435 W. 1st St.

• The proposed library site is in downtown Casper at the intersection of First Street and the North Platte River, formerly the American Pipe Yard. It is across the river from Jonah Bank.
• see the map

In early 2007, a panel of Trustees and community members identified the following criteria for selecting a new library site:

• Library Operations (e.g. proximity to other patron-generators, access to major streets, ease of bookmobile and large vehicle access, outdoor program areas).
• Minimal Environmental & Permitting Issues (e.g. hazardous materials risk, orientation to wind and sun, excessive industrial noise).
• Municipal Planning Compatibility (e.g. proximity to downtown, visual impact, utility access).
• Ease of Land Acquisition (e.g. single property owner, reasonable cost).
• Size & Shape of the Property (e.g. meets Facility Needs Assessment requirements).

After speaking with various property owners, the proposed site was selected as meeting all of these criteria

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• The County Commission has informed the Library Trustees that it does not need the building to support other county functions. Proceeds from its sale would go toward the library's future operating costs.
• If the building is sold, it is important to the Trustees that the new owner will honor the building's history and sustain the downtown's level of activity.
• The prospect of selling the building is several years in the future, after completion of the new library.

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• A 2006 Facility Needs Assessment determined NCPL's facility should be three times the size of our current structure, requiring approximately 7 acres.
• NCPL sits on a landlocked 1.5 acres. There is no practical way to acquire the needed 7 acres near the current site.
• Building adequate parking onsite would require constructing a 3-deck parking garage. Parking garage spaces cost 10 times that of ground-level parking; an extremely expensive alternative.
• The current building cannot have floors added to it.  The current building would have to be gutted to reinforce the columns, beams, and foundation before adding additional floors.  This very expensive proposition would likely require the moving of library operations for at least 2-3 years while structural changes were made and additional floors added.
• The current library is already an accumulation of 100 years of add-ons and remodeling. Building onto this eclectic core would not make sense as a community investment.

• Our inquiries with community members indicate that most citizens would like to see the statue of Prometheus move to the new library site.. 
• If a new library is approved, the Friends of the Library have agreed to fund its relocation.

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• Public libraries are the center of community dialog. We serve everyone, providing venues of free speech on all topics.
• NCPL hosted 562 public programs last year; we turn away 3 or more community groups weekly who wish to host public programs.
• The library cannot hold programs for different age groups concurrently (e.g. one program for parents, and a concurrent program for children).
• Summer Reading Program attendance regularly pushes the Crawford Room's capacity.

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• A referendum for an EXPIRING 6th Cent Tax will be placed on the November 2008 ballot requesting $43.25 Million for the project.
• The total library project cost includes the following elements:

  Construction ----------------------------------------------------------------------$ 30,350,000  
  Land acquisition----------------------------------------------------------------------3,762,000
  Architect --------------------------------------------------------------------------------1,978,820
  Collection Augment (books and materials)----------------------------------1,600,000
  Shelving, equipment, furniture --------------------------------------------------2,486,000
  Fees, Consultants ------------------------------------------------------------------1,128,755
  5% Contingency Fee --------------------------------------------------------------1,941,079
  Operation and Maintenance -----------------------------------------------------5,000,000
                                                  Total Project-----------------------------------$48,246,654
                     Building sale & Private Contributions---------------------------5,000,000
                                                  Ballot Request--------------------------------$43,246,654

• These estimates include consideration of probable construction cost escalation over the life of the project.

• Libraries require more structural reinforcements than office buildings, due mostly to the need to support the weight of books. They are designed to support 150 pounds per square foot.
• Libraries experience considerably more foot traffic than conventional office buildings.
• Public libraries are built to serve many generations of citizens, so durability and high quality are priorities.
• Libraries have high electrical and technology requirements due to heavy public and staff technology use.

• 13 Wyoming counties use the 6th cent to build special facilities.
• The new Laramie County Public Library was recently built using the 6th cent.
• With voter approval, Wyoming counties may adopt a Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET), also known as a "Capital Facilities Tax" or "6th Cent" sales tax for capital improvements
• Plans for how funds will be spent must be specified on the ballot.
• By law, an approved SPET or "6th Cent" tax stops at the end of the quarter in which the specified amount is reached.

• One cent of Natrona County tax currently yields $19.9 million annually.
• At this rate, funds for a new library could be raised with a 6th cent tax in approximately 27 months, at which point the tax would end.
• more about the Expiring 6th Cent tax...

• The City of Casper receives most of the 5th cent tax revenue. The City of Casper does not fund any Natrona County projects.
• The 5th Cent tax is distributed by population. That is why the City of Casper receives most of these funds.
• If all Natrona County 5th Cent funds were dedicated to a new library it would take 12 to 16 years to pay for the new building (at today's costs) while County roads, equipment and other projects would not be funded. This would not be wise.