In a world where knowledge is power,
libraries make everyone more powerful.

Status Update
History
Need
Frequently Asked Questions
Project News
Design
Contact Information

It was nearly a year ago when we wrapped up the big matching opportunity for the new Ferndale Library Campaign, where through some strategic planning Ferndale City Council and the Community Foundation were able to double or quadruple match each dollar contributed. Gifts large and small came in from all over Ferndale, and totaled nearly $850,000 in a few short months. 

We’ve learned a lot about libraries during this effort, including hearing countless stories about their importance from Ferndale and from around the country. Libraries provide vital access to information. This is particularly important in our current economic situation when many people have had to eliminate in-home internet access. People turn to – and depend on – their libraries and librarians, in good times and in hard times. According to the American Library Association, families making less than $15,000 annually are two to three times more likely to rely on library computers than those earning more than $75,000. From free access to books and online resources for families to business resources that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries support everyone in the communities they serve.

The library continues to be one of the busiest places in the community with sometimes over 1,000 people coming through the doors in a single day. That is far more than many local retailers can claim! Library staff report that many patrons are turning to library computers and Internet access to find work, apply for jobs online, type resumes and cover letters and open email accounts. Young people value the library as a safe place to study, connect with their peers and be creative.

Status Update: (back to top)
Thanks to an extraordinary support from the community, the campaign for the New Ferndale Library is well underway. Despite the economic setback, over 65% of the necessary funds have been secured. A prime Main Street site was acquired. Architectural design work is nearing completion. Permitting and preliminary site preparation will begin as the fundraising wraps up at the end of 2012. Construction is planned to commence in the summer of 2013.

While the recession has had countless negative effects on our communities, costs for capital projects are reduced which creates significant advantages.

History: (back to top)
The community has consistently supported the much needed larger facility. The project was identified as a priority during a series of unprecedented public meetings held in 2006 as part of a coordinated community vision for civic revitalization. Additionally, in the fall of 2008 a survey of residents revealed that nearly 60% had visited the library at least once in the past three months, and 43% had visited within the previous month. Results also showed strong demand for a larger collection of resources (59%), more room to sit and meet (50%) and additional parking (49%). 

Need: (back to top)
The Ferndale Branch of the Whatcom County Library System serves as many as 1,000 patrons each day and has over 200,000 visits by annually area residents. However, community demand far exceeds the capacity of the current facility. Inadequate space for patrons, books and periodicals, limitations on technology capacity, and community meeting space are significant problems. Even without the recent economic downturn, use of the Ferndale Library has been steadily growing for many years. The library is simply bursting.

The library provides essential services to the community. There are few places where people and families can gather, explore, job search, find reliable Internet services, learn, have fun, and build community. The library provides a safe, stimulating and caring haven for children. Designing the new library has given the community an opportunity to examine how to design a space to satisfy all of the community’s library needs. The new building will provide an intimate place where people will have free access to books, information, new technologies, activities, highly trained professionals, comfortable furnishings, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The library is temporarily housed in Pioneer Pavilion as its former location is being converted to a new police station. Pioneer Pavilion is beautiful as a community center but is not designed to meet the diverse needs of a public library.  A major drawback to the Pavilion is its inability to deal with noise and climate control needs of a library.  Library technology needs are not adequately served with essential computer connections running along the floor and ceiling.  Meeting room space, which must serve library programs as well as public groups, is very inadequate. Large numbers of children come to events and need to be split into two groups and repeated, summer programs overflow the rooms, some community groups find the meeting space inadequate including some activities of the Friends of the Ferndale Library

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Q. When was the last library built?
A. The old library was built twenty years ago in 1992 when Ferndale’s population was 5,398. Since then the population of the City and surrounding service areas has more than doubled.
Q. How many people use the library?
A. The library serves between 600-1,000 patrons each day, and has over 200,000 visits by area residents annually.
Q. How much bigger will the new library be?
A. The old library was 9,300 square feet. Our new library will be 15,000 square feet by its completion and will be designed for maximum efficiency. The site of the new library also allows room for future growth if necessary.
Q. What is the Fund Raising Goal?
A. Our fund raising goal is $6 million dollars.
Q. The City is also building a new police station. How are these two projects related?
A. When the library moved into its temporary location at Pioneer Pavilion it created a great opportunity for the City to renovate and relocate the police station. The former library site is ideally situated for adapting to this new use.

PROJECT NEWS (back to top)

Friends of Ferndale Library Present $20,000 Gift to New Library Fund
December 27, 2011

Grant, Yearend Giving Opportunity & New Energy Boost Library Campaign
December 20, 2011

Ferndale Library Design
August 4, 2011

Ferndale Public Library at Pioneer Pavilion
June 15, 2011

Library Moves
March 7, 2011

PROJECT NEWS ARCHIVES

New Ferndale Library Project News Archive

DESIGN (back to top)

The new Ferndale Library design by SHKS Architects is based on several years of public feedback from focus groups and other planning meetings as well as communication with staff combined with their own library building experience. They heard strong messages from the community that the building should be simple, cozy, modern and adaptable and that it should have clear connections to the surrounding natural areas.  Consequently, the building is oriented towards Mt. Baker and Schell Marsh, providing visual lines from Main Street through the building to the unique views beyond.     

CONTACT INFORMATION (back to top)

Contact the partners in the New Ferndale Library Project:

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