Planning the New Library

Community Development Plan

February 22, 2010 -- The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library (BTML) Board of Trustees has passed a resolution to move forward with the initial phase of the Kennett Area Community Development Plan (KACDP). The Library was approached several months ago to participate in the KACDP; a fundraising enterprise including the library, the YMCA, the Anson B. Nixon Park, and the Borough of Kennett. The proposal assumes that the library will build a new facility on the Weinstein property located on East State Street.

At a recent Board meeting, the BTML Advisory Team presented a preliminary site assessment report recommending four possible sites, the Weinstein property and three other sites outside the Borough, as suitable locations for the future library. Susan MacDonnell, Board President said, “in light of the Advisory Team’s assessment of the Weinstein property, its location within the Borough, and the compelling fundraising and collaborative opportunities, the Board has agreed to participate with the YMCA, Anson B. Nixon Park, and the Borough in forging partnerships and developing project criteria.

The KACDP is an ambitious concept requiring a major collaborative effort on the part of all participants if it is to be developed into a plan that will satisfy the project goals of all four organizations. While the opportunity is promising, there are no guarantees that an agreement can be formed that will address the collective conditions for participation; each participant is charged with serving its organization’s mission with responsible governance and fiduciary conservatism.

The BTML Board of Trustees has seriously considered the potential opportunities and risk presented in the proposed KACDP, and has resolved to commit in good faith to participate with the YMCA, Anson B. Nixon Park and the Borough of Kennett in the further consideration and development of the KACDP.

Conditions of Participation

February 22, 2010 -- RESOLVED, The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library (BTML) agrees to participate in good faith with the YMCA, Anson B. Nixon Park and the Borough of Kennett, in developing an agreement regarding a joint development project (Kennett Community Development Plan (“KCDP”)), subject to the understanding that its participation is subject to satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth below.

A. The Weinstein Site meets the requirements and site considerations for the New Library and is supported by the Advisory Team. The foregoing is contingent upon the positive outcome of the BTML’s requirements including site criteria, site engineering, architectural design, construction and operating costs.

B. The BTML and the YMCA execute a memorandum of understanding with respect to the design (including the number of free, dedicated spaces alloted to BTML and access off Willow Street) of the YMCA-BTML New Parking Facility (“NPF”) which defines the BTML’s financial responsibilities with respect to the NPF.

C. The BTML, YMCA, the Park and the Borough approve the terms and conditions of the 501(c)(3) entity structure, operations and estimated costs, and the concerns related to the 501(c)(3) organization set forth below are addressed: (i) legal structure; (ii) decision making process; (iii)liabilities; (iv) distribution of funds raised; (v) project-construction time lines; (vi) auditing and governance; (vii) rights and responsibilities of members; and (viii) appointment of the 5th member.

D. Construction of the New Library will not begin until the BTML is assured that the grant money and other funds are committed, and the municipalities within the BTML service area resolve their support commitments to the BTML.

E. The BTML will participate if the CCEDC, or some entity acceptable to the BTML, is engaged to manage grant applications and funds.

F. The real estate owned by the 501(c)(3) participants, and contributions already received by them, will not be transferred or pledged to the KCDP although the existence of same will be made known in order to obtain grant funds that require matching expenditures.

G. There must be a binding commitment from the Borough to sell the Weinstein Property to the BTML on definitive terms acceptable to the BTML.

H. There must be a commitment by the Borough that it will amend its Zoning Ordinance, if required by the BTML, to permit construction of the New Library.

I. There must be a commitment from all participants in the KCDP to apply the first funds raised by the KCDP to the cost of designing and constructing the NPF.

J. There must be a commitment from all participants in the KCDP that a stipulated percentage of the funds raised by the KCDP (after costs for the design and construction of the NPF have been met) will be earmarked for the design and construction of the New Library.

Executive Summary: Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Listening Campaign

December 8, 2009 --The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Board of Trustees announced a "Listening Campaign" initiative in September, 2008, as a foundation for their community-based strategic planning process.
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Trustee Elizabeth Allman Speaks Her Mind

As a recently appointed Bayard Taylor Memorial Library board member, I have had the opportunity to observe and participate in the library’s activities and progress related to their site search for an expanded facility. The Community Development Plan proposed by Larry Bosley and Mike Walker has added an element of time sensitivity to this process.

