Q & A, Tuesday, March 16, 2021

 Submitted by Tricia Syler

Denmark Library

Stephen Kight went over the Denmark Library updates listed below:

In early April we plan to issue an RFP for an architectural firm to design the Denmark Library.  Staff will score the proposals and will invite the highest scoring architects to give a presentation and be interviewed by the Library Board.

Staff are finalizing a building program for Denmark Library, which provides information about our goals for the new branch.  This building program will be shared in its entirety with the architect selected to design the branch, and much of the information will be shared with all prospective bidders in the RFP process.  Following are some of the most important points that will be shared:

• The library should be one story with one public entrance.
• Preferred size is 30,000-32,000 sq. ft., but we recognize that the actual size will be determined by construction costs; design should allow for future expansion.
• The library should incorporate the principles of universal design when feasible, making the building welcoming and responsive to the needs of all.
• The library should make maximum use of natural light.
• We are receptive to considering a variety of architectural styles, but the library building should complement the surrounding landscape.
• The library should have separate adult, teen, and children’s areas, a quiet room, a Friends & Advocates bookstore, and if space allows, a makerspace area.
• There should be Ask Us desks to serve both the adult and the children’s/teen areas.
• There should be a multipurpose room that can be partitioned into two rooms, a conference room that can be partitioned into two rooms, and study rooms (prefer 7+) that can accommodate various size groups.
• There should be outdoor space accessible to patrons, in both sunlight and shade, that allows for seating, a play area, and programming.
• Design should allow one automated materials handler to process both internal and external (drive-up) returns.

We are all very excited for the Denmark project to get under way and we welcome any suggestions that you may have.  Please send your thoughts and ideas to Stephen Kight, Ann Decherd, or Anna Lyle.

Compensation Study

Anna will be sending out a separate detailed memo on Monday, March 22nd that will explain the Compensation Study information she shared during the Q & A session.

Projects at Cumming Library

Holly Barfield covered the following project information listed below:

Projects:

-          Entry Way – No bids received.  We are reaching out to vendors for quotes.  We anticipate completing this project along with the other work at Cumming.

-          New Lights in the Lobby area, Living Room area,  New computer area (in front of the Adult CDs) and Teen area – Etrenzik

-          LED lights at Cumming and Headquarters – Etrenzik

-          Ask Us Desk and Children’s feature – Think 360

-          Canopy tops and end panels for shelving in the Easy area, end panels for the Adult, Teen and Juvenile area – PMC

-          New sit-down computer stations and a few other pieces of furniture for the Teen area and Ask Us desk – PMC

-          Generator – this project has been in the works for a couple of weeks now.  Currently we are working to have a bush removed where the generator will live.  The generator will at the corner of the IT offices across from the secret garden.  – S.D. Solutions, LLC

All vendors were the lowest bid.

PMC – a furniture company that was highly recommended.

Etrenzik – has done extensive work with Forsyth County to upgrade their building to LED.

Think 360 – has primarily created pieces for trade shows but they have create permanent pieces.  They were highly recommended. 

S.D. Solutions, LLC – has done extensive work with Forsyth County to add generators to their buildings. 

We are so excited to have these vendors on board.  Currently we are working to finalize their contracts.  Once this is completed, we will schedule a kick off meeting with all the vendors.  We will stress to the vendors that they will need to be aware of each other and how their work with effect each other.  We will work with them to coordinate their work so that hopefully we will not have multiple vendors working in little pockets all around that library but have the working together in a certain section.  For example, the teen area, we can have Etrenzik install lights and upgrading lights to LED and PMC installing the end panels at the same time.  Safety for staff and patrons will be our highest priority and we will work hard to try to not impact the library as much as possible. 

While all of this work is going on, we will also be working to install a new roof.  A vendor has been selected for this work, SRS.  We are anticipating a kick off meeting for this project to happen in a couple of weeks.

I will say that all of this work will be disruptive to staff and patrons.  This work will be noisy and loud most of the time and dirty and dusty some of the times.  We will try our best to manage the chaos at much as possible but it will be bad while we are going through the process but beautiful once we are finished. 

The secret garden will be closed during the roof project.  The garden between CU and HQ will be open unless we need to close due to a safety issue regarding the work on the roof. 

We will try to communicate often so that everyone is aware of what is happening. 

Vaccine Survey

Please remember to complete the Staff Vaccine Survey by March 29^th.  This anonymous survey will help us plan for future phases of returning to pre-pandemic activities.

http://survey.forsythpl.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=96K3mn6

Finance & HR Software

Things are moving along behind the scenes with the new software.  The Finance and HR department are currently being trained and some information is being added and reviewed.  We will conduct a trial payroll test in May and if all continues as scheduled, we hope to be up and running in July.

Staff Book Club

Just a reminder that the next Whatcha Reading? Staff Book Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 31 at 2:00 p.m.  There is no specific book assigned to this meeting.  This is just an opportunity for staff to come together (virtually) and discuss what we are reading!

Whatcha Reading? Staff Book Club
Wed, March 31, 2021 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
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