COMMUNITY LIBRARIES: Increased hours and services to our community libraries is an issue that I have advocated and worked for over the last four years.
Public hours system-wide have been increased at MPL over 16% in the last three years. This percentage doesn't include the Sunday hours that were just added to 4 community libraries (East Lake, Walker, North Regional, & Northeast ). Community Libraries offer life-long learning: from story times for young children to research for students to leisure and information for adults, and are free to all. The library provides wonderful activities for all audiences. We strive at the library to be able to continue our current service level as well as meet the expanding needs of the community. The demand for library programs at community libraries includes: more library hours, children programs, Homework Helper, bookmobile stops, internet training to seniors, new technology, the summer reading program, story times, new formats, books, technology centers, book and poem readings, as well as increased service to new immigrants, seniors, families, and students. All these services can put strain on library resources. There are three ways to improve our programs; first we must know what programs the public is interested in, we must continue to survey the public to give their input, viewpoints, and feedback. Second, we must establish a grant and program office to assist with on-going funding options to pay for our programming. Third, we need to seek out and cooperate with other established programs and entities, forming partnerships with the private sector, NRP, non-profits, stronger relationships with the Friends (of the Minneapolis Public Library), and other government bodies, such as the city, schools and park systems. Together we can provide the best possible services and quality programs to all of Minneapolis. INTERNET POLICY: Some library board candidates are for mandatory filtering of the internet for anyone under the age of 18. I am NOT. The Internet has raised new challenges for all public libraries. I support a balanced approach to internet and technology use that respects First Amendment rights with appropriate and legal access. Illegal use of the Internet at the library has always been and will continue to be prohibited. Our policy works to balance the rights of individuals to access information and the need to provide a welcoming environment for patrons and library employees. In our children�s area, the Library offers assistance and training to help children experience the Internet in a safe and rewarding manner, including providing Web safety tips both in printed form and online and providing links to recommended sites for children. I would support a policy that provides patrons with a choice to have to have a filtering experience, but I do NOT support mandatory or required filtering, such as those in CIPA (Children Internet Protection Act). Mandatory filtering or censorship does not provide a sensible solution as filtering software is not an effective tool, because there is no proven technology that both blocks out all illegal content and allows access to all constitutionally protected material. Filtering blocks information that it shouldn't and doesn't block information that it should. Filtering can bring a false sense of security. To insure that all persons have fair access to the Library's finite computing resources, the Library Board has established a successful on-line internet signup procedure. As technology changes, the Library Board does continue to review this policy on a regular basis. BUDGETS: Operating budgets and funding options will always be of concern as we meet the service needs of community libraries. We strive at the library to be able to continue our current service level as well as meet the expanding needs of the community. The demand for more library hours, children programs, new technology, new formats, books, preservation of our historic collections, new technology, as well as increased service to new immigrants, seniors, and students does puts strain on our budgets. We (the entire board, staff, and community) must look for the best possible ways to provide quality services within our budget constraints. We have not, and will not overspend our budget and as we always have, will live within our budget. The 2010 plan is a model that was based on certain assumptions such as ideal staffing and branch sizes. While there is always the chance that operating cost may increase from year to year, especially with renovations, there is an opportunity for cost savings in operations. These adjustments may come from more efficient and better building design, savings from new heating/cooling and environmental friendly systems, patron self service options, flexible and creative staffing, and hours of operation based on demand. The board takes a review at all budget implications prior to starting renovations. I agree with �City Pages� as it named the Minneapolis Public Library the �Best Use of City Tax Dollars.