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11.17.16 Library Commission-Landmarks Board joint study seesion 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Matters from the Library Commission a. Memo: Joint Meeting talking points b. Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Historic Architectural Inventory of the Main Library north building 3. Update on Library Master Plan process – Jennifer Phares, Deputy Library Director 4. Discussion 5. Adjournment Library Commissioners: Joni Teter, Chair Alicia Gibb, Vice Chair Tim O’Shea Juana Gomez Joel Koenig Landmarks Board Members: Deborah Yin, Chair Fran Sheets, Vice Chair Eric Budd Briana Butler Ronnie Pelusio CITY OF BOULDER LIBRARY COMMISSION & LANDMARKS BOARD JOINT STUDY SESSION DATE: Monday, November 17, 2016 TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Canyon Meeting Room 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Matters from the Library Commission a. Memo: Joint Meeting talking points b. Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Historic Architectural Inventory of the Main Library north building 3. Update on Library Master Plan process – Jennifer Phares, Deputy Library Director 4. Discussion 5. Adjournment Library Commissioners: Joni Teter, Chair Alicia Gibb, Vice Chair Tim O’Shea Juana Gomez Joel Koenig Landmarks Board Members: Deborah Yin, Chair Fran Sheets, Vice Chair Eric Budd Briana Butler Ronnie Pelusio CITY OF BOULDER LIBRARY COMMISSION & LANDMARKS BOARD JOINT STUDY SESSION DATE: Monday, November 17, 2016 TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Canyon Meeting Room 1 M E M O R A N D U M Boulder Library Commission/Landmarks Board Joint Meeting November 17th, 2016 TO: The Boulder Library Commission & Landmarks Board FROM: David Farnan, Library/Arts Director James Hewat, Senior Historic Preservation Planner SUBJECT: Discussion of Results of the historic resource re-survey of the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library. I. PURPOSE To provide the Library Commission and Landmarks Board the opportunity to discuss the results of the historic resource survey of the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library. No action of the Library Commission or Landmarks Board is being requested at this time. II. QUESTIONS A. Re-survey of the north wing of the Boulder Public Library: Does the Planning Commission/Landmarks Board have questions or comments on: 1. The information included in the re-survey? 2. The recommendations of the re-survey? 3. Other questions? B. Boulder Public Library’s Master Planning Process: 1. The November 17th Library Commission talking points? 2. Other questions? C. Civic Area West Bookend Planning Process 1. The West Bookend Planning Process? 2. Other questions? 2 III. HISTORIC SURVEY OF THE NORTH WING OF THE BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY Background: Historic and architectural surveys and historic contexts are the foundation for identifying, understanding, and preserving cultural and historic resources. Surveys inform a community about the historic resources it has and why they may be important. Since Boulder implemented a survey program in 1977, a total of 16 survey projects have been completed, resulting in the documentation of nearly all of the city’s historic buildings built prior to the 1960s. Boulder is recognized as having one of the most comprehensive historic building survey records in the state, but updating historic survey information in the city remains a priority to ensure information is accurate and up to date. North Wing of the Boulder Public Library A historic building inventory form was completed for the north Wing of the Boulder Public Library in 1995 (see Attachment A) which found the 1961 Modernist building, designed by local architect James Hunter, to be eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places. In the spring of 2016 the Civic Area and Historic Preservation staff contracted with Katherine Corbett to re-survey the building as the initial survey was cursory in nature and over twenty years had elapsed since it was completed. Corbett’s resurvey of the North Wing (see Attachment B), provides considerable documentary information about the history of the library, including the choice for its location, its architectural features, its 1961 construction, alterations, including additions by Gaston & Associates in 1974 The survey recommends that the 1961 North Wing of the library is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under criterion A (association with events that have made a contribution to broad patterns of history) & criterion C (as a characteristic type and period of architecture associated with renowned local architect James Hunter). Corbett also recommends that the 1974 addition by Gaston and Associates is eligible for listing in the National Register under criteria A & C (per criterion G for buildings less than 50 years in age). The survey does not find the 1992 South Wing, designed by local architects Midyette & Seiroe Associates, to be eligible for listing in the National Register. IV. THE CIVIC AREA PLANNING PROCESS In the next few days, the Civic Area Phase I construction of the park implementation will begin and continue through 2017. Phase I improvements will only occur west of Broadway. Improvements for the park east of Broadway will be incorporated into the East Bookend planning, which will occur over the next 12 to 16 months. Current staff 3 work focuses on assembling and evaluating the many prior planning and analytical studies pertinent to the East Bookend, and assembling them into a cohesive “Opportunities and Constraints Report.” This report (anticipated to be completed in late 2016) will be used as a tool for additional planning and community engagement efforts, which will ultimately produce a recommended building program, conceptual site design and urban design guidelines. These recommendations will be presented to council for consideration in late 2017. Through a similar process, more focused planning related to the West Bookend will commence upon completion of the Library Master Plan update and the Human Services Strategy at the end of 2017/ beginning of 2018. V. THE BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY’S MASTER PLANNING PROCESS The Boulder Public Library is in the early stages of a master planning process (see Attachment C), intended to provide a firm foundation for the library’s continuing evolution to meet community needs. We are conducting broad community outreach, using “People, Place and Platform” as the organizing context. To develop an effective master plan, we need to understand community needs and aspirations for library programs and services; map them to the “3Ps” to identify delivery models; and establish priorities in the master plan. