CHARLOTTE:  GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE NEWS.  MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE FALLON.  THERE ARE FEW OF US THAT WOULD DENY THE NEED OR THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES.  PUBLIC LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN CALLED DEMOCRACY’S ARMS BECAUSE THEY GIVE EVERYONE REGTARDLESS OF THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND SOME SAY OF COURSE THAT INFORMATION IS POWER.  IN OUR STATE THE LIBRARY IS OFTEN THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS BEING A DISPENSER OF BOOKS AND JOURNALS AND MOVIES AND MUSIC OF VARIOUS SORTS.  IN IOWA THE BUILDING OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES BEGAN IN EARNEST WHEN MONEY BECAME AVAILABLE FROM THE ANDREW CARNEGIE FOUNDATION AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20^TH CENTURY.  BOTH CEDAR RAPIDS AND IOWA CITY HAVE CARNEGIE LIBRARIES AS WELL AS A LOT OF COMMUNITIES IN IOWA.  THE CEDAR RAPIDS CARNEGIE LIBRARY WAS BUILT IN 1901 AND IT’S NOW THE MUSEUM OF ART.  EVEN MEREDITH WILSON MADE MARION THE LIBRARIAN AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY CENTRAL CHARACTERS AS HE DEPICTED MASON CITY OR RIVER CITY IN THE MUSIC MAN.  NONE THE LESS WHEN ECONOMIC TIMES ARE LESS THAN EXHUBERANT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT KEEPING LIBRARIES OPEN AND THRIVING.  WITH ME TO DISCUSS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE LIBRARY ARE CURRAN ROSSER A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND PAST PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE LIBRARY BOARD AND THE CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOL BOARD, CHUCK WIENEKE A MEMBER OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL AND TIM HILL THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD CHAIR.  WELCOME TO YOU ALL AND THANK YOU.  WE’LL BEGIN BY ASKING TIM TO DISCRIBE WHAT IS THE MISSION OF CEDAR RAPIDS LIBRARY.

 

TIM:  THANKS.  THE MISSION OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS LIBRARY YOU REALLY SUMMED IT UP IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS IN ESSENCE IT IS TO PROVIDE AS COMPLETE INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO A FULL SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY IN A FREE MANNER.  IN OTHER WORDS TO GUARANTEE AS EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION WHETHER THAT BE BOOKS, MOVIES, PROGRAMS AND OTHER MATERIAL AND PROVIDE IT AS ECONOMICAL OR REALLY AS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.

 

CHARLOTTE:  SURE, CURRAN, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?  I KNOW YOU HAVE LONG EXPERIENCE WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

 

CURRAN:  WELL I CAN ONLY CONCUR WITH TIM THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY BUT I THINK LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO DEMOCRACY.  IT’S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM IN ANY OTHER WAY TO BE EDUCATED AND TO BE EDUCATED AS THEY GROW OLDER, TO BE EDUCATED WHEN THEY’RE YOUNG, CHILDREN, YOU KNOW THEY OFFER PROGRAMS FOR DISCUSSION ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS SOME OF WHICH MIGHT BE POLITICAL BUT I THINK IT’S JUST ESSENTIAL TO OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO HAVE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

 

CHARLOTTE:  AND I WOULD EXPECT NOW COMPUTERS ARE A BIG PART OF THE LIBRARIES BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE SO MUCH INFORMATION IS STORED.  WHO FUNDS THE CEDAR RAPIDS LIBRARY?

 

THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION AND IT COMES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, THE STATE PROVIDES FUNDING, LIBRARY FEES, LATE FEES AND THING LIKE THAT. 

 

CHARLOTTE:  MY FEES HAVE PROBABLY FUNDED A WHOLE WING.

 

THE USE OF BEEMS AUDITORIUM PROVIDES SOME FEES.  GRANTS PROVIDE SOME FEES BUT THE BULK OF THE LIBRARY IS SUPPORTED REALLY OVER 90% OF THE LIBRARYS REVENUE COMES FROM THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS.  THE COUNTY ALSO PROVIDES SOME FUNDING AND THAT’S BEEN AN ISSUE TOO BUT REALLY ABOUT ROUGHLY 90% OF THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE FOR OUR OPERATIONS COMES FROM THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS THROUGH SO, US, CEDAR RAPIDS CITIZENS.

