People may not be talking about libraries, but they certainly are using
them.
In 1999, the Minneapolis Public Library answered 2.3 million reference
calls, received 2.4 million visitors, and circulated 2.5 million books, CDs
and videos. This year, Central Library circulation is up 14%. Today, the
library has enough cardholders to fill the Metrodome five times.
The library is virtually unique in its ability to help people at every stage
and from every walk of life. We serve children and seniors. Some come to
libraries to learn how to read and others to learn how to start a business.
There are people who come to libraries to share a public space, and others
seeking a quiet, reflective environment. It's a tough job trying to please
everyone, but on the whole our librarians do.
The question the referendum asks is whether we should re-invest in our
libraries or assume they are good enough to meet our needs.
Doing nothing is a dead-end course. The existing Central Library was
designed to hold 1.6 million items; today, it is crammed with 2.5 million.
As a result, only 15% of the collection is available on public stacks.
Overcrowding and poor environmental conditions also endanger valuable and
irreplaceable books and materials. Like many older buildings, it lacks the
wiring to accommodate today's technology. Studies have shown that it would
cost $52 million just to bring the existing building up to fire and
accessibility codes. All of these problems will only become worse over
time and as use continues to rise.
Our neighborhood libraries also have serious needs. Five of the 14
neighborhood libraries were built before 1931; four are not even
handicapped-accessible. All are overcrowded and inadequate for the computer
resources needed for the 21st century.
Our libraries should be gateways: to information, ideas, the past or the
future. But in reality our libraries have become bottlenecks. The
referendum would add additional space, put more books at your fingertips,
and make public computers more accessible to those who need them. The
details are there for anyone to see at the library website:
<http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/future.asp>.
Yes, there's a price-tag, and it is a significant one. This is a major
investment, but it is also a once-in-a-generation commitment to keeping
information accessible to every member of our community. The last time the
library made this kind of request was in more than 40 years ago. My
question is 'if not now, when?' Because people need libraries, and the
libraries we have can't meet their needs.
Colin Hamilton
Executive Director
Friend of the Minneapolis Public Library
612/630-6172
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
