Our meeting this May Day was held at the new Fergus Falls Library. Rotarians who entered through the front door were warmly greeted by Library Director Erin Smith and shown to the community rooms. There Randy K was at the desk and Dave J extended the Rotary greeting. There was no piano, Keith, song books or song leader so no songs. Pastor Ben D offered the invocation thanking the Lord for, among other things, the new library and our community. Mary P introduced her guest Stacey Herbal and Randy K introduced Kitti Lahti, mother of our next out bound exchange student.
Announcements: Dave J commented that his email seeking help for ditch clean up brought six responses, none were positive. He will try another date and is willing to negotiate; if you are able to help call him at 739-3772. Steve L will soon be picking up trees for planting and help is needed with those destined to grow around the high school. Stay tuned for the date. We would like to identify two students to attend RYLA camp (Rotary Youth Leadership Award). Dan J reported the District conference was well worth attending but the drive to Minot was a tad long.
Brags and Fines: Tim H claimed the M-State concert to be one of the finest he has ever attended and complemented Dan J and family for surviving the District Conference and trip. Mary P parted with a dollar to clear her conscience for missing a meeting and another for the speedy service Keith O had provided in upgrading a home she was selling. Hal L spoke of the excellent concert at M-State and what a fitting tribute it was to retiring director Theresa Ashworth. He also congratulated library director Erin S on the new facility. Randy K announced their clinic building was 10 years old and an open house was being held May 2nd to memorialize the occasion, all are welcome. John M told of the positive State of the City event especially the recognition of Gary Spies and family and the catalyst for good they have been for Fergus Falls. Wally C commented on the excellent music that was a part of State of the City. Keith O thanked everyone who helped celebrate his mother’s 90th birthday day. Over 300 attended the open house and mom enjoyed it immensely. Last many of us joined in singing a mediocre a cappella version of Happy Birthday to Randy K.
Program: Dan J introduced our speaker Fergus Falls Public Library Director Erin Smith for comments and a tour of the new facility. Erin began by welcoming all of us to the place and thanking the Rotary clubs of Fergus Falls and The Rotary Foundation for a significant contribution that brought equipment to the maker space. Minuets first mentioned a space needs study in 1998 but the serious effort began in 2012 with the appointment of a community task force. The task force kept their work transparent as they moved through the process which led to the Nov 2016 66% approval of a local option sales tax to fund the public portion of the cost: $5.4 million. The projected total cost was $9.4 million; $3. million from private donations, $1 million from a Minnesota grant and the remainder from sales tax. There are some minor items remaining, but the total cost is expected to be at or below estimate. Ground was broken in Aug 2017 and the grand opening occurred 11 days ago. The sales tax began in 2018, raises about $1.2 million annually and will be in place until 2023.
The facility was designed around achieving three specific goals: Preparing Children for Success, Direct Access and Availability of Technology, and Sustainable Communities. Prior to starting the tour Erin acquainted us with how the last goal effected construction decisions and helped the facility qualify for state funds. There is an abundance of natural light harvested through the large windows and skylights, lighting is from LED. The heating and cooling system is geothermal using a vertical ground loop heat recovery system. The systems qualified for an energy rebate from Otter Tail Power which also installed a Level II electric vehicle recharging station (currently the only public recharging station in the city). Community and study rooms were included to serve the public. An electric generator may be added allowing the building to be used as a gathering place in the event of an emergency.
Prior to the tour Erin told us of her background. She was raised in the Dead Lake area of Otter Tail County and since her father was employed in Fergus used the local library as a child. She graduated from Perham High School and from Moorhead State with a degree in English Education then obtained a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. Her first position following graduation was at the Fargo Library. She has been with the Fergus Library for the last 12 ½ years; the first four as childrens librarian and the last 8 ½ as director.
The tour began in the children’s area (southwest part of building); it features play and learning space, short stacks accessible to short folks and furniture to accommodate children. We progressed north through the adult area and reading room to the teen portion. That lent itself to completing homework and “hanging out”. Then east through the technology area which along with computers, robots, a sewing machine and button maker and large touch screen featured a 3D printer completing a model house. Last a visit to the Lundeen fireplace lounge and reading area and we were on our way.
It is an impressive place, well planned, functional, comfortable and offering a great deal to our community. We should be pleased with the gift we have given ourselves and the public/private funding mechanism which made the community arena, and now the library possible. Since the soft opening on Jan 22 the facility has averaged about 530 visits per day. It is however a little early to draw any conclusions about the use, that will come when all programs are in place and some time has elapsed. In recent years about a quarter million items have been checked out annually, 8% of those are digital. Since the soft opening items checked out are up 20%.
May Day: Since this is the first day of the fifth month of the year a bit of trivia. The distress call May Day has absolutely nothing to do with the date. In 1923 when much of the air traffic was between London and Paris and communication was changing from wire to radio something universally recognizable was needed to convey emergencies by radio as S O S did by wire. A radio officer in London proposed May Day taken from the French m’eider (help me). It was adopted and is to be given three times in succession-May Day May Day May Day- followed by other important information about the situation.