Cranston Voters will be Asked to Approve Library Bonds

On November 4, 2014, Cranston residents will find the Cranston Public Library on their ballots, falling under Bond Question #10.

Bond Question #10 poses that the city of Cranston give not more than 1.2 million dollars in general obligation bonds and temporary notes to finance the improvement, renovation, repair, upgrading and equipping of the Cranston Public Library system.

“We strive to provide a safe, welcoming environment for patrons at all of our locations,” explains Library Director, Ed Garcia. “This bond would allow the library to make much-needed building repairs and improvements so we can continue to accomplish this goal.”

The Cranston Public Library has six locations across the city, five of which are housed in municipal buildings, and all of which are more than thirty years old and require routine maintenance.

The passing of the bond would positively affect each location in the city, Garcia explains, listing the most imminent capital projects, pending the passing of the bond:

“The Central Library and Knightsville Branch currently need new roofs,” he begins. “All locations are in need of an upgrade to our twenty-year-old phone system. The Central Library parking lot needs repaving. The Oak Lawn and Knightsville branches are long overdue for network wiring upgrades, and we’re hoping to upgrade to energy-efficient lighting at the Auburn Branch.”

Garcia explains that comfortable, accessible and well-lit buildings make it easier for members of the community to utilize library resources—this is especially important given the promising nature of recent library usage statistics.

“In the past two years, over 1.4 million items have been borrowed from our library,” says Garcia. “Over 70,000 people have attended a Cranston Public Library program or class, and last year we saw a 32% increase in library visitors.”

For residential property owners, a tax increase of 19¢/$1000, or 0.0083% would accompany the passing of this bond, incorporated into the city’s debt service over a period of 20 years. City officials said it would end up being about 1 cent per year. The Cranston Public Library has posted this, and more information regarding Bond Question #10, to their website at www.cranstonlibrary.org/bond-2014.