From Lee Fogarty, Springfield Library Department: The Library is on schedule for planning for the reopening of Mason Square. We met yesterday with Steve Jablonski and have selected furniture and shelving for the Library. We will be finalizing details at our July 8th meeting, in preparation for submitting the order.
We did look at the garden area and are happy to see the benches have arrived.
City facilities will coordinate the following activities:
• Removal of the birch tree.
• Removal of the bird bath.
• Draft of a "master plan" for the garden, which would include a patio, performance area , plants that provide a learning experience and lend themselves to activities .
Since Northeast grounds only mows every two weeks, we are asking our maintenance staff to mow in between. Also, Scott had mentioned that we could get a delivery of mulch, so they will also mulch, weed and plant a few annuals. All of this should be completed by the first week of July.
It is important that the garden is presentable, attractive and usable for the summer reading club activities. When we have the Master Plan available for the public , they can look forward to the type of reading garden that the community deserves.
See below for the Law dept. update.
From Robert Warren, Springfield Law Department: The City responded this week, to the Urban League's request for a reduction in the amount of the established use and occupancy fee, indicating that acceptance of any reduction was subject to certain conditions, that allows both the City and the Urban League to move ahead with their respective plans. As of this update the City has not received a response. Also as of this date the Urban League has not informed the City or its relocation consultant, as to whether or not they have completed their negotiations and finalized their move plans.
Friday, June 18, 2010
MSL Answers to June 4th Questions
June 11, 2010, Answers to questions raised by June 4th update:
From Robert Warren, Springfield Law Department: The Urban League has informed the Mr. Mollica that it is still in negotiation with owners of potential sites. One of the sites is for lease and the other is available for purchase. A couple of the other sites that they were interested in fell through. The Urban League is hopeful that by the end of next week they will be able to make a decision.
1) If the Urban League moves to a temporary site and then to a permanent site, will the Springfield Library Foundation have to pay for TWO relocations? (Surely they are only entitled to one move at the expense of the SLF.)
Answer - The relocation regulations permit a temporary and permanent move.
2) What specifically are the "services that are being provided to the City/Library" by the Urban League?
Answer - General staff support for library patrons, reception, direction of people and computer assistance; liability insurance inclusive of library patrons; security for library services on the urban league side of the building; general maintenance (restrooms, vacuuming and cleaning); daily maintenance including grounds (litter, leaves, mowing, flower bed maintenance, windows, lighting, parking lot, trash collection and placement in dumpster, monitoring of operation systems; provision to keep the urban league side of the building open for two extra hours and provision for maintenance and security of computers owned by the urban league but provided for use to library patrons; monthly fee for security monitoring and response to police alarms for the building. Also noted was the space, utilities and maintenance for the last six years provided to the City, without charge.
3) How long will the city wait to receive the Urban League’s "notification of plans, etc." and a "formal request to remain" in 765 State Street before taking further action?
Answer - Presently indeterminable.
4) Since "a couple" generally means "two," we should know by next week's update where the Urban League will be moving, right?
Answer - In a perfect world yes.
From Robert Warren, Springfield Law Department: The Urban League has informed the Mr. Mollica that it is still in negotiation with owners of potential sites. One of the sites is for lease and the other is available for purchase. A couple of the other sites that they were interested in fell through. The Urban League is hopeful that by the end of next week they will be able to make a decision.
1) If the Urban League moves to a temporary site and then to a permanent site, will the Springfield Library Foundation have to pay for TWO relocations? (Surely they are only entitled to one move at the expense of the SLF.)
Answer - The relocation regulations permit a temporary and permanent move.
2) What specifically are the "services that are being provided to the City/Library" by the Urban League?
Answer - General staff support for library patrons, reception, direction of people and computer assistance; liability insurance inclusive of library patrons; security for library services on the urban league side of the building; general maintenance (restrooms, vacuuming and cleaning); daily maintenance including grounds (litter, leaves, mowing, flower bed maintenance, windows, lighting, parking lot, trash collection and placement in dumpster, monitoring of operation systems; provision to keep the urban league side of the building open for two extra hours and provision for maintenance and security of computers owned by the urban league but provided for use to library patrons; monthly fee for security monitoring and response to police alarms for the building. Also noted was the space, utilities and maintenance for the last six years provided to the City, without charge.
3) How long will the city wait to receive the Urban League’s "notification of plans, etc." and a "formal request to remain" in 765 State Street before taking further action?
Answer - Presently indeterminable.
4) Since "a couple" generally means "two," we should know by next week's update where the Urban League will be moving, right?
Answer - In a perfect world yes.
Monday, June 7, 2010
MSL Update and a few questions
From Lee Fogarty, Springfield Library Department: We will be meeting with (Architect) Steve Jablonski in two weeks, to review preliminary furniture schemes and fabric samples, as well as a drawing of our interpretation of Annie Curran's House (the children’s reading room). We are also working with Kristin Brennan from "Gardening the Community" to plan a community flower garden for this summer. Neighborhood children will plant, maintain and sell the flowers at the local Farmer's Market.
Please contact me with any questions.
From Robert Warren, Springfield Law Department: The City is reviewing a request from the Urban League to reduce the use and occupancy fee established by the City, based on certain services that are being provided to the City/Library. As reported last week, the Urban League had informed our relocation consultant that the announcement of a replacement site was a couple of weeks away, pending conclusion of negotiations. The City is still waiting to receive the Urban League's notification of its plans for a temporary and/or permanent relocation site and its formal request to remain in occupancy at 756 State beyond its June 1st vacate date, pending finalization of its move and relocation claim.