 

CHARLOTTE:  SURE, TAXPAYERS.  SO I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR CULVER IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT THAT HE IS PROPOSING TO BE ALLOCATED TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE BUT CHUCK, TELL US THE SITUATION IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

 

CHUCK:  WELL IT’S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE DEAL WITH AND YOU BRING UP A VERY GOOD POINT THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE FUNDS, ALL CITIES, NOT JUST CEDAR RAPIDS WE ARE FACING CERTAIN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IF YOU WILL, THERE IS NO ONE I BELIEVE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, DEFINITELY NOT ON THE COUNCIL THAT DOES NOT WANT OUR LIBRARIES TO CONTINUE TO EXIST AT THE LEVEL THEY ARE NOW AND EVEN EXPAND FOR EXAMPLE BECAUSE THE CITY IS GOING TO BE GROWING.  WHILE WE DESIRE THAT, SOMETIMES THE FINANCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.  THE LIBRARY, THE FUNDING WE GET MUCH LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT EVEN REDUCING AMOUNT THAT WILL GO TO CITIES TO HELP FUND LIBRARIES, THE CITIES, WE CAN ONLY GIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT BECAUSE WE HAVE MONETARY DIFFICULTIES ALL OVER.  THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, THE LIBRARY TOOK A PRETTY GOOD SIZED HIT LAST YEAR, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE WANTED TO DO BUT IT WAS JUST AVAILABLE MONEY.  THE COST OF RUNNING THE CITY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO GO UP SO WHILE THE COST IS GOING UP, THE REVENUES COMING IN NOT JUST THE GOVERNORS JUST DECREASING ROAD USE TAXES THAT COSTS MORE TO MAINTAIN OUR STREETS SO THERE’S ONLY A VERY LIMITED POT OF MONEY.  THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN EARLIER THIS YEAR OVER THE BUDGET AND A FURTHER CUT TO THE LIBRARY BUT WHAT I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY, THE LIBRARY DID NOT GET CUT THIS YEAR.  WE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO GIVE ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED OF COURSE, THE LIBRARY COULD USE MORE MONEY THAN THEY’LL BE ABLE TO GET FROM THE CITY BUT THE LIBRARY HAD INCREASED COSTS FOR PERSONELL, HEALTH BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THIS YEAR AND THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET, THE DRAFT BUDGET RIGHT NOW THE LIBRARIE’S GOING TO GET JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER $200,000 MORE THAN IT HAD LAST YEAR BECAUSE ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THEIR INCREASED COSTS FOR THEIR PERSONELL, HEALTH BENEFITS AND I THINK THE SECURITY, THERE ARE SOME SECURITY AND SOME OTHER MONIES.  THERE STILL ARE ISSUES THAT WE STILL HAVEN’T PUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BED YET BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE

 

CHARLOTTE:  IS THAT A SEPARATE LINE?

 

CHUCK:  YES IT IS.  THERE’S DIFFERENT FUNDING MONIES LEFT BUT INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE A COUPLE OF THE STUDIES THAT THEY’RE DOING, ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES, FEASIBLITY STUDIES, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT I BELIEVE WE’LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT BUT THE CIP OF COURSE, THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT CAN BE BONDED, IT’S NOT COMING OUT OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND OUR GENERAL OPERATING FUND IF YOU WILL.  SO I’M VERY HAPPY TO SAY AND I THINK TIM, YOU KNEW ABOUT IT, THEY’RE NOT TAKING A CUT, I’M NOT, THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE GOTTEN SOME MONEY TO GET BACK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE CUT.  I DON’T SEE THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, IT’S NOT OUT BECAUSE WE’RE STILL IN A DRAFT BUDGET AND WE DO WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.

 

CHARLOTTE:  IS, AND I’LL ASK CURRAN THIS BECAUSE OF YOUR LONG EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIBRARY, IS THE LIBRARY DO YOU OFTEN SEE IT WHEN THE BUDGET SORT OF AN EASY TARGET BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS THERE BUT IF IT GETS A LITTLE LESS MONEY? 

 

IN MY OPINION IT’S EQUALLY IMPORTANT IT’S SORT OF A SILENT UNHERALDED PART OF THE CITY BUDGET AND I JUST THINK AS LONG AS WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL OR EVEN IF THEY HAVEN’T FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL OR LOOKING FOR JOBS  OF GETTING ANY KIND OF INFORMATION, IT’S SUCH AN ESSENTIAL PART OF IT AND REALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT IT.

