Library district transition slow, complex

By Cherry Sokoloski
Fossil Creek Current

It turns out that changing a library system from city-run to district-run is not a simple matter. "It's sort of like creating a government," said Mike Liggett, vice president of the new library district board.

The Fort Collins Regional Library District, approved by voters last November, was to have developed intergovernmental agreements with Fort Collins and Larimer County by June 4, but there were too many details to hammer out.

As a result, Fort Collins will continue to be intimately involved with the library system until the end of the year. An interim IGA was worked out with Fort Collins in mid-May, and Liggett said he anticipates that a similar agreement will be forthcoming with the county.

"The district will operate the libraries, but we will use city money," Liggett explained. The district will then repay the city with property tax money that is being collected for the library district.

One of the big issues facing the district and city is who will hold title to the capital assets. "It's easy for people to get caught up with turf issues, when in fact the citizens own the buildings," Liggett stated.

There will be trade-offs involved with the property titles, he pointed out. The entity holding title will be responsible for maintenance and improvements, but it will also be able to make decisions regarding changes or additions to the buildings.

"The titling should be driven by what makes the most efficient operation," Liggett said.

Until a permanent IGA is developed, library staff will still be city employees. Fort Collins will continue to maintain the facilities and provide accounting services, employee benefits and other services to the library system.

"We want to make sure there's a smooth transition, especially for the employees," Liggett said.

One challenge for the library board will be determining how those services will be provided in the long run. Liggett said the board is looking at three options: providing services internally, purchasing the services from the city or contracting with a third party.

Meanwhile, ground has been broken on the Front Range Village lifestyle center on East Harmony Road, which will house a new southeast branch library. Before the district was formed, Fort Collins had money in reserve for a new branch library but no funds to operate it. The southeast branch is scheduled to open late in 2008.

In May, the Fort Collins City Council approved spending an additional $1.1 million on the new library over the previous estimate of $5.5 million. The additional funds will come from developer impact fees, library reserves and $280,000 in donations.

The southeast branch will be housed on the second floor. It will include 16,000 square feet of library space plus a 1,415-square-foot lobby on the main floor.