The library recognizes the opportunity that this proposal presents to our community. Over the past two months, we have met with each of the affiliated organizations and the Chester County Economic Development Council to better understand the scope and implications of this project and how our missions might be aligned. The vision is promising and we understand the anticipation it has generated. We also believe our constituents deserve the appropriate due diligence and consideration we are giving.

The library board, along with other committed individuals, are in high gear to complete a thorough analysis of future sites for our library. The library’s Advisory Team, comprised of experts in urban planning, civil engineering, architecture, general contracting, real estate development, real estate law and fundraising has reviewed twelve potential sites in the Kennett area - including the Weinstein lot that is key to the library’s inclusion in the Bosley-Walker proposal. These professionals have given eighteen months of volunteer hours and are now finalizing a detailed and objective evaluation report based on criteria provided by our director, designed to ensure a sustainable future for the library.

The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Board will meet as many times as necessary to review the Advisory Team’s recommendations and the issues related to the Bosley-Walker proposal. The YMCA requested that the library to come to a decision on the Weinstein property and the Bosley-Walker proposal by March 1st , and we are committed to meeting that deadline. As always, we embrace the public’s passionate concern for our community, our library and the promising future we will build together. These are exciting times for a BTM Library board member.

2009 End of Year Report of the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Advisory Team

The Bayard Taylor Library Advisory Team was created in June 2009 to provide the Library Board with accurate information from which to compare sites in the Borough(urban) and outside the Borough(suburban) so that a clear direction is established that will garner wide support for a successful fundraising campaign resulting in a library that fills the needs of the regional community for years to come.

The BTML Advisory Team includes the following members:

Chair, Dennis C. Melton, A.I.A. Melton Architects. Architect with programming expertise and thorough knowledge of approvals processes, for the purpose of correctly interpreting the library program and asking questions to clarify differences in urban and suburban settings. Vice-Chair, Mary Anna Ralph, Urban Planner with familiarity with Kennett Borough and Kennett Township to assist with adjacency and context issues.
Joseph G. Riper,,Esq. Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco. Real Estate Attorney with thorough knowledge of Land Development in Kennett Borough and Kennett Township to advise on legal issues for zoning and land development.
Russ Richardson, Richardson Associates. Developer with thorough knowledge of Development issues in Kennett Borough and Kennett Township to assist with development process issues, scope of development components, timeline and costs.
Richard Basilio, MOBAC, Inc. General Contractor with thorough knowledge of construction in Kennett Borough and Kennett Township to assist with defining construction scope and cost estimates.
Steve Woodward, Advanced GeoServices. Civil Engineer with thorough experience in Kennett Borough and Kennett Township Land Development to assist in identifying approvals process issues, scope of site work and costs.
Eva Verplanck. Fundraising expert with thorough knowledge of regional fundraising issues to advise on preliminary fundraising feasibility, process and timeline.
Also attending meetings of the BTML Advisory Team are: Susan MacDonnell, BTML Board President, Jon Olson, BTML Board Treasurer and Donna Murray, BTML Director.

To date the Advisory Team has:

Created and confirmed a four point criteria for establishing if a site is suitable for a more detailed assessment.
Created and confirmed a 14 point criteria for detailed sites assessment.
Identified several sites to pursue for the four point criteria.
Confirmed four sites so far for the detailed assessment.

We anticipate completion of sites assessments with recommendations in March, 2010.

BTML Requirements & Site Considerations

Information about BTML's requirements and site consideration can be found in this PDF document: ATeam Side Considerations (Please note that you need the free Adobe Reader to view this PDF document. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, click here to download it.)

Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Continues Listening Campaign

May 22, 2009 -- The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library “Alumni,” a group of longtime volunteers, capital campaign contributors, trustees and staff, gathered recently at the LEED-certified Dansko building to add their interests and needs to the growing wealth of community input the library administration and board of trustees will use to plan for the library’s future.

Design and technology were underlying themes of presentations given by two guest speakers at the event. Host Peter Kjellerup, co-founder of Dansko and committed green enthusiast, presented a compelling case for ecologically responsible building construction. Guests were invited to tour the building, a wonderful example of the applied theories of sustainable design and technology. Click here to continue reading...

