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NAVIGATION:
Boise City Council Votes to Fund Branch
Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- (Boise, ID – February 21, 2007) Boise Public Library received the go-ahead for branch libraries last night at the Boise City Council meeting. Council members voted unanimously to approve the most recent version of the Master Library Facility Plan, and to allocate $2,519,670 for the first stages. They also directed the Library to proceed with lease negotiations for two leased “storefront” facilities, which would open this fall. New library director Kevin Booe presented the request for a motion on behalf of the library’s Board of Trustees. Included in the allocation were Fiscal Year 2007 capital funds of $1.5 million to ready the sites for storefront libraries in the Central Bench and Northwest Boise areas. Another $600,000 of capital funds was allocated for architect and engineer selection for the West Boise facility, which would break ground in late 2007. A fourth library in Southeast Boise would break ground in 2008. The City Council also approved $410,546 in Fiscal Year 2007 operating funds for hiring and training of new staff. The equivalent of about 25 employees would be hired over a two-year period to staff and support new branch operations. Booe indicated that suitable branch sites have been identified in the Hillcrest and Collister Shopping Centers. Lease negotiations and preliminary design are expected to take about four months, with a final lease recommendation to be presented to Council for approval in June 2007. Construction would follow, with a grand opening anticipated in October 2007. All four branch libraries would be full-service libraries, offering nearby neighborhoods adult and children’s programs, community meeting space, computers and Internet access, books, movies, music, magazines & newspapers and information and reference services. Booe’s presentation to the City Council, with more details of costs and services, can be viewed on the library’s website at www.boisepubliclibrary.org . # # # Contact:
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