FLINT, MI--The Flint Public Library is proposing a 12-year, $12.6 million bond and a renewal of a 2-mill operating millage on the November 5 ballot, according to the library’s website.

The proposals are part of the library’s “Ready To Write A New Chapter” campaign and would maintain the library’s current programs as well as help pay for a complete renovation of its building.

The library receives 4 mills annually, according to the library’s website. Two of the mills are perpetual and are never voted on, the other 2 mills are up for renewal every 10 years.

Almost all the library’s operating budget is from the 2 mills and it doesn’t receive any money from the Genesee Arts and Cultural Enrichment millage passed in 2018.

Flint’s Assessor’s Office is responsible for calculating bond costs, which appear on residents’ tax bills. Half a home’s market value is taxable, for example a $30,000 home would have a $15,000 taxable value. The approximate impact of the library’s bond would be $27 on a home with a $15,000 taxable value. Residents can calculate how much they’d be taxed for the bond here.

By renewing the 2 mills, the library will be able to maintain its current operating budget. If the 2 mills aren’t renewed, the library will need to reduce its budget and services accordingly.

Major renovation needs to be done to the Flint Public Library, however, according to its website. Flint’s library is the only building in the Cultural Center Campus that’s entirely owned by residents, according to the library’s website. The $12.6 million bond is part of a $27.6 million renovation plan for the library.

Donors are prepared to pay for more than half of the renovation’s costs, according to the library’s website. Through donations, the amount being paid by residents is lowered to a $12.6 million bond with a 12-year maturity that will provide the remaining funds needed for the renovation.

Rendering of the Children's Learning Place. (Provided by the Flint Public Library)

Renovation of the library would include doubling its children’s learning space, doubling the digital learning space that would include three “tech-rich” classrooms, provide 60 percent more space for local history and genealogy space including a storage vault, according to the library’s website.

The children’s learning place would have a classroom for story time and programs, places for early literacy creative play, comfortable seating for parents and a snack area.

The library’s digital learning space would have shared tables for personal computers, small tables with presentation screens for group work, a printing center and laptop checkout. There would also be an internet café with vended coffee and snacks designated as a place to eat and relax, according to the library’s website.

Rendering of the Digital Learning Hub. (Provided by the Flint Public Library)

Additionally, the renovation would also include 15 meetings rooms and four classrooms, an additional 16,000 square feet of public space and making the building more accessible to people with disabilities.

The library’s community room would be able to sit 250 people, feature sliding glass doors to provide acoustic privacy, automated window shades for room darkening as needed, a small catering kitchen and direct access to the terrace.

Building renderings of the library’s renovation show a new terrace for event attendees, slope sidewalk with barrier-free access to the terrace and front door as well as accent lighting along doors and casual outdoor gathering space for story time.

The library’s parking lot would be repaved with angle parking, a drive-up book drop will be introduced and a canopy would be installed above the entrance.

New features to the lobby include lower stacks to provide clear straight lies, staffed desks for checkout and assistance, self-checkout kiosks and an open center atrium to the second floor.

Rendering of the building exterior from front entrance. (Provided by the Flint Public Library)

Architects behind the renovation will preview its design at public meetings prior to the Nov. 5 vote. These meetings will take place between 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Thursday, Sept. 19, Tuesday, Oct. 1 as well as between 1-2 p.m. and 6- 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Flint Public Library, 1026 East Kearsley Street.

If residents approve both proposals on Nov. 5, the library will close operations at its current building in February 2020 and resume operations at a temporary space that would be announced later, according to a timeline provided by the library.

Construction of the renovation, if the bond passes, would begin in May 2020 and the library would close its operations at its temporary location in June 21. By August 2021, the library would be renovated and reopen at 1026 East Kearsely Street.