The wisdom of the money being spent on the new central library was by vote of virtually 70% of the Minneapolis electorate. We did not have a perfectly functional library. We had a very badly built library with some areas where there was no ceiling clearance and most of the books immediately unavailable to the public.

The new central library will have vast improvements and the public will have access to most of the collections. This is dramatically different from the 1963 library. That central library was built after funds were slashed and it showed almost immediately.

The new central will say something about just how important we Minneapolitans think libraries are to our communities and our willingness and commitment to freely educate all who live here and all who come here in the future.

Cost and inconvenience are very important factors. Inaccessible books is an important issue. True we did not all vote on where to put the new central library. Some would still prefer another site for various reasons.

However, I know the new central will be worth the wait. I wish we could have afforded the space to have had the entire collection accessible.

With only months to go to the grand opening, I'm very excited about what the library will be able to offer the public.

Best,


Laura Waterman Wittstock


On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at 03:24 PM, Dan wrote (quoting Wizard):

Listers,
Let us pledge to ourselves that we will never, never, never build
another new public library if it means we have to put any books in
storage for years. I am so tired of being frustrated by books put on ice
so we could build on the same spot I could kick the seeds out of a pickle!

I second that. How much will it cost to replace a perfectly functional (and
relatively modern) library? How many police officers wouldn't have to be cut
if that money was spent more wisely?


Laura Waterman Wittstock
Minneapolis, MN
612-387-4915
www.laurawatermanwittstock.com
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/

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