FW: Park Ave. as historic district
Earlier this week a question was posed about certain streets in Minneapolis being designated as "grand boulevards". JoEllen Haugo, Librarian in the Special Collections Department of the Minneapolis Public Library, provided this information: ... I believe what the person is referring to is called the Grand Round. The Grand Round included boulevards and parkways and was intended for "pleasure driveways," according to Warren Upham in his book Minnesota Geographic Names. On page 607 he lists the boulevards and parkways that connected the parks and river for the drive around Minneapolis. Some of the streets include River Road East, River Road West, Minnehaha, Lake Harriet, King's Highway, Lyndale, Linden Hills, William Berry, Lake Calhoun, Dean, Cedar Lake, Memorial Drive, St. Anthony, and Stinson. Hennepin Avenue was definitely part of the Grand Round. It was H.S. Cleveland who initiated the concept of the Grand Round back in 1883. Kenwood parkway and other streets were intended as a series of "driveways to connect the circuit at the Lake of the Isles. Portland and Park are not specifically identified with any of the park system driveways in Warren Upham's book. Jan Feye-Stukas, Associate Director Minneapolis Public Library
Library issues
We are pleased to see continuing discussion on this List about the Minneapolis Public Library. Since the voters strongly approved the referendum (67% voted in favor), the discussion now takes a different direction. We now know that the new Central Library will be built and the improvements to Community Libraries will be completed. We continue to welcome ideas from the public regarding the proposed library projects. If you are interested in being on an e-mail or regular mail list to receive notices and information as the plans develop, please call 612-630-6263 or send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Meanwhile, I am responding to Sheldon Mains' questions about the planned new Central Library point by point (Mr. Mains' statements are indicated by ). As you may be aware, there will not be a firm plan for about two years. First an architect must be selected (early next year), then architectural work will take 18-24 months. Meanwhile, we have a pre-site building program, approved by the Library Board, which describes what the new Library should include and addresses many of the issues raised by Mr. Mains. Why does building a new, presumeably more efficient, building, with presumably state of the art technology, result in a higher operating costs - Reply: The new Central is not expected to result in higher operating cost; it is expected to be the same or less. Some possiblitities: Self service check-out--like Hennepin County libraries have Reply: The Minneapolis Central Library currently has two self-service checkout stations; there will be more in the new building because it will be designed for this feature (but staff-assisted checkout will always be available). Computerized card catalogs that are easy to use, with easy to use help menus Reply: The Minneapolis Public Library's online catalog is considered by most people to be very user friendly; it is constantly being enhanced based on users' suggestions and through regular software upgrades. More books available to the public, less need for librarians to go to the stacks - Reply: The new library will have almost 60% of the collection on open shelves available to the public, as opposed to only 15% now. This will, indeed, save staff time, but more importantly, it will greatly improve access for library users. Some non-tech things; Shelving books in an easy to find order -- Reply: All books are now filed either alphabetically (for fiction) or numerically (for nonfiction), according to the Library of Congress classification system, widely used in most urban libraries throughout the country. This will still be true in a new library building. Signs and maps that actually help people find what they need. Reply: We have these currently. However, the physical configuration of the current library building makes it difficult for people to find what they need. When the new library is built, it will incorporate helpful signs and maps, but more importantly, it will be designed for ease of use. A building designed to be energy efficient (save operating costs) Reply: Yes. A new building will clearly be more energy efficient than the present library, designed in the 1950s. A building designed to be easy to clean and maintain. Reply: The above statement holds true here as well. And if you want really high tech; Using e-publishing, on-site printing on demand, and e-books. Reply: The Library does currently provide e-books and print-outs of online resources. The new building will be designed to adapt to emerging technologies. Now, a new library can also provide some interesting earned income options: Coffee shop rental - Reply: The plan for a two-block, mixed-use development calls for retail amenities