On Thursday, August 11, 2005, at 01:02 PM, c lee wrote:
Why could Gratia Countryman keep the libraries open during the Great
Depression--including aux. services to union halls, schools,
streetfront and business reading rooms and hospital books carts?
Closings did happen then.
Quote from Countryman's report to the library board:
In 1932 the budget compelled us either to close some departments or
branches altogether or to shorten opening hours everywhere and spread
the economy equally. We chose to maintain service everywhere on shorter
hours. In 1933, the problem again arose in a more acute form, and again
we chose to treat all localities alike instead of closing entirely at
any points. Throughout the year we have closed all evenings but
Mondaya, in all departments and branches except the Central Newspaper
Room and Technical Department. With another revised and diminished
budget in June, necessity caused a further closing of one day per week,
and since July, the library has been closed on Wednesday. In addition,
the Library was closed two weeks in late summer and finally to meet the
budget a further closing during Christmas week. Altogether the library
haa been closed 40 days, but in this way no branch nor department has
been permanently closed and no locality deprived of book service. We
could not have kept open on full time and met the increasing demand
without hiring extra people to do the work. But by closing we reduced
the number of employees from 303 to 240, as noted on the table, and the
payroll likewise decreased. It stands to reason that with fewer
assistants doing a much increased work, crowded into fewer hours, the
work could not be done as thoroughly.
Which candidates are not opposed to CLOSING libraries (and which
candidates are stepping back from this)
As in Countryman's time, the library budget must balance. The library
board cannot lawfully run an operating deficit. To pledge to keep every
library open is extremely risky given the uncertainties of the revenue.
All options should be kept open lacking prior knowledge of revenue
levels. That is the responsible thing to do. It may sound good to say
never close a branch, but all of the system must be served in the best
possible way and that means we should not close off options in the name
of making a campaign pledge.
Note Countryman's connection between closings and the reduction of
employees. That is the real story. Workers lost jobs. Today we have
valuable union workers who are not there in the system because revenue
loss forced layoffs. These workers carried out needed and skilled
services that now must be done by others.
Let's support the union workers and put greater effort into restoring
operating revenue so these valued workers can come back into the system
to provide the much needed services to Minneapolis.
I was President of the library board when the layoffs occurred. I sent
a letter of apology to those who lost jobs. I feel it is a deep
obligation to demonstrate concern for the workforce, to develop the
highest quality possible in the workforce and to honor the dignity of
their work.
Laura Waterman Wittstock
Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees
DFL and Labor endorsed
Minneapolis, MN
612-387-4915
www.laurawatermanwittstock.com
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
Wittstock for Library Committee
913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414
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