I am not alone in this. The Capital Long Range Improvement Committee (CLIC), a group of independent citizens from around the city, strongly opposed the libraires capital plan.WM: I do understand that CLIC opposed the MPL's plan, but their suggestion, that some branches be closed, was not good either. First, because closing libraries will kill the system and second, because library staff interpreted that to advantage the middle class against the working class. Thus Washburn's staff and hours are left intact on the basis of it's performance, but Hosmer and Franklin were cut. In terms of patronage gains made, Hosmer had outstripped any other library and Franklin had been abused of budget for so long it could not expect to compete.
I also, like many other people, believe there has not been enough focus on how to keep the existing libraries operating well.WM: I would contest this. Muchos energy has been focused on keeping them operating, but the focus begins with serving old, steady patrons, not with improving patronage. Bob Gustafson looks at numbers being down, but cannot see from the information provided to CLIC that the library has failed to sell itself in the marketplace where there is patron development potential. Both board and staff are stuck in their base assumptions which assumptions are not helpful at all. Also, from CLIC's position, members cannot expect to truly understand what cutting replacement and collection money to the bone has produced over the last ten years. There is nothing left to entice customers with improved collection.
Shorter hours and cut programs hurt most in the neighborhoods where people have the least access and greatest needs. Until there is a better plan for integrating the libraires capital program with its operating budget we will have more cuts in the services that residents need.WM: I would contest this as well. The library, though staff have worked hard, has not done a good job of assigning the fewer staff numbers to maximize the hours covered and continue building patronage during tough times. To be fair, I'm not certain all of it can be done..
I said I would remain open and would continue to work very hard to raise more money to help close the gaps. But the one thing I won't do is close my eyes and pretend we can do things the same old way. For those of us who love librairies, that means even shorter hours, even fewer programs and borrowing from our kids when they deserve better.WM: Yes, it's your job, RT to bring money into this issue from whatever sources you can find. "Doing things the same old way," however, says nothing. How doing things the same old way? The director of the San Francisco's public library decided that the age of CDs and palm pilots was the way to go. He threw out millions of books, many irreplaceable. He promptly got fired, but it was already too late. He had gutted the library as though it were a deer. I know Ms. Hadly is neither that stupid nor that egomaniacal. What I do not know--and what scares me--is what that means to you. It is way too vague and it does not describe the change you want.
If you do your job right, RT, there should be no shortening of hours or loss of programs. The residents who came out to the many meetings held by the library said, overwhelmingly, do not close any libraries. They appeared willing, for the short term only, to accept shorter hours and programming to give Ms. Hadley the opportunity to make the changes required. MPL is a city institution and it falls to the leader of the pack to bring in the dollars in the long run.
WizardMarks, Central
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