Questions from former Library Commissioner McElwaine on this Update:
1) If the UL moves to a temporary site and then to a permanent site, will the Springfield Library Foundation have to pay for TWO relocations? (Surely they are only entitled to one move at the expense of the SLF.) [Springfield Library FOUNDATION is separate from the Library Department; the Foundation was established to manage money donated to the Library – particularly the Anne Curran Fund, which can be used only for the Mason Square branch library. – Note added by Kat Wright.]
2) What specifically are the "services that are being provided to the City/Library" by the UL?
3) How long will the city wait to receive the UL's "notification of plans, etc." and a "formal request to remain" in 765 State Street before taking further action?
4) Since "a couple" generally means "two," we should know by next week's update where the UL will be moving, right?
Please contact me with any questions.
From Robert Warren, Springfield Law Department: The City is reviewing a request from the Urban League to reduce the use and occupancy fee established by the City, based on certain services that are being provided to the City/Library. As reported last week, the Urban League had informed our relocation consultant that the announcement of a replacement site was a couple of weeks away, pending conclusion of negotiations. The City is still waiting to receive the Urban League's notification of its plans for a temporary and/or permanent relocation site and its formal request to remain in occupancy at 756 State beyond its June 1st vacate date, pending finalization of its move and relocation claim.
Questions from former Library Commissioner McElwaine on this Update:
1) If the UL moves to a temporary site and then to a permanent site, will the Springfield Library Foundation have to pay for TWO relocations? (Surely they are only entitled to one move at the expense of the SLF.) [Springfield Library FOUNDATION is separate from the Library Department; the Foundation was established to manage money donated to the Library – particularly the Anne Curran Fund, which can be used only for the Mason Square branch library. – Note added by Kat Wright.]
2) What specifically are the "services that are being provided to the City/Library" by the UL?
3) How long will the city wait to receive the UL's "notification of plans, etc." and a "formal request to remain" in 765 State Street before taking further action?
4) Since "a couple" generally means "two," we should know by next week's update where the UL will be moving, right?
Q&A on MSL Renovation Plans
After I sent out last week’s MSL Update, Anne Richmond had a few library ideas:
From Anne:
1. Include some fruit trees in the planting so we can have bowls of healthy fruit out for patrons! Or.... is there enough room for a community garden back there sometime in the future??? (I don't know the layout of the space.....
2. Organize the space/staffing to make the community room available to groups on the weekends and evenings even when the library is not open. Is there a low cost way we can make this happen??? Community meeting space is so needed!
3. Hire artist Sheila Coly (1000 cranes studio) to do a mosaic project as part of the garden redesign. She is an amazing artist and can do mosaics or murals with community youth... I think this is a wonderful opportunity for public art!! Sheila did the mosaic on Zanetti's wall (Armory St.) and she is amazing with kids. She's also worked at the Dunbar.
I sent Anne’s questions to Molly Fogarty at the Library and this was her response:
From Molly Fogarty: These are all great suggestions and are already included as concepts in our planning for the Mason Square Branch. We are working with Kristin Brennan from “Gardening the Community" to plan a community flower garden for this summer. This group employs neighborhood children. The children then sell the flowers at the Farmer's Market. At this point, we have funding for 18 hours per week.
At our other locations, groups can request to use the Community room for free when we are open. When we are closed, we can make the room available for groups, however, they need to pay for the additional security costs.
Community art projects are definitely being discussed. At this point, we are focused on getting the library open and are looking at the Spring for murals and other art projects. A mosaic mural sounds wonderful.
All of planning is based on community input and we will continue to update the community through our website, and at Commission meetings, and through the Mason Square Advisory Committee.
Any other suggestions for input??
This is a really exciting time for Springfield and for all of us as we bring the library back to the neighborhood.
From Anne:
1. Include some fruit trees in the planting so we can have bowls of healthy fruit out for patrons! Or.... is there enough room for a community garden back there sometime in the future??? (I don't know the layout of the space.....
2. Organize the space/staffing to make the community room available to groups on the weekends and evenings even when the library is not open. Is there a low cost way we can make this happen??? Community meeting space is so needed!
3. Hire artist Sheila Coly (1000 cranes studio) to do a mosaic project as part of the garden redesign. She is an amazing artist and can do mosaics or murals with community youth... I think this is a wonderful opportunity for public art!! Sheila did the mosaic on Zanetti's wall (Armory St.) and she is amazing with kids. She's also worked at the Dunbar.
I sent Anne’s questions to Molly Fogarty at the Library and this was her response:
From Molly Fogarty: These are all great suggestions and are already included as concepts in our planning for the Mason Square Branch. We are working with Kristin Brennan from “Gardening the Community" to plan a community flower garden for this summer. This group employs neighborhood children. The children then sell the flowers at the Farmer's Market. At this point, we have funding for 18 hours per week.
At our other locations, groups can request to use the Community room for free when we are open. When we are closed, we can make the room available for groups, however, they need to pay for the additional security costs.
Community art projects are definitely being discussed. At this point, we are focused on getting the library open and are looking at the Spring for murals and other art projects. A mosaic mural sounds wonderful.
All of planning is based on community input and we will continue to update the community through our website, and at Commission meetings, and through the Mason Square Advisory Committee.
Any other suggestions for input??
This is a really exciting time for Springfield and for all of us as we bring the library back to the neighborhood.
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