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: 1995 Historic Building Inventory form for the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library Attachment B: 2016 Historic Building Architectural Inventory Form for the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library Attachment C: Library Commission Talking Points for November 17th, 2016 Joint Meeting Attachment D: September 30th, 2016 Memo to the Planning Commission about the Resurvey the North Wing Attachment E: 2011 Federal Emergency Management Agency Press Release addressing historically designated buildings 4 Attachment A: 1995 Historic Building Inventory form for the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library 5 6 7 Attachment B: 2016 Historic Building Architectural Inventory Form for the North Wing of the Boulder Public Library 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Attachment C: Library Commission Talking Points for November 17th, 2016 Joint Meeting Library Commission/Landmarks Board Joint Study Session November 17, 2016 Talking Points Why did we ask to meet with you? BPL is in the early stages of a master planning process, intended to provide a firm foundation for the library’s continuing evolution to meet community needs. We are conducting broad community outreach, using “People, Place and Platform” (see below) as the organizing context. To develop an effective master plan, we need to understand community needs and aspirations for library programs and services; map them to the “3Ps” to identify delivery models; and establish priorities in the master plan. Facility planning (both capital planning and long term maintenance) is an essential element in any master planning process. The Main Library’s north building will be a major focus in our master plan; it is also a key component in planning for the Civic Area as part of the “West Bookend.” There are three pieces of the Main library that are part of last summer’s historical survey study, the 1970’s Block (now integral to the south side functions), the Bridge, and the North Building. The north building currently houses a number of core library programs and services, while also providing platforms for a variety of community uses. (See slides 1-3 for a locational overview of current functions and programs in the Main library.) The North Building has functional deficiencies and is in need of upgrades in critical areas including mechanical, electrical, and energy systems. When thinking about renovation and/or redevelopment, the north building and its site present a variety of factors, including: • flood requirements (both high hazard and floodplain); • height restrictions (compounded by the low elevation of adjacent Boulder Creek); • bringing the building up to modern green building standards; and • historic value. As part of the master planning process, the Library Commission would like to identify realistic options to renovate and/or redevelop the north building and attached bridge. The historic values identified in the recent survey present some threshold questions, which we would like to discuss and ultimately work with the Landmarks Board. Background and Context: Welcome to Library-land! Libraries have always been about knowledge. As methods and processes change for learning and knowledge exchange, libraries must change with them to stay relevant and serve their communities. Libraries are no longer huge archives for books and periodicals. The community of today now uses the library as community space for informal learning, collaboration, human connection, social interactions (in the physical space and virtually), access to technology and Internet, job searching and creating. They come to the library to write a business plan, attend a storytime or learn how to use a 3D printer. The role of the 21st-century library in the digital era is built on its three key assets: people, place and platform. 36 People The library as people reflects the shift away from building collections to building human capital, relationships and knowledge networks in the community. People are at the center of the library’s mission to inspire and cultivate learning, advance knowledge and nurture and strengthen communities. While there are thousands of stories in the public library, the ones that matter most come with the people who use the library. Place The physical library must undergo a transition that embraces the openness and flexibility needed to thrive in a world of constant change. Central to this flexibility is creating spaces that can adapt to the changing operational models of libraries. Platform A great library platform is a “third place”— an interactive entity that can facilitate many people operating individually or in groups. The library platform supports the learning needs and goals of the community. To accomplish this, libraries embody the disposition of the entrepreneurial learner: seizing opportunities wherever they may exist, engaging others in the process. The library can then curate and archive the solutions created for sharing and future use. As a platform, the library promotes development in the community and society by identifying