Let's see if I can respond to some of the issues that folks have brought up
regarding the library referendum.
1) Wally Swan's letter: My basic beef with Mr. Swan's letter is that he
wasn't writing letters when it came to so many other projects which used
money from our tax base. He didn't write a letter over the Block E TIF
deal. He didn't write a letter over the Target Store and Target Tower deal.
He didn't write a letter over the Schubert deal. He didn't write a letter
about the Target Center deal. All these deals and silence. The deal that
was cut for the Parks will cost twice as much as the library referendum and
he didn't write a letter on that. But when it comes down to the Libraries,
something that is for the people directly, he writes a letter to the editor.
If Mr. Swan feels that this project is too much, where was he when all these
other deals were being
done? Why hasn't he been raising a ruckus all along? If he felt so
strongly about the budget, why wasn't he writing letters to the editor on
the past several budgets? 75% of households used the libraries last year.
Why should library users (i.e. most of us) be hurt because of all these past
deals?
2) Taxes shifting to residential properties: Taxes *are* shifting to
residential properties. This isn't the fault of the libraries. In fact, it
isn't the fault of any local official. It is the fault of the Legislature.
Tricky, eh? The Legislature sets up the property tax system and the local
governments have to play with the rules that the Legislature sets up. And
over the last five years or so, the Legislature has dramatically shifted the
costs of property taxes off commercial/industrial, high-end residential, and
rental property in the name of property tax reform. Squarely onto you and
I, the middle class taxpayer. Right at a time when our valuations are also
increasing. The people to be angry with are not the local officials. If
the referendum would have been paid for like all other taxes, the costs to
residents would probably been half or less (I haven't been able to get the
City Finance folks to run the numbers). Again, because the Legislature has
been messing with the tax system, increasing middle class taxes, why should
the libraries suffer? I appreciate that citizens are angry about this, (as
am I) but the appropriate tool is to vote out your legislator who has been
doing this, not voting out the needed library improvements.
3) Why do we need a downtown library at all and how is it good for the
neighborhoods? The downtown library is much much more than just an
overgrown business library. There is a synergy between the branches and the
downtown library, one needing the other.
The downtown library houses all the books that can't fit in the branch
libraries. This includes both general books and the special collections
that Ms. Marks refers to. Ms. Marks makes a strong argument for the need
for special collections but it isn't practical to house those in branches.
You need a central library to house those books. Unfortunately, the
downtown library is full. It was designed to hold 1.6 million books and
now holds 2.5 million. Librarians throw out books when they buy new ones
because there is no place to store them. That weakens the branches as well
because the branches don't have access to those books once they are gone
either.
As to why it is downtown? Simple. Transit. Libraries are for the people
and no place is more accessible to everyone than the downtown. The business
community that uses the central library could get to the library wherever it
is. It is other folks who need access that a downtown location requires.
And yes, one of the critical elements of the new design is parking so folks
don't just have to ride the bus to get to the library.
It is hard to imagine with the dump that we have today what the downtown
library could be. A destination to take our kids on a Saturday. A place to
spend an evening, browsing and finding wonderful things. A place to help
our kids learn. A place for people who cannot afford a computer to access
the information highway. A place that doesn't exist now. But a place that
could exist.
4) Why do we need better branch libraries? Several people mentioned the
need for computer access. Currently most libraries are not wired nor have
the space to meet demand for computer access. I was at East Lake on
Saturday and every computer was full. With a waiting list. In fact, one
parent had fallen asleep waiting for her kid's turn on the computers. 75%
of our kids are on free or reduced lunches. These parents are not going to
be able to afford computers for their kids. Where do they turn? The
libraries. Everyone should have access to electronic information.
Ms. Marks also talks about the need for more diversity of books in the
branch libraries. Most of the branch libraries are at capacity. Without
expansion, where do you put these books? It is a simple question of space.
Libraries are for the people. By supporting them, we are supporting us.
Carol Becker
Longfellow
Treasurer, Citizens for Minneapolis Public Libraries