and a coffee shop to be included on the block adjacent to the library, connected to parking and to the library by skyway. Renting a good, centrally located computer lab for training Reply: A computer lab for the public is in the current plan. Provide video conferencing for local small businesses. Reply: The current plan provides for state-of-the-art meeting room facilities to be made available to any group, not just small businesses. Again, these will be designed to adapt to new and emerging technologies. More fee for service research services (e.g. pay for faster service) Reply: We currently offer fee-based research and document delivery services through INFORM, a nonprofit, cost-recovery service of the Minneapolis Public Library. This service will be continued in the new building as long as it remains needed and cost-effective. Some of these ideas are far out and some will probably not work. The point though is that the current staff and board have not been at all creative in thinking about new and improved libraries. Reply: I beg to differ. This proposal is based on years of study and
Library Referenda
A special personal big thank you to list members and especially to list manager David Brauer for the attention and discussion you gave to the library referendum. It enabled us to answer questions that we otherwise might not have known were out there. The new facilities -plural - Central Library and community library improvements - will be awesome.We look forward to many more discussions with you as we move ahead. Jan Feye-Stukas, Associate Director Minneapolis Public Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55408 PH: 612-630-6208 FAX: 612-630-6210 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FW: Minneapolis Passes Library Referendum
This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --_=_NextPart_000_01C0499B.F4557A58 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable FYI... the official press release..=20 Jan Feye-Stukas Minneapolis Public Library For immediate release - 11/08/00 =20 Contact: Kristi Gibson, Public Affairs Minneapolis Public Library 612-630-6260 =20 Minneapolis will get new Central Library, better neighborhood = branches Library Board thanks Minneapolis voters for supporting Minneapolis = Public Library Referendum=20 =20 =20 (Minneapolis; November 8, 2000) - Libraries are for everyone. That = message came through loud and clear when Minneapolis residents voted overwhelmingly to approve the Minneapolis Public Library Referendum, = which appeared on the general election ballot, Tuesday, November 7, 2000. =20 The $140 million Referendum, passed with a vote of 67% in favor, will provide funds for a new Central Library and significant improvements = to neighborhood libraries throughout the city.=20 =20 "We are so grateful to Minneapolis voters for their strong expression = of support, and to everyone who helped advocate for the Library = Referendum," said Laurie Savran, Minneapolis Public Library Board President. "All people-from local citizens to greater Minnesota residents and = beyond-will benefit from the Referendum once Minneapolis has 21st century = libraries to meet information-age needs. We thank everyone who saw the importance = of providing a top-notch facility for the state's largest public library collection and the best possible library service in our = neighborhoods. This is a significant investment in Minneapolis' cultural, = educational, and economic infrastructure."=20 =20 The Referendum provides $110 million for a new, five-story Central = Library to be built on its present downtown site at 300 Nicollet Mall, and = $30 million to complete improvements to all 14 community libraries in the city. The Referendum will increase property taxes on commercial or residential property by approximately $5.00 per $100,000 of market = value in the first year. By the fifth year, it reaches approximately $57.00 annually, and remains at that amount through the thirtieth year. That averages to about 15=A2 a day over 30 years. =20 Now that funding has been approved, the next steps are to select a world-class architect for the new Central Library and to locate an = interim site to afford full library service in a temporary downtown location throughout the construction period. Construction is expected to begin = in 2003 and culminate with a grand opening in late 2005 or early 2006.=20 =20 Planning will also proceed on a new Minnesota Planetarium to replace = the existing Planetarium located within the current Central Library. The = new, high-tech space theater/science center will be a significant regional attraction, comparable with the new Planetariums recently opened in = New York and Chicago. In recognition of its statewide significance, the Minnesota Legislature last session allocated $1 million toward = planning for the new Planetarium. Funding for the Planetarium was not included = in the Referendum, but will be sought through private contributions = and/or additional state bonding. =20 The $30 million portion of the Referendum for community library improvements will accomplish the goal of completing all neighborhood branch projects within 10 years. A timeline will be developed and = specific plans will be refined, addressing each building's need for remodeling = or expansion, handicapped accessibility, technology upgrades, historic preservation, or replacement.