Michael Atherton's comment about library usage patterns, customer demand levels, in our community libraries is on target. I hope the Library Board considers the relative degrees of neighborhood utilization of their community libraries, as well as the physical condition of buildings, estimated operation/maintenance costs, and the capital costs required for future renovation as they make their decisions on closures and operations.
The public meetings have been held and the Library Board's Finance Committee will make a recommendation on a proposed budget at the July 9th Board meeting. Of the packaged options presented to the public by the Library Board, I lean toward Option C, with modification: FACILITIES- 1. I agree with the closure of Roosevelt, Southeast and Webber Park. None are handicapped accessible, which greatly restricts renovation work possible given the tight budgets. If a new Roosevelt library is still being considered, I suggest the mixed-use option be scraped in favor of an addition to the Roosevelt HS library-- MPL should work with the MPS to combine the school library with a community library addition-- merge the school and public library and offer exceptional service hours to the community. Secure the school in off-hours, and let the community have access to the combined library facility evenings and weekends. I know it's outside the box and presents problems, but can't they be dealt with? 2. I'd also make plans to close the Walker branch within the next couple of years. MPL should work with MCDA/CPED to upgrade the entire corner that currently houses the library. A six-eight, maybe ten story, mixed-use facility with limited underground parking could offer market-rate and subsidized housing, office/retail, and new library space adjacent to the bus transfer station and the Greenway (with possible future rail options in the trench), all in the heart of Uptown. I assume the MPL owns the site and air-rights above-- making the parcel a vastly under-used and under-valued asset. New library service options could be used to reduce space requirements-- relying more on e-based services, custom retrieval-delivery, and minimal on-site collection storage requirements. This would also eliminate the need for seemingly regular repair to the currently ill-designed and leaky building, while greatly increasing the tax base on that valuable piece of real estate; and the MPL could enjoy a capital gain via the development potential, I think. The city tax folks would have to work out the details, but I'm sure it would be a win-win for all involved, including the neighborhood. Combining the realized appreciation from a revitalized Uptown corner with some of the referendum renovation funds available from Webber Park and Southeast should enhance the MPL capital and operating budgets, at least in the short term; thus, enabling the Roosevelt addition and possibly extending operating hours at other community libraries. SERVICES-- 1. The Franklin Learning Center, Phillips Computer Center and Hosmer Tech Center are good programs that would be continued under Option C. In general, I think bilingual outreach and homework helper programs should be provided by MPS via Community Education and other school programming-- for adults and school-age kids (a few neighborhoods may be the exception?). Some Community Ed programs already offer homework helper and language literacy programs, along with computer labs. I think summer reading and early literacy programs are appropriate for the libraries; they attract families, young and not-so-young readers, and provide summer options for kids. I don't know enough about teen initiatives to comment, but the idea should be to avoid duplication of services, while strengthening offerings. Lastly, I think MPL should be in serious discussion with Hennepin County and MPS as to how they can work together to improve service delivery/customer service while reducing costs for taxpayers. And, I still think BOTH a Library Foundation AND a Friends of MPL can be used to improve library facilities, collections and services-- just define separate and proper roles for each. [ further info. at: http://www.mplib.org/budget_030613.asp ] Michael Hohmann Linden Hills -- where the neighbors allocated $124,400 of NRP funds, combined with $1.6 million of MPL funds-- a total of over $1.7 million, and spent a year renovating our historically designated library to better meet the needs of the neighborhood. It is a small, yet beautiful library, come visit sometime. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Michael Atherton > Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 11:03 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [Mpls] Library scenarios > > > David Brauer wrote: > > > 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. > > How can anyone wisely choose between these options without > knowing what the usage patterns are like? Without this information > the most you can do is to make an idiosyncratic or ideological > decision, neither of which is likely to result in an effective > allocation of recourses. > > Michael Atherton > Prospect Park > snip 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
