Officials Hope For Bond Ok To Enlarge Cramped Library

This is the fifth in a series of articles explaining the bonding and millage questions that will cdnfront voters in the June 8 school election. In 1957, when the Ann Arbor ■Public Library at 343 S. Fifth ■Ave. was opened, it had 96,501 Ibooks, 18,129 card holders, and lit served a city population of 164,500 people. In 1970, this same library has 157,000 books, 47,039 card holders, and it serves a city with a population of 101,000 people. Yet, 13 years later, the public library is exactly the same size. Despite the fact the library's collection of books, magazines and records has increased by 50 per cent, there has been no increase in floor space. (The Loving Branch Library near Packard and Platt Rds. was opened in 1965, however.) And the number of seats in the main library remains the same -123. A proposal to finance a 20,000-square foot addition to the library at a cost of $900,000 will be Proposal IV on the Ann Arbor School District's June 8 bonding ballot. Funds for that same addition have been rejected by the electorate twice in recent years - in January of 1968 and again in December of that year. Library officials who are ing for an affirmative vote this time around on Proposal IV point out that since the library was opened in 1957, the population of Ann Arbor has increased by 60 per cent, and the number of library card holders has increased by 160 per cent. The library is also serviñg the additional students from nine new elementary schools, two new junior highs, one new senior high and a new community college. But the amount of seating space has remained unchanged since 1957. Shelf space is also severely limited, accordingtothe 1 i b r a r y 's director, Homer Chance. At present, it is necessary to continually discard the older and lesser used materials, or store them in the basement, in order to provice space for the new ones acquired. Library officials also report that library users continually complain that the building is too noisy because of overcrowded conditions. There is also no public elevator, so many aged and handicapped people have no way to make use of the books and services on the second floor. The proposed addition would increase the building from 28,400 to 48,400 square feet and would solve the aboye problems íor years to come, according to hbfary officials. The addition is budgeted at $39 per square foot. If Proposal IV is approved by the voters, it will mean a tax increase of .11 of a mili, or 11 cents per $1,000 of state equalÍZLd__y_flluation (SFV1. On the average Ann Arbor home, this would be a tax increase of $1.32 per year. Another proposition, Proposa] V, asks for $830,000 to build a 45,000-square-foot service facility It would be located on the Pioneer High School site. The proposed service facility, budgeted at $14.50 per square foot, would consolídate al] buildings, grounds and maintenance supplies and personnel under one roof. Presently, service facilities and personnel are spread out in five different iocations in the city. Building and grounds supplies and people are located on the Pioneer High School site presertly; mechanical personnel and supplies in the basement of Slauson Junior High; carpenters and painters and their equipment at Wagner School; a stockroom in rented space (cost: $10,000 annually) on N. Main, and supervisory personnel at the School Administrative Offices at 1220 Wells. The reduction of the repetition of equipment is one of the big advantages of a consolidated service facility, according to School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. Now, for example, the school district has 29 trucks for various jobs. A Detroit firm which recently conducted a study of the school administraüon said this number could bel cut to nine if there were a central service facility. A central service facility would also increase efficiency and the supervisión of personnel, according to Westerman. If Proposal V receives an affirmative nod from the voters, it would mean a tax hike of .10 of a mili, or 10 cents per $1000 of SEV. For the average Ann Arbor homeowner, thisl would mean a tax hike of $1.20 1 per year. Thus, if all five parts of thel June 8 bonding issue arel approved at the polls, it would I mean a tax increase of 4.36 1 milis, or $4.36 per $1,000 of I SEV.