=20 =20 Ongoing public comment and participation will be an important part of = the entire process. For more information, or to be added to a mailing = list that will provide regular updates, please call (612) 630-6263 or see = "MPL Future" on the library website, www.mpls.lib.mn.us. Questions can be = sent to "Ask Us" on the website or e-mailed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] =20 ### Statistics: Number of Minneapolis citizens voting on the Library Referendum: = 159,889 Number of YES votes: 107,076 (66.97%) Number of NO votes: 52,813 (33.03%) Required to pass: Simple majority =20 Actual vote exceeds estimate from survey In a survey prepared for The Friends of the Minneapolis Public = Library,* 62% of Minneapolis residents said that they supported building a new Central Library (support had increased from 56% in 1997) and 88% of = city residents supported improving community libraries. In the same = survey, 65% of Minneapolis residents said that they would accept a property tax = hike to build a new Central Library and to improve community libraries.=20 =20 *Minneapolis Resident Survey on Proposed Capital and Service = Improvements for the Minneapolis Public
Library Referendum
We would like to respond to the two questions raised in Rosalind Nelson's posting on behalf of an anonymous Minneapolis Public Library staff member. 1. Interim operations The plans for an interim Central Library have not yet been finalized, but we fully intend to make the collection highly accessible in a convenient downtown location. One site that may be a possible interim location is large enough to provide open shelves for all the materials currently on the open shelves, plus additional books that are currently in closed stacks (all fiction, and all nonfiction from 1968 on). We are investigating options for off-site storage for the remainder of the collection; our goal is to make as much of that material as possible accessible on request, perhaps with a 24- or 48-hour turnaround. While moving offsite to a temporary location will present some challenges, we do plan to maintain access to all of the services and collections we currently provide. 2. Site selection Colin Hamilton addressed this issue very well in his post earlier today. To reiterate, the Central Library Implementation Committee (made up of citizens, Council members, Library Board members, and the Mayor) spent many months reviewing 21 sites in downtown Minneapolis and testing them against the site criteria for a new Library. The Nicollet Hotel block did not meet the criteria because it was too small. Building on that site would require the Library to be spread over more floors, reducing ease of use and staff efficiency. So, the new Library will be rebuilt on the current site, and the Nicollet Hotel site will be part of a mixed-use development, with parking, retail, public space, and parking, all connected by skyway to the Library. Jan Feye-Stukas, Associate Director Minneapolis Public Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55408 PH: 612-630-6208 FAX: 612-630-6210
FW: Tax Effect of Library Referendum
The figures that I provided in my 10/24 post reflected the percentage breakdown of the total property tax REVENUE received by the city. Stated another way, for every $1.00 the city receives in property taxes alone (not including other revenue it receives from other sources, such as state, federal, fees, etc.), the city gets $.545 from commercial industrial; $.273 from single family, homesteaded, $.12 from non-homesteaded apartments, etc. etc. See details below: Based on 2000 Property Tax dollars, the proportion is as follows: Commercial other property = 54.5% Single family, homesteaded = 27.3% Apartments (non-homesteaded) = 12% Multi-unit, homesteaded (e.g. duplex or fourplex, owner occupied) =2.2% Multi-unit, non-homesteaded = 2.2% Single family, non-homesteaded = 1.8% So the answer to Mr. Miller, is no, those figures cannot be extrapolated to show the percentage that each type of property represents of the total assessed value in the city. It is my understanding that each type of property is taxed at different rates. Someone from the city finance department may be able to give the percent of total assessed value that each type of property represents. Jan Feye-Stukas, Associate Director Minneapolis Public Library From: craig miller [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 12:13 PM . Does anyone know if the figures provided can be extrapolated in the following manner? 12 % of all taxable property value in the city is rental?
