Hello again Dean and all subscribers to this list: "strings attached & long-term, systemic needs"
Yes, I am in this for the long haul. I believe that there is nothing more important to the transformation of society and full positive expression of our creative essence as a human species than the free availability of knowledge, wisdom and information. Wealthy people can go to bookstores and purchase books and can purchase computers and pay for Internet service. Poor people HAVE to have libraries. The mission of the MPL is to connect the people of this city and beyond to the transforming power of knowledge and that is what I am all about. Therefore, with the wealthy elite getting richer and the masses of people becoming more desperately poor, library closure is NOT an option. Partnerships with Hennepin County bear looking into - there is too much unknown for me to comment as an "outsider" still. The issue of strings is really an issue of power - do we go begging some company for money so they can put their logo on a library (NO!), or do we say: you have excess profits earned through the hard work of our residents and you need to give back to improve the quality of their/our lives - and a deep sense of satisfaction at doing something good for good's sake is your reward. The public libraries are not a business, and should not be run according to the paradigms of corporate culture - they are a cornerstone of society and must be nurtured and nourished as the air we breathe and water we drink. forward ever, Samantha Smart [EMAIL PROTECTED] Samantha Smart for Minneapolis Library Board Smart Libraries are OPEN Libraries! 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
