The renovation of my neighborhood library in Linden Hills is nearing completion and it is scheduled to reopen within the next few weeks. Increased floor space in the underground basement area to preserve the historic aboveground footprint and design, and an elevator to make it fully accessible are a couple of the major changes. It will be very nice to have a neighborhood library again, although I don't know what the operating hours will be. However, since NRP money was combined with MPL funds to renovate the facility, and there is strong community support and use by neighbors, I expect that hours will pretty much meet demands... the squeaky-wheel gets the grease syndrome.
Yesterday I visited the new Edina Library just west of 50th and Hwy 100-- a Hennepin County branch library. It is about the same size as the old nearby Edina library, with nice new computer terminals, auto checkout and better overall design than the old facility. Now I'm really anxious to see the 'new' Linden Hills Library... just blocks from my home. While visiting the Edina library, I also noted that each Hennepin County Library has a Friends group that provides support via volunteer efforts and fundraising-- Friends of the Edina Library, Friends of the Plymouth Library, etc. The MPL also has a central Friends group that provides major volunteer and fundraising support. The Hennepin County Library system also has a Library Foundation that provides financial support to the library system (several million dollars annually, I believe). In fact, the HCL Foundation is currently seeking to hire an Executive director, reporting to the HCL Director. The responsibilities of the Foundation Director include hands-on fundraising activities; development of annual, planned giving and membership campaigns; research to determine the feasibility of creating a multimillion dollar endowment for library materials; general coordination of an art initiative in multiple locations, designed to bring public art into library spaces; and other special projects. They are seeking someone with at least 5 years of experience in a medium-to-large development office with direct fundraising experience. Salary range is $52K-$76K annually-- apply by 6-3. The MPL raised $140 million through the 2000 referendum for new construction and renovation, and is seeking an additional $30 from the state legislature for construction of the new planetarium. However, the MPL still has no operating MPL Foundation, although the non-operational legal shell has existed for a decade. Property tax reform will be negatively impacting operational funding at all MPL facilities in coming years. Couple that shortfall with all the expanded and renovated library facilities (including the new central library) that will be coming online over the next few years, and we can expect a significant, and growing, operating budget shortfall within the MPL system in the not-to-distant future (more space, more heating/cooling, more books/computers, etc.). Why don't we have an operational MPL Foundation actively raising funds to support our libraries in Minneapolis? What is the plan? Another referendum to raise more taxes, reduced operating hours, some combination, or what? Is there a plan? Michael Hohmann Linden Hills _______________________________________ 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
