I am writing in support of the Scarborough Public Library’s proposed expansion project. I believe that this project is timely, well-developed, and financially sound.

At a time when cost control through regionalization and partnering in services is being promoted, the library has been a model of collaboration in serving the greater Scarborough community. It has a long standing history of supporting diverse groups, including business, seniors, and youth. As an example, the Library’s annual Business Week provides local businesses with the opportunity to build awareness by displaying their goods and services. Additionally, the Library provides many services for seniors, including a large print book collection. It has partnered with the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging to offer Medicare D Seminars, worked with AARP to provide space for tax assistance, and recently established a weekly meeting space for seniors. As further evidence of the library’s ability to share resources and build meaningful partnerships, the offices of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation have been integrated within its expansion plans. Through these and other partnerships, the library has and will continue to be at the center of our community.

More than 50 percent of Scarborough’s residents are active library users. Our town is growing rapidly with estimates of a population of more than 28,000 by 2010. One needs only to visit the Library to see both that space is at a premium and to recognize that the demands of this projected population certainly could not be met by today’s facility. While population increase is inevitable, it also frames a cost effective argument for this expansion. At this point, because Scarborough’s most recent Census population is below 20,000, the library expansion may qualify for financing through a low interest loan (approximately 4.5 percent) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Delaying this project beyond the point at which town population exceeds 20,000 could eliminate eligibility for this attractive financing option, thus increasing the overall cost of the project significantly.

While we are being asked to support an advisory referendum to underwrite the expansion, the library board of trustees has organized a capital campaign to raise approximately $1.5 million of the project’s $6.8 million total. This effort is being led by a cadre of several dozen volunteers and already is well under way. The willingness of so many citizens to commit their valuable time further illustrates the level of support this project enjoys within our community.

Finally, expansion of the library is in keeping with progressive economic development policy. Research indicates that businesses choose to expand and relocate in communities that offer excellence in educational resources. The library fills an important role in meeting the educational and research needs of both businesses and citizens and thereby enhances the attractiveness of our community.

In summary, I believe that the library expansion project has been well thought out, is a solid investment in the future, and deserves our support.