Samantha Smart for Minneapolis Library Board Cyber-Campaign VOTE Tuesday, September 13!!!!
Samantha Smart: I am running for Library Board in Minneapolis because I find it intolerable that our Libraries have been devastated by cuts of 35% in hours and 27% of staff, as well as programs and acquisitions! Our Libraries are actually the most important social institution available to all people as a free and welcoming source of the information we need to improve and transform our lives and that of our communities and the world at large. As a library lover, user and activist, I will do what it takes to insure that our libraries are open full time, with excellent programming, rich and diverse collections, valued patrons and well-aid, healthy and engaged staff. My Library Board program includes: 1) Open Libraries Seven Days A Week! How? Adopt the St. Paul Funding mechanism of 90+% City Dedicated Tax Funding to operate the library system at full capacity and with excellent collections and programming. This will involve a serious shift in our Minneapolis City funding allocations, along with a City/State shift of the way in which large businesses and corporations are taxed - for example - an equal percentage tax of a multi-billion dollar business property and an individual homeowner's property is actually regressive and unfair - a business can AFFORD to pay more than an individual, particularly when the individual is low-to-moderate income. Our City/State tax system favors the wealthy, therefore, we are not receiving the kind of property tax income to adequately operate our public services - this needs to be CHANGED! Assess a Building Impact Fee in Minneapolis on new construction and signficant renovations - a model used in other cities around the country - which can bring in increased revenue for collections and acquisitions of materials. Increase the level of our fundraising through local, State and national grants, particularly for programs that address OUTREACH to new users - youth, new immigrants and poor folk. ORGANIZE a dedicated group of Library Lovers and Users to advocate and lobby for increased and fair library funding to all levels of the decision-making process - again - St. Paul has done this for 13 years to great success! 2) Forge Dynamic and Creative Partnerships with Community Groups! Why? There are hundreds of fabulous community activists and groups in our City - when the Library embraces and engages with communities, we will forge partnerships that will optimally utilize our libraries for exciting programming that will bring in new users! For example - partner with SASE: The Write Place, the Minnesota Spoken Word Association and the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent to run a spoken word series for youth in library meeting rooms! Library meeting rooms are a fabulous and low-cost option for community groups to meet and run programs - but not if libraries are closed! 3) Adopt the American Library Association's Policy #61 on Poor People's Services This wonderful 15-point platform was adopted in 1990 and addresses the formidable barriers to unfettered access to libraries that poor and homeless people encounter daily - and how we can address and remove these barriers! We have the expertise right here in Minneapolis to fully implement this Policy 4) Resist the Patriot Act! The federal government has no business in our library files and our Board can do much more to actively resist this terrible Act and educate patrons on why this invasion of our privacy is so repugnant. Please vote for Samantha Smart for Minneapolis Library Board on September 13! Smart Libraries are OPEN Libraries! forward ever, Samantha Smart [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Smart libraries are OPEN libraries! Candidate for Minneapolis Public Library Board [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
