Below please find statistics and information relevant to future planning for the library.  For Board of Trustees information and minutes of Board Planning Meetings, please go to the Library Board page. 

Frequently Asked Questionsabout theLewes Public Library 

1.  Q.   Lewes Public Library is "independent."  What does that mean? 

A. Of the 14 libraries in Sussex County, Delaware, 3 were established and are administered by the County, and the rest are "independent." (The bookmobile is a county-run facility.)  Being independent means our Library appoints its own board members, hires staff and establishes policies regarding hours of operation, staffing, book selection and the services and programs provided.  The Lewes Public Library is an independent, non-profit public charity.            Overall, however, the Lewes Public Library still reports to the Delaware Division of Libraries when it comes to defining our service area, conducting long-term planning and approving requirements for expansion, in order to qualify our Library for state funding. 

2.  Q.  What is the Delaware Division of Libraries (DDL)? 

A.  This is the state department that oversees all libraries within Delaware.  It is located in Dover and reports to the Delaware Secretary of State.  Among other things, the Division determines each library's service area.   The Division also determines the order in which libraries can receive funding for expansion, and then approves and formally requests those funds from the state Bond Bill Committee. 

3.  Q.   What comprises the Lewes Library service area? 

A.  Our designated service area includes the City of Lewes, the Greater Lewes Area, and extends six miles out Rte. 9, Rte. 24 and up Rte. 1 to Slaughter Beach.   This area currently includes 18,931 people, broken down as follows (from Delaware Division of Libraries and FutureScan): 

 The Lewes Library has 11,796 card-holders. This includes not only those who live in our service area, but also visitors from out of town. 

4.  Q.   Who designates this “service area”? 

A.  The Delaware Division of Libraries uses a formula which designates service areas for all of the libraries in the State.

 5.  Q.   As an independent library, who pays the operating costs? 

A.  We receive operating support from the following sources:           

City of Lewes                                             8%            (building maintenance & utilities, given in-kind)           

DE Division of Libraries                              14%            (Library catalog, technology, books)           

Sussex County                                           33%            (staffing & operational expenses)  

Dividends/Income from Endowment            20%           

Private donations make up the balance      25%            (includes the Friends of LPL) Most of our private donations come from donors who live within the Greater Lewes Area.

 6.  Q.  Who pays for Library building construction or expansion costs when that is needed? 

A. The State of Delaware pays 50% of any land acquisition and building construction or expansion costs through bond bills, with the balance required as a match from private donations.           

In order to receive both operational and capital support, we must continue to serve all residents within our designated service area, as well as anyone else who wishes to use the Lewes Public Library, including summer visitors from other parts of our state, the country and the world. 

7.  Q.  How do you determine when expansion of the Library is needed? 

A.  The Library Board relies on Division of Library and census estimates for expected  population growth within our service area.  The DDL goal for Library size is one square foot for every resident within the service area.  Currently, the Lewes Library is 13,400 square feet in size vs a service area population of 18,900.  Within 20 years, our service area population is expected to grow to 30,000.    Accordingly, the Division of Libraries is asking the Lewes Library to more than double its current size in order to accommodate this expected growth. 

8.  Q.   How does this process work? 

A.The current and upcoming fiscal year (2011-2012) is the time period during which the Division has determined the Lewes Public Library must make its plans and submit them for state funding to develop a library facility for the next 20-30 years.   As part of that process, the Library board must undertake a needs assessment, which is now underway.  If the Library board fails to provide the necessary information, there is a risk we could lose our position for state funding.  Also, while that funding has been planned for now, there is no guarantee that it will be available in years to come.

9.  Q.  What is the current status of the Lewes Public Library with regard to capacity? 

A. The Library itself is at capacity and the back-room staff/work areas are far beyond capacity.  Our 5 full and 13 part-time staff members are working in a space that was designed for 4 people.  Volunteers, also working all-day-every-day, share this work area.             

As soon as new housing construction picks up in the Lewes service area again, our Library will quickly reach a "tipping point" in terms of its ability to satisfactorily serve patrons.  One of the first problems we will face is parking, since our available spaces are already significantly less than the recommended number.  Our library now at 13,400 sq. ft. should have 67 parking spaces to meet the State’s goal of 1 space per each 200 square feet.  Currently, we have 41 public spaces, 4 of which are handicap-reserved. There are 8 residential spaces across the street on Adams Avenue and 6-8 on Railroad Avenue frequently used by patrons.  So it could be said that, generously, there are 57 spaces available to library patrons.  Additionally, there are 5 staff spaces. 

10.  Q.  Can the size of the Lewes Library be increased at its existing location? 

A. By adding a second floor and expanding over the rear courtyard,  the Library building size could be increased by about 10,000 square feet, which is the minimum to qualify for state funding and the maximum possible expansion for this site.  This would require 50 more parking spaces, but the City’s Parks and Recreation Department has recommended to City Council that further encroachment into Stango Park not be allowed.

11.  Q.  What about just fixing up the current building?

 A. A recent evaluation determined the existing building (which is owned by the City and leased by the Library) requires $750,000 of improvements and repairs to bring it up to code and current standards. This figure does not include any library expansion.  The Division of Libraries would not contribute funds for improvement and repairs only. 

12.  Q. How will new technologies impact the required size of future libraries?  Won’t fewer books be needed? 

A. Forecasting the future of technology is difficult.  However, there are several reasons why libraries will not decrease significantly in size, at least over the next 30 years. Across the country, there has been no decrease in the size of libraries - in fact, just the opposite has occurred.           

First, although more and more materials are available for digital use, these are costly and significant numbers of people  cannot afford them.  Use of E-books has been increasing slowly, but it is not close to matching the growth of new hard copy materials, which many patrons (including children) tend to prefer.      

Second, every new media and technology added for information and entertainment is quickly replaced by another.  We think it would not be wise to invest in each new media as it appears on the market.           

Finally, the primary drivers of expansion are usage and population growth, both of which are going to increase dramatically in our service area over the next two decades with the continued large number of retirees and others coming to southern Delaware.

13.  Q.  If a new Library must be built to meet future requirements, where would it be located?

A. The Library board is exploring various options.  Here are three:

a. A location within Lewes City limits.

b. A location outside the City, but within the             Greater Lewes Area

c. A location beyond the Greater Lewes Area but             within the library service area, perhaps across             Rte. 1. 

14.  Q.  Could the City of Lewes just have its own local Library for residents’ use? 

A. Yes, if the City Council and local residents wish to pay for it. The State Division of Libraries will not financially support a second Lewes Public Library location, either for construction or operation costs.  Other funding sources, e.g., the County, probably would not contribute to general operational costs to two locations either. 

15.  Q. Does the City have any control (authority) over the Library?

 A. Not really.  The City owns the building that houses the Library, so it is the Library’s landlord.  The Library leases the building for $1.00 per year and, in accordance with the lease, this arrangement shall continue for as long as the building is used as a library facility, or until the library determines that the building is no longer suited to being used.  If a new facility were to be built, it would be owned by the Lewes Public Library.