So far, community feedback has been mixed about the Orcas Library expansion.

The library feels a responsibility to look into adding on to its facility, with funding for the construction coming entirely from major donors. But with increased space and a larger collection, operating costs will be raised. This would require voters to pass a levy lid lift, which could raise the current rate of 19 cents per thousand of assessed property value by two cents. The library receives the bulk of its operating budget from this levy.

Library staff will share information about the proposed 3500 square foot building addition on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Friends of Orcas Island Library Winter Book Sale at the Orcas School cafeteria. The presentation will include drawings and handouts. It is a chance for community members to ask questions and offer feedback.

“It’s so dicey with the economy right now,” said library director Phil Heikkinen.

“We really want to listen and pay attention to people. Community response has been mixed. Some say they don’t want any increased taxes at all. And there are others who are supportive of it. It’s a good value, but we have to respect it if people want the library to stay the way it is.”

Heikkinen says the impetus for expanding the building comes from library activity rates that continue to increase each year.

“People are asking for more library materials and more space to use them. A typical complaint is that it is too noisy in the building. We don’t want to be inhibiting people from talking, so we want to provide more quiet spaces for reading,” he said.

The Orcas Library has one of the highest activity rates in the state, as well as a collection that is double the average size for a community with Orcas’ population.

“We’re not average here on Orcas,” said Heikkinen.

State-wide, library use has increased as well. This is common during a recession.

The proposed addition would double public space and add more room for books, a quiet reading area, two small study rooms, a children’s wing, and restrooms. There would be movable shelving, which would allow for a multiple-use space. Depending on the landscape requirements, the library might also build a storage space as part of the project.

With the addition of a children’s wing, the library would need to add staff hours.

“The current children’s room gets full when groups come in. The floor is covered with children when an event is happening,” said Heikkinen.

The library has a conceptual drawing of the expansion, which will run between $1 million and $1.5 million to build.

“We already have people who expressed an interest in paying for the expansion. We wouldn’t have gone ahead with it otherwise.”

The library will decide on whether or not to proceed with the project by this summer. If it does move forward, the levy lid lift will likely be on the November ballot.