MISSION

To meet the long term library needs of the Ferndale community by building a downtown information and

education center combining the warmth of a traditional library with state-of-the-art technology:

A community living-room where everyone can read, learn, work, meet and grow.

New Ferndale Library Project

Fundraising Efforts to Date April 2010

$1.06 Million Gifts, Grants & Pledges to Whatcom Community Foundation

$277,000 Whatcom County Library System

$1.5 Million City of Ferndale

$2.837 Million

Funding for Library Expansion Projects

National Statistics for Funding Sources

Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions

Community Campaigns

Baby Lap-Sit to PreK reading activities

Outreach to parents and caregivers

School readiness/academic success

Elevate awareness of the need to read early and often

Elevate levels of early literacy, expand learning resources

Elevate levels of early literacy, improve quality of child care

A New Library Supports Economic Development with…

Early Literacy

Burlington

Growth in all areas marked the first full year in

the “new” Burlington Public

Library. Circulation grew a whopping 46%

over the prior year, more than

2,500 new members signed

up for library cards, and 5,300 people attended more than 175

library programs.

Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions

Access to technologyAccess to internetAccess to trainingEnglish language

trainingAdult literacy

resources & servicesCareer skills

workshops & resources

Expand quantity and competencies of local workforce, long-term community economic capacity

Expand employment aptitudes, competencies

Expand access to employment search and application opportunities

Expand employment skills and opportunities

Expand employment opportunities, economic sustainability

Provide support for career pathways, expand audiences/reach of agencies

Workforce Development

The New Middle Country Public

Library

The new library’s operating and

capital expenditures resulted in increased

output, earnings and employment throughout Long

Island but particularly in

the local community.

Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions

Access to databases and other resources

Technical assistance for start-ups and micro-enterprises

Technical assistance to existing businesses

Strengthen key local enterprise base and stimulate new job creation

Reduce cost for research and planning

Reduce costs & barriers to entering market, reduce failure rates, expand audience for local agencies involved in small business support, expand small business sector

Strengthen viable small business sector, expand reach & lower costs of local agencies with shared facilities & resources, increase clustering of enterprise for competitive advantage

Small Business Support

South Carolina

The total direct and

indirect return on investment for every $1 spent on the state's public libraries by

South Carolina state

and local governments

is $4.48 - nearly 350 %.

Public Library ServicesPublic Library Services Economic Development ContributionsEconomic Development Contributions

Downtown (often “central” or “main”)

Mixed-use, residential

Mall, commercial development

Joint-Use

Contribute to vibrant urban and suburban life

Anchor development, generate foot traffic, revitalize commercial and cultural activity

Provide amenity value, generate foot traffic, increase quality of life and safety

Generate traffic, but not sales competition, strengthens developer financing pro forma

Reduce development costs, generate synergy of consumers/service providers

Physical Development

Seattle, WA

Visits to the new public library have

increased King County

tourism.  And, increased

tourism of one percent yields

$1billion in new economic

activity statewide over

25 years.

For more information…

www.newferndalelibrary.org

www.whatcomcf.org

The Foundation’s New Ferndale Library Project Fund was established in 2006 with an extraordinary $1 million gift.

Sources

Economic value of libraries. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/advocacyuniversity/toolkit/talkingpoints/economicvalue.cfm

Kamer,, Dr. P. M. (2006). The Economic value of the middle country public library in Suffolk County, New York. Long Island Association, Inc.

Public library buildings 2008. (2010). Library Journal, Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/info/CA6622885.html?q=library+buildings

The Urban Libraries Council. (2007). Making cities stronger: public library contributions to local economic development.