meetings asking for input on “Rethinking Libraries for the 21st Century.”

Needing to update collections, services, and buildings, MPL already has drawn on a telephone survey, focus group sessions, and a community visioning group to present four configurations for its branch system. All the configurations include mixed-use libraries that would share a building with retail or residential facilities but would be smaller than the current 12 neighborhood libraries.

The first mixed-use library is already on the way, involving a housing development, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

One branch is funded via federal Community Development Block Grants and not subject to the rethinking process. Similarly, the massive Central Library would be maintained. Of the 11 other current neighborhood branches, only five, at most, would be retained. Indeed, seven neighborhood libraries need new heating and cooling systems, at a cost of $750,000 each. (Those libraries are in green, on the MPL map at left.)

Public requests
The public wants more hours, parking, meeting rooms, technology, and space to work. They seemed to prefer a configuration with a smaller number of full-service libraries (62.5%) rather than many limited-service libraries (26.8%), but that could change after the discussions. Similarly, a majority (63.4%) said they prefer a stand-alone library, while 20.4% said they favored a library located in another facility.

The visioning group not only recommended the expansion of partnerships and co-location opportunities, it suggested that MPL branches become “anchors” of learning campuses in neighborhoods around them.

Savings, and options
Since 2000, city funding for the library, adjusted for inflation, has fallen more than 20%, even as energy and health care costs have increased, while demand for computers and electronic resources has increased. MPL has improved efficiencies, reduced energy consumption, cut hours, slashed the materials budget, and reduced staff through layoffs and attrition. The total budget is under $17 million a year.

(The top line of the graphic shows funding for the library, while the bottom line shows funding in dollars from the year 2000.)

Option 1, with estimated annual savings of $600,000, would involve four neighborhood libraries and seven mixed-use libraries. Option 2, would involve estimated annual savings of $500,000, with two area libraries, five neighborhood libraries, two mixed-use libraries; and two express centers.

Option 3, with estimated annual savings of $1.1 million, would involve two area libraries, two neighborhood libraries, three mixed-use libraries, and two express centers. Option 4, with estimated annual savings of $700,000, would involve three area libraries, three neighborhood libraries, and five mixed-use libraries.

Benefits and drawbacks
The benefits of neighborhood libraries would be similar to the current model, though neighborhood libraries removed from service will need to be repurposed. The benefits from area libraries include increased collections and services, more programs and parking; the main drawback would be distance, given that there would be a maximum of three such libraries.

The benefits of mixed-use libraries would be access to technology, popular collections, and reduced operating costs, but the size of the library would limit services and collections. The benefits of express centers would include reduced operating costs and quick access for pick-up and drop off of materials, access to technology and some popular collections. They could be co-located with a high traffic venue, like a grocery store, but the size would limit services and collections.

New libraries defined

The blueprint offers the following definitions of the four library types.

Neighborhood Library [current model]
Square footage: 12,000-20,000
Collection: 60,000-80,000 items
Computers: 20-40
Features: Open 45-54 hours/week; comfortable reading/seating areas; community room; children & teen areas; reference staff; self-service checkout

Area Library
Square footage: 30,000-35,000
Collection: 100,000-150,000 items
Computers: 70
Features: Open 54 hours/week; comfortable reading/seating areas; quiet reading area; community & conference/study rooms; children & teen areas; reference staff; self-service checkout

Mixed Use Library
Square footage: 8000-12,000
Collection: 40,000-50,000 items
Computers: 20-25
Features: Open 45 hours/week; comfortable reading/seating area; community & study rooms; children & teen areas; reference staff; self-service checkout 

Express Center
Square footage: 500-1500
Collection: small browsing collection
Computers: 2-3
Features: Open 48 hours/week; hotline to ready reference; material holds pick-up and returns