http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3749578.html
With this post I'm probably making the decision not to try again for a Library Board seat: During the last election I raised the issue of closing some branch libraries a few times --much to the displeasure of the people in the neighborhoods. Here's my take on it. The more I looked into the system, the more I thought this had to happen but I did kind of keep a low profile on the issue. First, the Board needs to look at all cost savings and possibilities for raising income--including earned income and fundraising/grant writing. But both those options are limited. The big savings will only come from closing some branch libraries. We just have too many libraries for the budget. Look at a map (http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/locations.asp) to decide what to close (along with use, building condition, neighborhood needs). First, the Board should have NEVER agreed to the new Pierre Bottineau Library. It's right between NE and North Regional libraries. It probably should be one of the first closed. But with the investment in the new library and the political power of the neighborhood, that will never happen. The last board got pressured into it by a former board chair and the neighborhood. The idea behind the old Pierre Bottineau library was to provide basic library services at low cost in a store front. That was a good, economical way of expanding services. The new library that is being build at the old Grain Belt complex will be great--but it is in the wrong place! Next, in my neighborhood, Roosevelt is one mile from the Lake Street Library and a little over that from two other libraries (I'm going to get a lot of heat from neighbors and friends over this one). It's old, not accessible, small, on a small lot and can not be expanded where it is. However, the Friends of the Library provide great homework helper service there (especially useful to the East African students at Roosevelt). Maybe work with the Mpls Public Schools to provide homework helper in Roosevelt (or maybe get some space in a local park). Some of the gap in service may be filled by shifting the location of Lake Street and Nokomis Libraries (also not popular in the neighborhoods but both have limited land for the proposed remodels/expansions.) Linden Hills. It is a great old building but in the wrong location. Look, the City moves Fire Stations to get good, efficient coverage. A location more accessible to people outside that immediate neighborhood should have been found. The remodeling of that library building was a mistake--again the Library Board bowed to neighborhood pressure. They should have found a better location and built a new library to replace it and Walker. Walker--the building was a good idea executed very poorly--It has lots of structural/water problems. Closing it makes sense but it leaves a hole in the coverage of the City (see the paragraph about Linen Hills) Southwest: Again, a library in the wrong building and the wrong location. But closing it will leave a big hole. On the East Side it should have been Bottineau to close but I guess this is a good second choice. A better choice to more equally cover neighborhoods would be to close NE and SE and build a new library near East Hennepin and 10th Ave NE (the plan was to expand NE library and build a new SE library). Weber: Closing that library leaves a big hole in the far north part of Minneapolis (both sides of the River). But--all the times I visited the branch libraries (and I visited all of them many times) Weber had the least activity--even considering its small size. The only one that seemed as dead was North Regional. With Sumner Library being remodeled, and no need to spend money on Webber, maybe the solution is to build a new North Regional library a little North and East of its current location. That would be more expensive than the current plan to just remodel North Regional but with the money from the Webber remodel/expansion, it might be possible. That would also help fill the hole in the far north part of NE (especially if NE regional is moved to East Hennepin and 10th (see above paragraph). Finally, regarding Mike's idea of moving some of the Referendum money from capital to operating. I understand that legally that possibility could be summed up as "in your dreams." TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
