The Future of the Mount Vernon City Library

The library programs are working towards the future.  Here are four mission-aligned examples.

Preparing learners:

A child under 5 who attends library storytime learns in an environment designed with help from The Children’s Council of Skagit County to include socialization, language comprehension, basic math and tips for following instructions. It is also an environment that encourages caregivers and children to learn together. That’s partly why the 700 children who attended Mount Vernon Library Storytime are more kindergarten ready than their peers.
 
Quick fact:  Caregivers check out 117 books per year per child when they regularly attended Storytime (and visit the library 42 times).
 
THE LIBRARY WANTS TO HELP MORE!
 
With more space, the library could offer more programming to more children and double the library impact to over 1400 kids. 

Creating Vibrant Community Space:

The simple act of sharing space and communications create great things. Over the past year, we have created events ranging from live radio broadcasts, to historical lectures, to art classes, to game nights, to carnivals. Our attendance at these events was over 16,000.
 
Quick fact: The library offered over 735 programs in 2018 and received 146,117 visits (an increase from 2017).
 
THE LIBRARY WANTS TO HELP MORE!
 
With new space, the library could host outside groups, allowing others to offer classes such as yoga, Thai Chi, personal development and art programs. The library envisions an exercise space, a community kitchen, and a room that can host 200 people right off the I-5 corridor. By having the facilities to host others the library could increase offerings to over 1500 events and provide more for our community (especially seniors).

Supporting the Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Valley

Libraries can act as incubators for new business and help train workers. Establishing a business needs market research, fast internet, space to work and advisement. All things an up-to-date library can provide. We also know that the availability of skilled workers is the number one barrier to new business investment.  That’s why the library is currently partnering with local companies such as PACCAR and Oculus to create a first of its kind STEM program to get teenagers business ready. 
 
Quick fact: The library project itself is designed to stimulate the economy by adding parking to the downtown corridor. New hotels, restaurants, and companies will be able to utilize existing parking to make building requirements easier. This will act as a catalyst that our economic advisers believe will create 120 jobs in the next five years.  
 
THE LIBRARY WANTS TO HELP MORE!
 
Understanding tools and software are often the greatest barriers to gaining employment. In a new building, we could offer tools like 3D printing and better space to attend training to help increase our business impact.

Addressing knowledge gaps in our community

Missing a fundamental skill is never a good thing. Each year the library picks a fundamental skill that our users request and develop a program for libraries all over the country to use. This year we addressing the nutrition gap. Learning to cook and preparing food at home is linked to better life long health, greater food security, and better academic success. Yet the families who teach their children to cook and school-led cooking programs have decreased. That’s why we partnered with Skagit Valley College, Washington State University, Skagit Regional Health and Hospital, United General District 304, and Nutrition First WA to build a new type of library nutrition program (it was funded by a grant from the University of Washington / National Library of Medicine).
 
Quick fact: Demand for cooking classes far exceeded the library's capacity. More than a hundred kids have expressed interest in our cooking to date. 
 
THE LIBRARY WANTS TO HELP MORE!
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Every year we want to develop a new “signature program” and use it as a cornerstone for a variety of activities. In a new facility with a commercial kitchen, we could teach hundreds of children to cook and significantly impact health for a generation. 

Quick Facts

Operations

Now	Future Building
The library operates on a 28% smaller budget than comparable libraries serving populations of 35,000 residents (the current population of Mount Vernon), but we have the highest percentage of budget invested in resources for libraries serving communities of our size. That is $40,000 more than any other library in Skagit County.	There will be minimal increase in operating expenses because the new facility will be designed with staff efficiency in mind Increased revenue potential will offset new costs to make a neutral operating budget We can double the programs available, be a hub for community activities, and so much more

Building

Now	Future Building
Oldest Library in Skagit County (Constructed in 1956 with minor renovations in 1977 and 1982) Designed for a population that was 15,000 at the time of last construction 12,621 sqft No conference space 16 computers No outside group use	The library will have configurable space to accommodate multiple types of use Designed for a population of 50,000 Estimated space of 28,000 sqft Multiple conference spaces (Activity room, Kitchen, Art / Maker space) Will employ the latest computer and audio-visual technology The ability for outside group use