Report of the City of Oak Creek Ad-Hoc Joint Library Exploratory Committee

In fall 2007, the Ad-Hoc Joint Library Exploratory Committee was appointed by Mayor Bolender. This committee was comprised of City Librarian Ross M. Talis, Assistant City Librarian Sue Kaczmarek, Library Board President Dennis Havey and teacher and resident Julie Joosten. The charge of the committee was to meet with the four person Milwaukee Area Technical College Joint Library Venture Committee. This M.A.T.C. committee was comprised of Director of M.A.T.C. Libraries, Jeffrey Jackson, Dr. Courtney Marlaire, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Jennifer Medved, M.A.T.C. Oak Creek Campus Librarian and Caryn Dohring, Senior Specialist, Oak Creek Campus Administration.

Our charge was to investigate the feasibility of forming a combined City of Oak Creek and Milwaukee Area Technical College Library and to report to the Mayor and Common Council. Beginning in September, 2007 the committees met a total of ten times and together with input from other community representatives has completed this report.

Both committees examined in great detail those various factors to be considered in a joint venture and these can be broken down into four components: Structure; Oak Creek Public Library; Milwaukee Area Technical College Oak Creek Campus Library and Community Learning Center. The committee’s recommendations follow.

Structure

Ø A free standing building located south of the M.A.T.C. Oak Creek campus buildings and connected to the campus by a covered walkway

Ø Total size of the building of 100,000 square feet

Ø Two story configuration

Ø 50,000 square feet to house the Oak Creek Public Library

Ø 25,000 square feet to house the M.A.T.C. Oak Creek Library

Ø 25,000 square feet to house the Community Learning Center

Ø Ample parking provided for all patrons

Ø Emphasis on accessible features

Ø Emphasis to be placed on environmentally friendly “green” construction methods

Shared Areas and Potential Economies of Scale

Ø Restrooms

Ø Computer server room

Ø Loading dock

Ø Meeting/conference rooms

Ø Multi-use areas

Ø Staff lounge

Ø Book drop(s)

Ø Parking

Oak Creek Public Library

Ø Continue to be funded by the City of Oak Creek

Ø Continue to be governed by the Oak Creek Library Board

Ø Materials to be housed in the Oak Creek Library area

Ø Continue to be staffed by Oak Creek Library staff

Ø Hours to continue at current levels

Ø Circulation privileges continue to be offered to all Milwaukee County residents who hold valid Milwaukee County Federated Library System library cards

Ø Circulation of Oak Creek owned materials to non-Milwaukee county residents with the purchase of a non-resident fee card

Ø Use of Oak Creek owned materials to others in-house

Milwaukee Area Technical College Library

Ø Continue to be funded by M.A.T.C.

Ø Continue to be governed by the M.A.T.C. Executive Board

Ø Materials to be housed in the M.A.T.C. Library area

Ø Continue to be staffed by M.A.T.C. staff

Ø Hours to continue at current levels

Ø Circulation privileges continue to be offered to faculty, staff and students

Ø Use of M.A.T.C. materials to others in-house

Shared Resources and Potential Economies of Scale

Ø Both libraries use the Dewey Decimal classification system

Ø Both libraries use on-line public access catalogs and processing catalogs based on software produced by the Innovative Interfaces Company

Ø Links to be placed on the on-line catalogs of both libraries directing users to the holdings of the other

Ø Cooperative purchasing of furnishings

Ø Cooperative purchasing of shared databases

Ø Use by all patrons of unique databases

Ø Use by all patrons of unique print materials

Ø Staff of both libraries will be available to help each other in emergency situations

Community Learning Center

Ø Mission would be to provide facilities and directives for an emerging wave of individuals reaching retirement and willing to seek opportunities in community involvement and educational enhancement

Ø Would not compete with existing community resources but rather offer to participants an array of choices in educational pursuits and volunteer programs not currently available

Ø Would be based on the Next Chapter Initiatives designed to provide a productive public multigenerational space in which participants can connect by sharing common interests and community oriented topics

Ø Faculty would consist of retired teachers, business people, professionals, and volunteers

Ø Governance by a joint Oak Creek and M.A.T.C. advisory committee

Shared Resources and Potential Economies of Scale

Ø Theater/Auditorium

Ø Classrooms

Ø Meeting rooms

Ø Lecture hall(s)

Ø Other convertible spaces

Conclusion

Joint public and college libraries have been established in various parts of the United States with generally favorable results.

A joint Oak Creek and Milwaukee Area Technical College facility would be unique in that it could also include a Community Learning Center component, not found elsewhere.

Realistically, it is feasible to establish a joint library provided both governing bodies are willing to begin the long process of negotiation and compromise that will be involved.