and filling gaps in community services including early-childhood education, lifelong learning, technology literacy and e-government. The library as platform makes the library a participatory enterprise. Boulder’s Library: “Re-inventing the Place to Be” This slogan was adopted by BPL staff ~ 3 years ago as Main Library’s south-side renovation neared completion. And what a fabulous reinvention it has been! Re-invention highlights include: • Library visits are up nearly 7%, topping 930,000 visitors system-wide in 2015 and on track for a million visitors in 2016. (For comparison, the combined Recreation Centers had about 465,000 visitors in 2015, and Pearl Street Mall sees about 1 million visitors annually.) • New card holders are up 16.5%, with juvenile card holders increasing by 7%. E-book circulation is up 29%, with overall circulation of all materials up by 3.5% in 2015. • Program and event attendance topped 100,000 participants in 2015 - a greater than 100% increase over the previous year. Children’s programming reached nearly 60,000 participants, with over 12,860 of those participating in the Library’s brand-new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) activities. Story Time attendance increased 30%. The 2015 Summer Reading Program has seen record-breaking participation the last two years: an 88% increase in 2015 (over 2014) and a 33% increase (over 2015) in 2016. Altogether, major community events, increased Storytimes and STEAM programming resulted in a more than 140% increase in attendance at Library programs and events in 2015. Concert and film series are among the Library’s most long-running programs, attracting people of all ages to the Canyon Theater. • The Boulder Small Business Development Center (SBDC) moved in to the Main Library in 2015. The result? Greater visibility for SBDC, with 58 workshops and 3,420 hours of free, one-on-one consulting made available to business-minded library patrons in SBDC’s first year. • BPL regularly partners with Intercambio, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of immigrants, to connect more people with Boulder Reads, our adult literacy program. A stepping stone to dignity, better jobs, and citizenship, in 2015 Boulder Reads experienced a 10% increase in program attendance, total number of volunteers and total number of volunteers hours donated. 37 • Boulder attained international prominence on the cultural scene by hosting the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) on the Main library campus in September 2015 and 2016. This American adjunct to the world’s largest free literature festival in Jaipur, India brought an estimated 10,000-15,000 people to the Library for a full weekend of events - with a remarkable array of local, national, and international authors and musicians. BPL is working closely with Festival organizers to establish Boulder as JLF’s American home. • BLDG 61 (BPL’s Maker Space) is an amazing community success story. Our goal is to inspire and grow learners who want to build, create, enhance and change the environment they live in. The library converted an unused storage and old facility workshop into a state of the art makerspace that is free and open to the community. In our first 8 months we have provided more than 250 programs & workshops, more than 20 outreach events and reached more than 16,000 participants. BLDG 61 has the potential to be an incubator for transforming the way our community experiences the library. Instead of coming in to simply check out books, they are coming together to learn a 21st century skill, advance a hobby, develop a new product all in collaboration with library staff and fellow community members. • The library’s fabulous success with STEAM programs and BLDG 61’s “Making” is grounded in the strength of our community programming partners: CU Science Discovery, the Fringe Festival, CoderDojo, SparkFun, Play-Well Teknologies, Sphero, the Boulder Valley School District Millennium Lab, Schact Spindle Company, and more. • BPL is garnering recognition from peers for this outstanding work: BLDG 61 staff were invited to the Capitol Hill MakerFaire in 2016, and the Colorado Association of Libraries named BPL as Colorado’s “Library of the Year” for 2016. The North Wing Boulder Main Library StoryTime Reading Buddies Community Meeting Space Library Programs (STEAM+) Children’s Library Fiction collection Media collection Check-out Gallery space New books Display space Community Meeting Space Library Programs Library staff offices Staff offices Public computers Public reading and work areas Study rooms Public work area Library programs Non-fiction collection Periodicals collection Teen Space Boulder Reads Arts & Culture office Library staff offices Collections development BLDG 61 SBDC Staff meeting Library programs 212 seat auditorium Gallery space Japanese Courtyard Outside seating Gardening and pollinator programs Channel 8 Seeds Library Cafe Regulatory agencies REGULATORY AGENCIES City of Boulder Landmarks Board and Design Review Committee City of Boulder Planning and Development Zoning (setbacks, height limits) Energy compliance (30% better than IECC 2012) IBC International Building Code 2012 Flood and adopted maps Civic Area Master Plan FEMA Technical documents regarding floodplain development Boulder Design Advisory Board Excerpts from Historical Survey 2016 •Boulder Public Library North Wing built in 1961, James Hunter architect •Bridge and South addition built in 1974, James Hunter architect Though integrity of the exterior is mostly preserved, the front elevation’s appearance has been altered by the relocation and projection of the main entrance. •The interior has been extensively altered and there is little left of the modernist rooms and details. 38 Attachment D: September 30th, 2016 Memo to the Planning Commission about the Resurvey the North Wing 39 Attachment E: 2011 Federal Emergency Management Agency Press Release addressing historically designated buildings 40 41