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East Lake Closing letter
Jul. 23rd, 2004 03:11 pmI wrote the Minneapolis Library Board today. Here's the letter:
Minneapolis Public Library
250 Marquette, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Minneapolis Library Board and Administration,
I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms the closing of East Lake Library for any reason. Your website indicates you plan to close it for "renovation". East Lake is fine as it is, except it needs to have the parking area re-paved. That would only take a few days.
From my reading of the information, it sounds like one of the major reasons is to "update the appearance". At this time when hours have been cut, staff laid off, and material purchases limited, I think this is a very bad idea. Yes, this branch has an odd 1970's design. It doesn't match the surroundings. But closing a much-needed and well-used library to make it "look better" is a dreadful idea.
The Central Library is still closed, and many books are not available. Two other branches are also closed; this is not the time to close any more branches for cosmetic reasons. Service to the community has already been disrupted enough.
I am especially suspicious of this process. You state there will be meetings for community input, but you also say the architect has already been chosen. To my mind, this means the decisions have already made. The community input will be for details, not fundamentals. I resent this, and I think many of my neighbors will also. Give us back our libraries!
*********************
It really does seem like most of what they want to do is make it "look nice". They do need more computers, which might require rewiring, but there is no reason it would need to take 18 months or more, which is what they are talking about. The Central Library and 2 branches are already closed. I wonder if this is actually a cost cutting measure in disguise. The Board has referendum money to remodel, but very little in the regular operating budget.
Minneapolis Public Library
250 Marquette, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Minneapolis Library Board and Administration,
I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms the closing of East Lake Library for any reason. Your website indicates you plan to close it for "renovation". East Lake is fine as it is, except it needs to have the parking area re-paved. That would only take a few days.
From my reading of the information, it sounds like one of the major reasons is to "update the appearance". At this time when hours have been cut, staff laid off, and material purchases limited, I think this is a very bad idea. Yes, this branch has an odd 1970's design. It doesn't match the surroundings. But closing a much-needed and well-used library to make it "look better" is a dreadful idea.
The Central Library is still closed, and many books are not available. Two other branches are also closed; this is not the time to close any more branches for cosmetic reasons. Service to the community has already been disrupted enough.
I am especially suspicious of this process. You state there will be meetings for community input, but you also say the architect has already been chosen. To my mind, this means the decisions have already made. The community input will be for details, not fundamentals. I resent this, and I think many of my neighbors will also. Give us back our libraries!
*********************
It really does seem like most of what they want to do is make it "look nice". They do need more computers, which might require rewiring, but there is no reason it would need to take 18 months or more, which is what they are talking about. The Central Library and 2 branches are already closed. I wonder if this is actually a cost cutting measure in disguise. The Board has referendum money to remodel, but very little in the regular operating budget.