Community Works With Library

Nov. 1, 2008 -- On Tuesday evening, October 30th, representatives of multiple community organizations gathered to discuss their various needs, particularly as they relate to Bayard Taylor Memorial Library. This was the first in a series of “Conversations” which the library is holding as part of its “Listening Campaign.” The purpose of the meetings is to identify those community needs and interests to which the library can respond with new or improved services and programs.

Participants from civic, municipal, business and educational organizations, plus library board members, the library director and members of the library’s Advisory Team met in small groups that then reported their findings to the entire gathering. Creative ideas for the future were generated as participants gained insight into the shared and unique concerns of their fellow local and regional organizations. It was an especially productive evening for the library, providing valuable information for their community-based strategic plan.

The meeting was hosted at the Genesis Health Care building and ably facilitated by Chester County 2020, with the assistance of a DCED grant sponsored by Senator Dominic Pileggi.

A full report with be available by November 1st on line at bayardtaylor.org and cc2020.org. and in print at the library and municipal offices.

Library Conversation

Sept. 30, 2008 -- The Library Conversation launched a new initiative for the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library as the Board of Trustees and Director reached out to the regional community for information to support program planning and facility considerations that will be responsive to the needs of a population rich in civic, cultural, educational, ethnic and economic diversity. The program attracted representatives of organizations active in the broad community as well as volunteers whose interests intersected with more than one organization. Click here to continue reading...

We’re Listening – September 2008

Kennett Square, Pa., September 12, 2008 – Bayard Taylor Memorial Library opens a new chapter in its long history with a “Listening Campaign” to gain insights from the broad community to be used in shaping the library’s new strategic plan.

“For the next several months we’re going to be all ears, listening to as many of the 40,000 voices in the library’s service area as possible,” said Susie MacDonnell, president of the library board of trustees. “The key to a good library lies in its ability to respond to its community with relevance, clarity and vision,” she added.

Initiating the Listening Campaign are two “Library Conversations,” scheduled for the end of the month, which will bring together representatives of the area’s non-profit, cultural, commercial, educational and municipal organizations as well as the library director and the board of trustees. “Our goal is to understand how the library can collaborate with, support and complement, but not duplicate, the various civic opportunities available to the residents in our service area,” said MacDonnell.

Chester County 2020 will facilitate the first two listening events, with the assistance of a Pennsylvania DCED grant, sponsored by Senator Dominic Pileggi, and Genesis Health Care Corporation has generously provided a venue.

Next in the series will be conversations with library patrons, contributors, volunteers and staff members. In addition, a survey of how patrons and area residents use the library

will be available soon at the library and online at www.bayardtaylor.org .

The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library is a member of the Chester County Library System. It has more than 100,000 patron visits annually and hosts the highly popular children’s reading and adult literacy programs. Established in 1895, the library is named for Bayard Taylor, poet, literary critic, translator and travel author, born in Kennett Square in 1825.

Library Announces Advisory Team / Community Experts Volunteer for Library

July 17, 2008 -- The Board of Trustees of the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library announces the formation of an Advisory Team – an all-volunteer team of local experts who will independently assess potential urban and suburban library sites. The A-Team will provide the Board with researched and documented information to help select a site that will not only enable the library to best serve its community but will also gain the widespread support necessary to make a new library a reality.

The Board is extremely grateful to these individuals who are volunteering their time and expertise with no expectation of a future business relationship with the library. The Advisory Team members are:

Dennis Melton, Chair, Melton Architects - Architect & program consultant,
MaryAnna Ralph, Vice Chair -Urban planner,
Richard Basilio, MOBAC, Inc. - General contractor,
Russ Richardson, Richardson Properties Corp. - Real estate development & consultant,
Joseph Riper, Riley, Riper, Hollin & Colagreco - Real Estate attorney,
Steven Woodward, Advanced GeoServices - Civil engineer,
Eva Verplanck, Fundraising and feasibility expert.

Based on library site criteria, the A-Team will evaluate potential locations for everything from size, accessibility and parking to costs, scheduling and municipal approvals – all those many details which require the expertise this group brings to the table. The library’s property at Ways Lane will be among those sites. The Board and the Advisory Team will identify additional possibilities as the library’s new strategic plan is developed, and updated site criteria are established.

Weekly meetings of the A-Team’s chair and vice-chair with members of the Board and building committee have clarified the scope and expectations of the project. The full Advisory Team had its first meeting at the end of June.