Flathead County Library Board narrows to five choices for logo designs

May 26—The Flathead County Library Board is polling the public on five logo designs that will be posted on the library system's website by early June.

The library board voted in February to return to the original Flathead County Library name and later laid out a two-year timeline for switching back from the ImagineIF name and associated logos. According to a document outlining the needed purchases for the change, it will cost the library around $7,000 — but that figure excludes some expenses, including the new logo design effort.

At their April meeting, trustees asked the public to submit designs ahead of the May meeting. Trustees have opted to find a logo for little to no cost, relying on pro-bono work from residents and valley-based graphic designers.

The five logo designs presented for public input utilize the ImagineIF red and orange branding colors, with the exception of choice five, which has blue in it. Three of the designs feature a mountain with a book opening at its base. While two of the logos have the library's name in smaller text, others emphasize the word "library" by making it the biggest sized font.

Trustee Carmen Cuthbertson maintained at Thursday's meeting that the renaming is not a rebrand, and that they are only looking at logo redesigns, keeping all other aspects of the ImagineIF branding.

"At this point, it would be foolish to spend another $30,000, as was spent 10 years ago to give us a great brand. I don't want to rebrand, I don't think it's necessary. I think we're doing the best we can. And if we can't get pro bono professional help, so be it," Cuthbertson said.

During public comment, two graphic designers offered opinions on the logos presented and the overall process. TreeLine Creative owner Amanda Guy said she wished the board engaged the public more on the designs.

Guy said she thinks there needs to be more options for the board to look at, or at the very least, different presentations of the proposed logos. She gave the example of the current proposals looking good on a banner, per se, but said it's unclear what it would look like on other items, like name tags.

"I just want all things to be considered to make it look as timeless as possible," Guy said. "This is really important, because if we're going to live with this for a super long time, we need to know that it's going to be good."

Elma Giavasis of Highline Design Co. said the board should reconsider investing money in a new logo. It's not a simple task, and that they should want a logo that holds its value over time, she said.

"I'm a little concerned that this board is not seeing that value, and is not willing to invest the time and the money that it really takes to create a brand that can live on and retain that value, not just for the library, but for you as a board," Giavasis said.

Giavasis critiqued the current proposals as "not hitting all the points" and that the designs featuring mountains are ubiquitous in the valley. She offered free consultations with the board during the process of picking out a logo, but stopped short of offering design work pro bono.

Trustee Jane Wheeler said she would be open to setting aside some funds for logo design, and that the initial rush to find a new logo was due to the upcoming opening of the new Bigfork library building. But Flathead County Library Foundation Director Sara Busse said at the board's April meeting that there wasn't a need to move quickly for signage purposes at that branch.

Busse said during Thursday's board meeting that the Foundation is available to help if trustees ask. The library requested funds from the nonprofit for its ImagineIF rebranding more than a decade ago.

She said the Foundation went through the process of creating a new logo last year and it came at a cost of $2,700 — a "drop in the bucket," she said, compared to bigger rebranding projects — an amount the Foundation could potentially assist with.

"I would be happy to take that to the board. If you are interested in wanting a logo design, I don't think this is something that has to be exorbitant ... ," Busse said.

Library Director Teri Dugan asked if the board would be willing to allocate $5,000 to do a deeper search for a new logo.

"I'm just thinking of the public getting excited, the staff getting excited — getting behind a new logo would really be a positive thing," Dugan said.

But Cuthbertson pushed forward with a motion to put the five designs up for public review. The motion passed four to one, with Wheeler dissenting.

Dugan said the choices will be posted on the website in a poll. Once a design is chosen, officials will ask about working with a graphic designer on a design package, where they will be able to see it in different formats. Dugan said comments regarding the logo can be sent to librarytrustees@imagineiflibraries.org.

TRUSTEES ALSO voted to recommend Adams for another term on the board. They briefly interviewed Melissa Wood, who submitted an application and has participated during public comment at recent meetings.

According to Wood's application, she is a mother of three young children and visits the library on a weekly basis. In addition to overseeing her church's children's program, Wood has over 15 years of experience working in state and federal government and private sector natural resource management. She said she has a wide range of experiences from facilitating multi-stakeholder groups to creating and implementing multimillion-dollar budgets, among other skills. Currently, she and her husband are small business owners in Kalispell.

Trustee Heidi Roedel moved to recommend Adams, citing his experience and knowledge in the position. The vote was unanimous.

The next Flathead County Library Board meeting will take place at the South Campus Conference Room located at 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell on June 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by emailing tinman@dailyinterlake.com.

Choice 1 of proposed logos for Flathead County Library. (photo provided)

Choice 2 of proposed logos for Flathead County Library. (photo provided)

Choice 3 of proposed logos for Flathead County Library. (photo provided)

Choice 4 of proposed logos for Flathead County Library. (photo provided)

Choice 5 of proposed logos for Flathead County Library. (photo provided)