[Mpls] Libraries

[Bob GUSTAFSON]

I don't want to get into dueling numbers with Wizard but I have some information to clarify a recent post she made.   You can't go wrong attacking the suburbs if you are in Minneapolis, and Wizard appears guilty of that when she said,  "But you will notice that wealthy counties like Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott, do put more money into their libraries." According to information provided by the Minneapolis Library staff, from the MELSA Library Comparisons from Public Library Data Service using 2001 data, Minneapolis spends the highest amount per capita of each of the counties listed (MPLS $53 per capita, Dakota $30; Washington $23; Hennepin $44, Ramsey $33 and Scott $17) St. Paul by the way spent $42.   Minneapolis often argues that they have greater expenses because of the amount of branches they have. Minneapolis has 14, Hennepin 26. Its interesting to note that when looking at population served per branch, Minneapolis and Hennepin are very similar with Mpls serving 27,330 per branch and Hennepin serving 28,208 per branch.   Minneapolis does have a larger collection than Hennepin with over 3,000,000 items (8 per capita) versus 2,000,000 (3 per capita) at Hennepin.   Bob Gustafson 13th