 

CHARLOTTE:  YOU  KNOW WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE EARLIER YOU HAD SUGGESTED THAT YOU DIDN’T THINK THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE HAVE A CORPORATE KIND OF SPONSORS AND AGAIN, NONE OF US WANT THE BURGER KING CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY.  BUT IS THERE NOT A PLACE FOR CORPORATE MONEY DO YOU THINK?

 

CURRAN:  WELL, RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY, THE CEDAR RAPIDS LIBRARY FOUNDATION YOU KNOW ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE LIBRARY BUT I GUESS WHAT I WAS SAYING TO YOU THAT I FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF ANY INFLUENCE OF A CORPORATION OR OF THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY BECAUSE IT’S AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION, THE CITY COUNCILS POSITION IS TO PROVIDE THE  FUNDS AND THE LIBRARY BOARD IS TO MAKE THE DECISION WHAT TO DO WITH THE FUNDS.

 

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT BY THE WAY.  IT IS THE CITIES  JOB TO PROVIDE AS MUCH FUNDING AS IS POSSIBLE BUT IT’S NOT THE CITY COUNCIL, THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO THE LIBRARY BOARD IT IS THE LIBRARY BOARD THAT DECIDES HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.  YOU KNOW IT’S NOT LIKE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE LIBRARY BOARD MAKES THE DECISIONS ON HOW THE DOLLARS THEY RECEIVE ARE SPENT.

 

CHARLOTTE:  SO I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST TO TIM NOW IF ROCKWELL OR ALLIANT OR SOMEBODY CAME AT YOU WITH A BIG CHUNK OF DOUGH,

 

TIM:  YEAH, IT’S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION.  THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WHEN YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION WAS WELL WHAT KIND OF STIPULATIONS GO ON THAT KIND OF MONEY?

 

CHARLOTTE:  NAMING RIGHTS ARE VERY BIG NOW.

 

TIM:  YEAH.  IT’S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE’D BE FOOLISH NOT TO CONSIDER.  I THINK THIS BOARD AND THIS LIBRARY IS WILLING TO CONSIDER ANYTHING TO MAKE IT A TOP RANKED LIBRARY WHICH I THINK IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE A TOP FLIGHT COMMUNITY SO WE’RE WILLING TO CONSIDER ANYTHING.  ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT COMES WITH THAT IS, AND JUST TO PICK UP ON WHAT CURRAN WAS SAYING, THE INSTITUTION IS REALLY OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO OUR SOCIETY, TO, I REALLY THINK IF PEOPLE STEPPED BACK AND LOOKED AT THE IMPORTANCE THAT LIBRARIES PROVIDE IT’S REALLY THE LAST PUBLIC STOP OF FREE ACCESS INFORMATION, UNFRETTERED ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  TO GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, IF BURGER KING WERE TO COME TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS LIBRARY AND SAID LOOK, WE’VE GOT, WE’LL SUPPORT YOUR BUDGET FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS, YOU’VE GOT TO PUT FILTERS ON ALL OF YOUR COMPUTERS.  THAT KIND OF A STIPULATION, WHAT, THAT MAY LOOK VERY ATTRACTIVE TO SOME PEOPLE BUT TO I THINK TO A LOT OF OTHERS WHO WOULD THINK NOW YOU’RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE AREA OF TAKING AWAY UNFRETTERED ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT’S WHAT KIND OF PRICE ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE UP THAT UNFRETTERED ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  I THINK WE CERTAINLY WOULD, WE’RE OPEN TO ALL SORTS OF FUNDING REVENUE STREAMS BUT SORT OF THE CORE PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN US THE PUBLIC PROVIDING THIS LAST PUBLIC BACKSTOP TO OR PUBLIC ACCESS TO UNFRETTERED INFORMATION AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START HAVING NON GOVERNMENTAL DOLLARS COME IN WITH CERTAIN STIPULATIONS, YOU KNOW IT’S A CONCERN.

 

CHARLOTTE:  THEY RARELY COME WITHOUT STRINGS BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY

 

CURRAN:  I COULD GIVE A LITTLE HISTORICAL STORY IF YOU DON’T MIND.

 

CHARLOTTE:  NOT AT ALL.

 

CURRAN:  YOU KNOW WE HAVE  THE BEEMS AUDITORIUM AT THE LIBRARY WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER MR BEEMS WHO OWNED THE METROPOLITAN PAPER COMPANY.  THIS OCCURED WHEN WE WERE OPENING THE NEW LIBRARY AND WE HAD TURNED OUT WE HAD A SHORTAGE OF FUNDS, I’M SURE TIM KNOWS THIS STORY. 

