National consultant to assist Jasper Library’s cause

Much of the future of the Jasper Cultural Center rests on the passage of the upcoming referendum.

A study completed by Umbaugh Associates for the Jasper Library Board will determine how much the proposed $6.5 million library portion of the project will increase property taxes. That amount will likely be revealed at the upcoming joint meeting between the Jasper Library Board and Jasper Community Arts Commission Tuesday, March 1 at Jasper City Hall.

The city would like to use economic development income tax funds to pay for their portion of the combined project. City officials have insisted the city’s investment in the building will not raise property taxes.

The library has studied the needs of the community and the demands on the current “Truman-era” building the library is housed in and determined that the Hoosier Desk property is the best location for them to move to.

John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, has offered his organization’s services to help the library board in getting their message out to the public.

EveryLibrary, everylibrary.org, is a non-profit political action committee that assists libraries in getting referendums passed. According to Chrastka, many times the libraries they help are in a financial crisis and at risk of closing.

He was enthusiastic about the Jasper Public Library in that it was not in a financial crisis, only a functional crisis due to the constraints the current building creates in terms of services and overcrowding.

Chrastka addressed the library board after holding a public meeting. About 25 individuals attended the meeting. Most of those present had an interest in the project moving forward as they were attached to the various boards, committees, businesses and organizations with an expressed interest in the library or downtown development.

From that meeting, Chrastka outlined five main concerns for the board to address in the clear and concise manner in the next few months.

• The amount of the tax increase.
• The reasoning behind the new library.
• Environmental concerns with the proposed location due to it being a former factory.
• Creation of conceptual images
• Flooding fears mitigated. The flood regions that are used today are based on the river before the Patoka Reservoir was created. Since its creation, floods have not reached the building. Additionally, the plans for the new location will have to place the bottom floor of the library above the level of the flood region.

“They [voters] want to make sure that the plan has been arrived at in an open and transparent way,” Chrastka told the board. “They want to make sure this thing makes sense.”

He recommended the board begin holding personal meetings with the various community action groups in the city (e.g. Kiwanis, Optimists, Rotary, parent-teacher organizations and others). To stay on track with the November referendum, Chrastka said this should be completed by the Fourth of July.

Board president Dean Vonderheide agreed the conversations were important. “I can say that the conversations that I had six months ago have become more positive,” he said. “We don’t want to take any chances and we want to be prepared.”

He pointed out that there are many people that need the library’s services. “I think a lot of people miss the fact there are individuals who need the library for their personal development and their own economic growth,” he added.

Chrastka will be meeting with library board member and staff again on Wednesday to continue to formulate a plan for the library. According to Chrastka, his organization will not create the story for the library but will assist in shaping its message.

Chrastka has been working with libraries since 2002. He said that he really enjoys the opportunity to help convene and facilitate a conversation about library priorities.

He sees the Jasper Library and Jasper Arts project as a multifaceted project that works well together. “This is coming off of a loss,” Chrastka said referring to the 2011 referendum. “To be able to say maybe we are right to our neighbors and stakeholders in our community and to allow them to modify it has been done really well here.”

EveryLibrary is able to provide technical support to the staff during the process and will help the library board to incite voters to get to the polls for the referendum.

The organization works with libraries around the project. They are chosen on several criteria that includes the library’s reason for the referendum, the library’s needs, and the library’s determination in moving forward. “Jasper fits all three of our criteria,” he said.

EveryLibrary does not charge for the corporation’s services but Chrastka is being compensated for his travel to Dubois County from Chicago.