Does anyone else on this list think that the Library Board's choose one scenario provides the perfect excuse for blaming the public, or at least those who choose to respond, for whatever results from their less then adequate management of resources?
Roberta Englund, Folwell Neighborhood -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of WizardMarks Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 3:04 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: David Brauer Subject: Re: [Mpls] Library scenarios David Brauer wrote: >The city has asked the public for its view on a very specific question: how to close a $4.5 million budget gap for the libraries in 2004. The board is presenting three scenarios. I'd appreciate it if list members could pick one - use the letter if you can - and explain why. > WM: I choose none of the above. Libraries are about people, not about materials. The duty of the library is to provide people with materials to meet their informational needs as well as providing for 'life long learning.' With the budget cuts the question becomes what kind of scenario meets the more pressing needs? Is it more important to the city that people around Washburn Library have access to stock quotes or is it more important that immigrants learn to read in English? Is it more important that there are enough murder mysteries (my personal opinion being that there are never enough good murder mysteries) or is it more important that people in poorer neighborhoods have access to homework helper and bridging the digital divide? Is it more important to keep service where fewer people have reliable cars and more use the bus or where people have two and three cars, all reliable? Too, the notion of "stick to traditional services and just books" doesn't cover the needs of the population. Part of what the library has to do is enlarge its patron base. Videos, CDs, internet access, and homework helpers all bring in new patrons. The state of MN has been very stingy to all its libraries for a very long time and it's way past time that the legislature be brought into the modern age and put more resources into its population's informational needs. Ergo, I would keep open those branches which are on the bus line or are where the immigrants are. However, could we go back six months or so, I'd find a small, cheap home for business and gov. doc.s downtown and close the downtown library till 2006, rather than moving it to the federal reserve bldg. Then I'd keep all the branches open because that's where the library does the most business. WizardMarks, Central >________________________________ > >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 > TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ 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 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ 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