� Our library�s accounting office has been recognized for it accurate financial statements and financial reports. For the 11th year in a row, MPL received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. As far as the referendum, the public was given complete, proper, and legal information in all matters related to the Library Referendum. I look forward to working with you, as we find creative options and common sense solutions to make effective use of the your hard earned tax dollars at all of our community libraries. Rod Krueger Candidate for Re-Election to Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees 12-3 / SENA ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Michael Hohmann" To: "List Manager" , "'Mpls list'" Subject: RE: [Mpls] Strib opinion piece on community libraries Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 10:04:39 -0500 Thanks to David for pointing out Lori Sturdevant's article in today's STrib concerning current operating procedures in our 14 branch community libraries. Most attention these days is focused on the new downtown Central Library that Cesar Pelli was recently commissioned to design. Yes, it will be grand to have a bright, new Central Library. However, as Lori points out in her article, for most library users, the action remains focused at the local neighborhood level-- in the branch community libraries. In fact, according to the Minneapolis Public Library (MPL) 2000 Annual Report, two-thirds of total circulation in the MPL system was in community libraries; 85 percent of total juvenile circulation was in community libraries. In the article, Library director Mary Lawson is quoted as saying "...the library board and administrators are adjusting their budgets now to prepare for the increased volume a new downtown library is likely to generate." Undoubtedly, service and programming demands will increase at the new downtown library; more operating funds will be needed to adequately meet these new library patron demands. Mary Lawson continues, "...if we expect to have more hours, the budget will have to increase ... The level of service that can be provided is really a choice that the community has to help us make." Does this mean operating funds will be shifted from community libraries to the new downtown library, or does it mean overall operating funds must be increased? If the latter, does that mean another increase in local property taxes? Where else will the needed funds come from? As I have stated here and elsewhere over the past year, the recent library referendum provides for capital construction costs, but not for the increased operational funds that will be needed to actually run these bigger and better library facilities. Last fall's referendum was misleading in that only two-thirds of the needed funds were provided for. The thinking was that we will build the facilities and then figure out how to operate them. The public is always the lender of last resort with too many public officials! Lori points out the inadequacy of current community library operating hours, even with the recently added Sunday hours in four locations. As these local neighborhood libraries are renovated, expanded and rebuilt, they will experience dramatic demands for increased usage. What good are new facilities if operating hours, programs and services are inadequate? As an Independent Candidate for the Library Board, I am working for a library system the public can be proud of believe in and afford. My four priorities for the MPL system include: 1. Develop and maintain a first-rate library system, with increased access to information, technology and community learning-- both at the Central Library and, equally important, in the neighborhoods. 2. Develop more responsible budgeting practices-- establish a balanced budget for both operating and capital requirements; for the new downtown Central Library, the community libraries and the planetarium. This is needed to protect city taxpayers from excessive demands for property tax dollars. 3. Provide increased fiscal accountability and establish a major multi-source funding strategy that fosters sensible public investment, leverages other public-private partnerships and coordinates alliances with the county to supplement city tax revenues. We need an active and operational MPL Foundation to continually be raising funds for our library system-- something that is not currently being done. I believe a business operational model that strives for greater productivity, innovation and continual improvement, as design and construction of the new downtown library begins and branch libraries' improvements commence is critical. 4. Provide a family-friendly learning environment for the community and a safe workplace-- establish a 'common sense' Internet-access policy for children to use filtered-access Internet terminals so that parents feel confident sending their children to the library, while adults are offered both filtered and unfiltered access options. For our public libraries to be first-rate, I believe in and support First Amendment rights-- but with those rights, come responsibilities-- for individuals and our community. Library Internet policy should be consistent with legal precedent and community standards. The Library's current Internet policy is inadequate. My Internet access position represents a socially compelling and fiscally responsible approach to Internet access within the MPL system. I'll have much more to say in future posts to the list regarding our public library system in Minneapolis. Michael Hohmann Independent Candidate, Minneapolis Public Library Board of Trustees www.mikeforlibrary.org www.mahohmannbizplans.com > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > List Manager > Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 8:46 PM > To: 'Mpls list' > Subject: [Mpls] Strib opinion piece on community libraries > > > Strib's Lori Sturdevant makes a plea to pay attention to library board > elections > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/765215.html > > David Brauer > List manager snip _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! 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