I'd like to address a couple of the issues raised by the anonymous library
letter.
Disgruntled employees are a reality in most organizations, and certainly not
uncommon in an organization as large as our library system (with about 400
staff members). And tensions are always highest when contracts are being
negotiated. Personally, I don't blame someone for wanting to remain
anonymous, but I do object when he or she claims to be speaking for the
staff as a whole. I work in, but not for, the library, and I have never
heard a single library staff member say they thought this building was
adequate for the needs of our community. There is nothing scientific to it,
but in my dealing with staff, I've found that people recognize the physical
shortcomings of our libraries and are very excited about the prospect of
physically improving them. This view is shared by the DFL, GOP, League of
Women Voters, Star Tribune, Southwest Journal, The Northeaster, and many
labor and neighborhood associations that have endorsed the referendum.
The anonymous author raises questions about re-building the library on the
current site. It's always easy to rattle off alternatives locations, harder
to make them work. Take, for example, the Nicollet Hotel block. Because it
is smaller, the new library would have to be taller. And, as a building
increases in size its operating costs go up exponentially. So we have a
choice: a two and a half year period with an interim library OR a building
that is permanently more expensive to operate. The implementation committee
(comprised of city, library, business and citizens representatives) looked
at 20+ sites before agreeing that the best location for the new library
would be the current site. They made this decision knowing it would require
interim space, but agreeing that it was in the best long-term interests of
the city. They made their decision after examining a number of criteria,
including operating costs, access to public transit (including future light
rail lines), and access, via skyways, to the downtown core.
One final note: currently the Central Library attracts about 800,000
visitors a year. It's an impressive number, but actually fairly modest when
you compare it to other comparable cities. Nationwide, when cities have
built new central libraries, they have typically seen use double or even
triple. Imagine the value added to our downtown - both for businesses and
for those who enjoy vibrant city centers - if a new library attracts an
additional 800,000 to 1,000,000 visitors per year.
Colin Hamilton
Executive Director
Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library
612/630-6172
612/630-6180 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
