The reason the City is having problems keeping its libraries open is not due to staffing decisions at the Central Library. It's due to the fact that the Library Board owns too much real estate given the fact that one of it's major sources of funds -- Local Aid to Cities -- has been substantially cut over the past couple years (with very little chance that is will ever be restored).
Now of course I want Libraries in the City, but the fact is Walker is a dysfunctional library. Even though I live equa-distance between Walker and Washburn, our family goes to Washburn 95% of the time. This is due to conveneince (including parking), books in the stacks, and yes aesthetics. Uptown is a high density, high traffic commercial area that serves the region as well as the surrounding neighborhood. It makes sense that the City and Library Board look at all options at this site, including mixed uses and even outright sale. Obviously the options looked at thus far don't pencil out (don't make sense financially) but fixing a leaky roof, while the cheapest, is a wholly dissatisfying option. Finally I just got my property tax statement and the Library Board's share was eye-popping, with further increases coming down the pike. While I can't speak for my fellow citizens, I would be hard pressed to pay even more for libraries. Perhaps the Library Board needs to look at its entire system, to determine whether it can afford to keep all of its properties. A strategic sale of one or two of its libraries may help pay for other more pressing needs. Furthermore, a merger with Hennepin County should be examined for cost saving opportunities as well. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet ----- Original Message ----- From: "WizardMarks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "mpls mn forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 6:35 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Walker Library Task Force Meeting 11/18/2004 1pm > > Dorie Rae Gallagher wrote: > > >Well said MD! We want our library doors open! > > > WM: If you want library doors open, then you are going to have to > persuade the board of MPL and it's staff that the way they have deployed > staff has been screwy for the last 10 years or better. Look particularly > at circulation statistics for ALL libraries and the staff count for > those community libraries with the highest stats. Then compare that with > Central stats. and Central staff count. I believe that you will discover > that Central has far more staff members (just in the library itself, not > in the admin. depts.) than its circulation warrants. Granted, some > people who use Central come there for reference documents which cannot > circulate, but then people come to community libraries for reference > work as well. The over-staffing of Central predates the recent extreme > budget cuts by years. > > Vis-a-vis Walker, I have no idea why the board is even discussing > sharing space with private entities. Walker is extremely busy, it's on > at least six bus lines, it's incredibly convenient and, as such, it's in > a primo position to build patronage of the library. In a nation which is > becoming more illiterate by the year, this is an important function for > libraries. > > WizardMarks, Central REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
