With reluctance and apologies, North Olympic Library System’s board of trustees put discussions back on the shelf until at least 2021 to possibly pursue expanding the Sequim library.

Sequim trustee Betty Gordon made the motion on Feb. 28 in the Sequim Library to stop library staff from actively working on a bond measure proposal to fund expansion.

West End area trustee Jennifer Pelikan said she struggled with the decision.

“As much as I would have loved to see the bond measure pass, and I hate that I’m saying this, I’m looking at the entirety of the library system,” she said.

“I’m feeling like the effort for staff, and for us planning long-term for the health of the library needs to have some priority for now. It’s been on the back burner for awhile.”

Trustees unanimously agreed 5-0 to not bring it back for review until 2021, when they will consider the funding climate in the community, other agencies’ funding efforts, community support and other costs and timing.

Clea Rome, Port Angeles area trustee, said she also struggled with delaying another bond measure proposal.

“It caused me to have a pause and to go against what my heart would want to do,” she said.

Trustees’ discussion follows the 2018 general election where two propositions were proposed: Proposition 1, to create a Library Capital Facilities Area, and Proposition 2, asking for $12.4 million in bonds to build a 17,000-square-foot library.

Proposition 1 passed with 65.4 percent despite only needing a simple majority, while Proposition 2 failed with 58.6 percent in favor and not meeting the required 60 percent supermajority.

Library leaders said it needed 257 more “yes” votes to pass.

The 1983 library would have been expanded/rebuilt from its current 6,050-square-foot space to handle overcrowding issues.

NOLS Library Director Margaret Jakubcin said the library district remains in place until either a second bond measure fails or Clallam County Commissioners vote to dissolve it, which would likely come at the library’s request, if needed.

Gordon’s motion allows for trustees to seek information prior to 2021, such as doing exploratory actions to gauge community interest through polling.

Community consideration

Jakubcin said she and library staff felt there was a lot of evidence that word was out about the proposals and that entities like Sequim School District, Olympic Medical Center and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe reaffirmed their partnerships through various levels of support.

Why Proposition 2 didn’t pass though could be becuse of a number of factors ranging from opposition to new taxes, confusion between the two Propositions, and/or voters objecting to some aspect of the bond proposal.

Jakubcin said one pervasive public perception is that the library was competing with the Sequim School District for tax dollars.

“The school district doesn’t view it that way. The library doesn’t view that way. But some people felt that strongly,” she said.

Jakubcin said NOLS stayed out of the election as courtesy to the school district during its previous bond attempts and the district did the same last year.

Another factor could be residents’ connection to Sequim with three precincts voting against the bond in Agnew, Blue Mountain and Monterra.

“Presumably, they may have less connection to the Sequim area, but we can’t know that unless we do polling or some other method,” Jakubcin said.

NOLS also had a difference of opinion with some leaders in its Friends of Sequim Library, FOSL, group that helps support the Sequim Summer Reading Program.

In the trustees’ packet, it stated that some FOSL leaders requested 1,500 square feet of dedicated space, which exceeded the amount NOLS could provide for a private nonprofit.

Jakubcin said the space “became a deal breaker for us.”

“In perspective, that’s more space allocated for the children’s area and the staff work area,” she said.

Staff also said there was misinformation being spread on some occasions at the FOSL book sale about the library’s efforts by some individuals.

“We’ve got to acknowledge this was a significant missing piece of public support,” she said. “There can’t be any doubt that this affected the vote.”

Jakubcin did reiterate that there are many community members who are also members of the Friends Group who supported the expansion project and campaign.

Go again?

With the margin so close, Jakubcin said staff significantly considered going for another attempt sooner than later.

However, in the staff report, it states that to be on any election in 2019, they should have been engaging the community already and for the 2020 primary and general election they would need to start this March or by June of this year.

“The bottom line is that for practically any election we should be already on it and we’re behind on some of them,” Jakubcin said.

Before going back to voters, staff made several recommendations along with postponing any work in 2019 and 2020. Those include:

• Not downsizing the cost of the project, but if you do then reengage the community similarly to the first proposal

• Avoid running a bond the same time as Sequim School District.

• Receive strong support from FOSL and/or some other community-based advocacy support group.

• Community group begins fundraising for future expansion efforts.

• If no attempt is made in two-four years then library leaders should consider alternatives for a long-term solution at the Sequim branch.

Jakubcin said within the next 10 years NOLS will consider a levy lid lift but a date hasn’t been set. She recommends not running that proposal near a future Sequim expansion bond proposal either.

For more information about the North Olympic Library System, visit www.nols.org.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

The Sequim Library, built in 1983, will remain its current size until at least 2021 as North Olympic Library System trustees opted to hold possible bond proposals through then. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Patrons will likely have to wait until 2021 to see if the North Olympic Library System’s trustees will consider going back to voters again to expand the Sequim Library. Trustees voted on Feb. 28 to postpone staff work until then to focus on long-term planning. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash