Wizard Marks has made this argument before, that Minnesota does not adequately fund its libraries.
WM: The county is well-funded compared to Minneapolis. However, over the last five or six years, the county has closed down some portions of it's collection (video/studio), changed to a much cheaper and less user friendly system of cataloging, and made other unfortunate cuts.
The Hennepin County libraries outside of Minneapolis are quite nice. There does not seem to be a tremendous shortage of money there, although they may be able to provide even better service with more money.
WM: When they had more money, they did provide better services.
A number of cities in Hennepin county have very nice libraries, as well.
WM: "Very nice libraries" isn't a term that can be compared to what Minneapolis has and does not have. Because Minneapolis has very nice libraries as well. Minneapolis has a different mission and goals than do many other public libraries. Minneapolis also has a research function. That goal requires funding as well as the popular library. In many ways, as we codify the experience of this civilization, in this place, MPL catalogs the myriad perspectives we can use to approach archieving our goal of access to information for all as a primary public service requirement. But you will notice that wealthy counties like Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott, do put more money into their libraries.
So, who funds the county libraries? Who funds city libraries? Should most of the funds for Minneapolis, county and other city libraries come from the state?
WM: This you can look up for yourself on the internet or at the library. I spent three years looking at all this information, but I left it at the library, it was their material. Ergo, it's there. Got get it.
Wizard says "many, many states budget more money to their libraries than does Minnesota." Which ones? Many, many implies far more than a simple majority.
WM: Does it? Who says?
So are you saying more than 30 states budget more than Minnesota? Is that on a per capita, percentage of state revenue or just total dollars basis?
WM: I've already posted the paths to this information. American Library Association, any library in the area, or InfoLine. It's your job to go get the information.
The tone of your post is accusatory, as if to imply that I do not know what I'm talking about. I'm posting the sources of my information so that you can access it yourself rather than rely on my understanding of the facts.
I might remind listers and you, Chris, that you made a lot of accusations about "the waste and inefficiency" of Minneapolis Public Library on 7/1/03 on this list, not one of which you supported with even anecdotal evidence. Why do your accusations require no evidence, but mine do? Further, everything I posted is verifiable at the public library.
I won't do the work for you.
WizardMarks, Central past AmeriCorps Literacy VISTA for 2000, 2001, and 2002 at Hosmer Library
_______________________________
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
