In a message dated 1/6/09 6:20:20 PM, [email protected] writes: > ....Here in the Free Library is a fistful of millions at hand. It's a > fistful that, intuitively, might be connected to larger, well-heeled > private potential partners. Nutter made it very clear from the > beginning, even when times were flush two years ago, he intended to fill > public budget gaps with public-private partnerships. He's clearly trying > to drive non-City money into these libraries that are at stake. Some of > this is already happening. It'll be interesting to follow this > development and see how the Free Library of tomorrow emerges as a new > public-private partnership. > Early on in this discussion, one reader did some research on the Rittenhouse Square Library branch and found that it has an endowment, and a sponsor group owns its space and materials. So we can conclude that it's REALLY CHEAP for the Free Library to operate that branch. It would be great if other libraries continued to be libraries, operating under this model, with endowments.
When Mayor Nutter begins talking about having private groups take over the libraries and convert them to "knowledge centers" or some such things, though, we have to worry about how long they would last as these different entities. Private partners are different from endowments - a private partner can go out of business, lose interest, etc. And then, since the place has become a "knowledge center," it is no longer a part of the Free Library system and may just quietly close down. For example, it would seem obvious that the nonprofit group sponsored by Fumo might take over the Fumo Family Library branch as a "knowledge center" - but if Fumo is found guilty and goes to jail, that nonprofit may lose steam and cease to operate, and then that "center," without a sponsor, might quietly close. Right now while they are all still LIBRARIES and the spotlight is on them, their chance of survival may be stronger than down the road if they are privately run. Just saying. Melani Melani Lamond, Associate Broker Urban & Bye, Realtor PA License Number AB048377L 3529 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104 cell phone 215-356-7266 - office phone 215-222-4800 #113 ************** New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)
