East Lake Library Closing
Oct. 6th, 2004 09:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magentaThis is something local to Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Library Board is planning to close the East Lake Library for 18 months starting in Spring 2005, for what they are calling renovations. The library has scheduled a community meeting about this for next Tuesday, October 12. from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the East Lake Library. There is more information at this website: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/el_renovation.asp
My opinion is that all East Lake really needs is to have the the parking lot and driveway re-surfaced. It may need other work I don't know about, but it certainly does NOT need to be closed for 18 months. It will be a great hardship for the neighborhood, especially people who do not have cars. They do not mention an interim site, only the Bookmobile (which has a very limited selection of books) and increasing hours at nearby libraries, which doesn't help if you normally walk, bike or bus to the library.
I believe that the real reason for closing for 18 months is financial. They tried to close libraries last year, and there was a tremendous outcry. They have money from the referendum of 2000 to do renovations at all branches. So they close a branch, ostensibly for renovation, and keep it closed far longer than necessary, thus saving money on staff and other operating expenses. In my opinion, the Library Board is deceiving the public.
I plan to attend the meeting next week and protest the planned closing, as will a couple of other people I've talked to. I hope that as many people as possible will join us.
Please tell everyone you think might want to know.
The Minneapolis Library Board is planning to close the East Lake Library for 18 months starting in Spring 2005, for what they are calling renovations. The library has scheduled a community meeting about this for next Tuesday, October 12. from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the East Lake Library. There is more information at this website: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/el_renovation.asp
My opinion is that all East Lake really needs is to have the the parking lot and driveway re-surfaced. It may need other work I don't know about, but it certainly does NOT need to be closed for 18 months. It will be a great hardship for the neighborhood, especially people who do not have cars. They do not mention an interim site, only the Bookmobile (which has a very limited selection of books) and increasing hours at nearby libraries, which doesn't help if you normally walk, bike or bus to the library.
I believe that the real reason for closing for 18 months is financial. They tried to close libraries last year, and there was a tremendous outcry. They have money from the referendum of 2000 to do renovations at all branches. So they close a branch, ostensibly for renovation, and keep it closed far longer than necessary, thus saving money on staff and other operating expenses. In my opinion, the Library Board is deceiving the public.
I plan to attend the meeting next week and protest the planned closing, as will a couple of other people I've talked to. I hope that as many people as possible will join us.
Please tell everyone you think might want to know.
