October 13, 2004

Renovation Delayed at Library

Plans to renovate the San Juan Island Library this November have been delayed. The library is currently advertising that it will be accepting bids from general contractors on a revised scope of work until November 4 at 4 PM. The renovation includes minor exterior work with a small addition on the southwest corner of the building, and remodeling the interior. The planned improvements are a larger meeting room with less wasted space, a better area for children, separation of young adults from younger children, easier access to magazines and newspapers, large print and northwest collections, and most important, more shelf space to allow the library to grow with the San Juan Island community for another ten years or more.

Library officials are cautious about temporary impacts to library users. "We think we may be closed for about a month while work takes place. We believe a temporary closure will save the taxpayers money and be safer by allowing contractors to do their work with the building closed to the public. We anticipate that a closure may begin as early as late November or early December. We promise a wide-spread information campaign to let you know when we will be closed as soon as we know," said Lauren Stara, library director.

The library's Board of Trustees has been setting money aside for this renovation for several years. The board's current plan is the culmination of the major exterior work that enlarged the library ten years ago. The Trustees have planned on a pay-as-you-go strategy, and the library has current resources to complete the renovation without borrowing or bonding.

The library previously advertised the project in September. Two bids were received; the lowest bid was 30% higher than the library's estimate for the work, and both bids were rejected by the library Board of Trustees, who are appointed to serve by the San Juan Board of County Commissioners.

Drawings will be available for general contractor review at the library and at drawing centers on October 21. A walk through by appointment with the director is required. Bids will be opened on November 4 at 4PM in the library. At its regular monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, November 9, the library Board of Trustees will discuss the bids as part of the agenda. All trustee meetings are open to the public. See the legal advertisement section of the Journal of the San Juans for October 20 and 27 for information about bidding.