In the middle of this discussion, I happened to pick up an excellent feature article in The Rake about public libraries in general and local libraries specifically, with discussion about the Minneapolis Central Library:
http://www.rakemag.com/features/detail.asp?catID=61&itemID=20442 >From the article: "It makes sense, then, that Minneapolis' main library should be widely cherished, that it should be the loveliest and most generously funded in Minnesota. Indeed, the new building going up on Hennepin Avenue has raised eyebrows because, to some, the expenditure feels extravagant, what with recent budget tightening and, especially, reduced operating hours at many library branches. The central library itself typically operates just seven hours per day and is closed on Sundays; considering Minneapolis' across-the-board financial troubles, there is no telling how often the new building will be open. A frugal person might wonder: Why not just leave the main branch in the Federal Reserve Bank, or retrofit some other existing structure, maybe in the warehouse district? After all, St. Paul makes do with a building that's almost a century old. (The city just spent $15.9 million to renovate it.) The answer to that query is this: In 2000, the citizens of Minneapolis voted to build a new library. Now well under way, the structure is largely funded by a $140 million city referendum that passed by a two-to-one margin. Times were still flush back then, and the state was footing a significant portion of the system's operating budget. So generous, educated, liberal Minneapolis specified that the referendum money could only be spent on a showpiece central library, and to improve various community branches, such as the north side's newly renovated Sumner Library. If people want to gripe about poor decision-making, they should point the finger at the geniuses who moved the main library out of its original location on Tenth and Hennepin, a castle-like structure that strongly resembled the Lumber Exchange Building. They plunked it down in a 1960s-era box that was difficult to expand or update and constructed in such a way as to hold together for only forty years." Gregory Luce St. Paul -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sheldon Mains Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 10:44 AM To: 'WizardMarks'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Mpls] T-H-E W-I-N-G md wrote: >"Rising costs of Keeping T-H-E W-I-N-G Snow-free > Shuts down rest of Minneapolis Libraries! and why would you have to remove snow from the wing????? This issue of shutting down libraries has a lot more to do with the Republicans in the Legislature and Governor Scarcity making major cuts in Local Government Aid and having a "stick it to Minneapolis" attitude. Taking md's comments to the logical conclusion-- so we should have just torn down the Sumner Olson Library and built a cement block box instead of restoring the old building and building an addition that complimented it. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
