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Board hears new-library timeline, plans letter to city council highlighting staffing and budget needs
Summary
The Director told the board the new Larkspur library could receive a certificate of occupancy around Feb. 11, triggering furniture moves and a multi-week punch-list; the board also agreed to draft a concise letter to the city council highlighting increased circulation, full staffing for the first time in three years, and a per-capita budget figure to argue against cuts.
The Larkspur City Library Board on Jan. 12 heard a progress report on the new library building and agreed to draft a short letter to the city council summarizing recent achievements and making a budget case.
The Director updated the board on construction and operations: building systems (HVAC, lighting, some internet) are functioning, crews are working through landscaping and finishing items, and staff are preparing a moving plan. He told the board that, at the most recent building meeting, the city’s building department could issue a certificate of occupancy around Feb. 11 if approvals and paperwork come through; after that the library expects furniture delivery and roughly a four- to six-week punch-list period before full operations.
Members discussed practical implications for programming and access during the move. The Director said the library will likely limit formal programming in March to focus on the move but expects to keep recurring story times and some January events (including a Feb. 21 lion-dancer program for children).
Separately, the board agreed to draft a one-page letter to the city council that summarizes the library’s progress, notes the staff and volunteer work that supported the project, and makes an advocacy point about operations funding. The Director and members recommended highlighting consistent statistics year over year — membership growth, circulation and program attendance — to make the case for reasonable ongoing funding. One figure discussed as a comparison point was the library’s approximate per-capita funding of $68; the Director also said the library circulated roughly 99,000 physical items and 66,000 ebooks last year (figures described as approximate and to be verified before publication).
Board members suggested keeping the council letter concise (one page) and framing it with gratitude, a brief look back at achievements (staffing now fully filled for the first time in three years) and an outlook tied to the new facility. The board assigned drafting responsibilities and planned to circulate a draft for comment before returning a final version to the council.
Board members also discussed the book-brigade opening event and their role in the grand opening. Members said they will make themselves available as visible ambassadors for the event and suggested a short, inclusive board acknowledgment of staff and partner groups during opening ceremonies rather than an exhaustive list of individual names.
