Work to add about 3,000 square feet to the Grand Marais Public Library continues. On August 16, Library Director Linda Chappell told the county board that the project is on schedule. Chappell said the Library Board is ready to move ahead with design of a new circulation desk and reference desk area and asked for authorization to work with architectural firm DSGW of Duluth on the design. The board gave its approval for the library board to hire DSGW to design the desk areas at a cost of $4,000 plus expenses.
Grand Marais Library Director Linda Chappell went before the county board on August 16, 2011 to let them know that the library board wanted to enter an agreement with the library addition’s architectural firm, DSGW of Duluth, for interior design of elements not part of the structure of the building. This work was not part of the basic agreement with the firm but is in the $50,000 budget for “furniture, fixtures, and equipment” or “FF&E.”
Specific elements of the proposed agreement include design of the circulation desk area (where people check books in and out) and the reference desk area (where people get help searching for things), which will also serve the children’s area.
A letter from Chappell to the county board states, “The [library] board has decided that the circulation and reference desks need to be attractive and functional as they will set the tone for the ‘look’ of the entire library and must be ‘work horses’ for the staff to do their jobs efficiently.”
DSGW wrote a letter to Chappell on August 4 that proposed a design fee of $2,800 for the circulation area and $1,200 for the reference area—but that does not include the furniture itself. DSGW also proposed to help the library with the rest of the interior design, such as choosing and ordering furniture, for another $6,500. Things such as printing, postage, travel time and mileage would be additional expenses. The letter stated, “Our services assume a maximum budget of $50,000 for all FF&E items included in the scope of our services.” The library also has a contingency fund that could be tapped for furnishing the new space.
Certified Interior Designer Julie Spiering of DSGW attached a schedule of hourly rates and reimbursables to the letter she sent Chappell. The services of certified interior designers are billed out at $110-120 an hour.
In a phone interview, Chappell noted that a contract with DSGW for interior design of the FF&E would be negotiated, so the proposed costs are not necessarily what the county would pay for the services. In addition, the library is not necessarily going to avail itself of DSGW’s offer to help with choosing or ordering the basic tables, chairs, and other furnishings. Chappell said the plan is to continue to use some of the tables and chairs the library has been using as well as to buy some new items.
At the county board meeting, Commissioner Sue Hakes commented on the proposed price of $4,000 for the design of two desk areas. Chappell said it would be the main feature people see when they walk into the new space, and having designers plan it would make it unique. It would serve as a work area, a return area, and the place where the public would consult with staff and would include desks, countertops, and file cabinets. They could order these items from a catalogue, she said, but it wouldn’t be any cheaper. The plan is to hire a local cabinetry maker to build the workstations.
Chappell’s letter to the board states, “DSGW proposes that ORB help us bid the desk construction with local cabinetmakers, at government pricing, in order to provide work for a community business and obtain beautiful and unique furniture for the library.”
Rob Barsness of ORB Management, the county’s builder’s rep, estimated the desk areas themselves would cost $25,000-30,000.
“If you can work this into the budget,” Commissioner Hakes said, “I’m okay with it.”
The board gave its approval for the library board to hire DSGW to design the desk areas at a cost of $4,000 plus expenses.
Chappell said the library project is on schedule.
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