 

TIM:  I DON’T.  NO.

 

CURRAN:  OH, YOU DON’T.  AND SO THERE WAS A WOMAN NAMED EDNA BEEMS WHO IS THE WIFE OF THE MAN WHO OWNED THE METROPOLITAN PAPER COMPANY WHO HAD WORKED FOR THE LIBRARY AND WE WERE SORT OF SEARCHING FOR SOME MORE MONEY TO FINISH PUT UP THE CURTAINS AND DO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE NEEDED MONEY FOR AND SO WE CALLED ON HER AND SHE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCHY MONEY WE NEEDED AND SO WE GAVE HER AN AMOUNT BUT YOU KNOW WE DON’T EXPECT IT ALL FROM YOU.  SHE SAID JUST A MINUTE.  SHE LIVED IN A SIMPLE LITTLE HOUSE ON BUCHANAN STREET OFF MT VERNON RD AND SO SHE CALLED HER ATTORNEY AND SHE SAID WELL YES, I’LL GIVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SO SHE GAVE IT.  WELL SHE’D ALREADY GIVEN A VERY NICE CONTRIBUTION AND SHE INSISTED THAT HER ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION BE ANONYMOUS BUT WHEN SHE DID THIS VERY GENEROUS THING WE PERSUADED HER TO ALLOW US TO NAME THE AUDITORIUM AFTER HER HUSBAND.

 

CHARLOTTE:  SO IT WASN’T EVEN HER IDEA?

 

CURRAN:  OF SHE DIDN’T HAVE, I’LL JUST GIVE IT TO YOU AND SHE WAS JUST SO GENEROUS AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A HEART WARMING STORY.  I ALWAYS LOVED IT.

 

CHARLOTTE:  CHUCK WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CORPORATE MONEY SITUATION?

 

CHUCK:  WELL, I WOULD SHARE TIMS CONCERN.  IT WOULD DEPEND TOTALLY ON WHAT TYPE OF STRINGS WOULD COME WITH IT.  IT IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WE SEE A LOT OF FOOTBALL FIELDS RENAMED AND EVERYTHING BUT I THINK EVEN WHEN YOU GO IN SPORTS AND DO THAT IT LOSES SOME OF THE MAGIC OR THE LUSTER OF WHEN IT WAS THE OLD THING.  WE DO HAVE TO IN A LOT OF AREAS BESIDES THE LIBRARY, THE CITIES NEED TO DO IT, SEEK OTHER TYPE OF REVENUE STREAMS OR CHECK INTO THE POSSIBLITY OF WHAT ELSE WE COULD GET AND I PERSONALLY I’M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, I SPEAK ONLY FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW, I’M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE COUNCIL, I THE TIMES ARE TOUGH AND IT’S GOING TO BE 2 OR 3 YEARS AT LEAST BEFORE IT GETS BETTER AND PERSONALLY I BELIEVE WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I BELIEVE THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE, THE LIBRARY IS AUTHORIZED TO LEVY OF 27 CENTS PER THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUATION.  OUR LIBRARY HAS CURRENTLY 4 CENTS OF THAT.  IF YOU ARE TO BELIEVE AND I DO BELIEVE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAY WE NEED TO KEEP THE LIBRARY YOU KNOW WHAT ARE YOU TALKING, YOU’RE CUTTING, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT, I FEEL THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THEY NEED HOW FAST THEY NEED IT AND THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL AND TO CONSIDER RAISING THE LEVY AND I ALONE BELIEVE THAT THAT’S THE ANSWER AND I WOULD SUPPORT IT.  I ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

 

CHARLOTTE:  OK BUT I GUESS WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, DOES THAT MEAN THAT TAXES WOULD GO UP?

 

CHUCK:  THAT IS CORRECT.  AND IT WOULD DEPEND LIKE I SAY RIGHT NOW THE LEVY FOR THE LIBRARY IS 4 CENTS AND IT WAS BASICALLY BECAUSE OF BOOKS.  THE LIBRARIES IN THE STATE ARE AUTHORIZED AND THE CITIES UP TO A 27 CENT PER THOUSAND DOLLAR LEVY AND SO NOW WOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT GOING FROM 4 TO 27 OR 4 TO 12 CENTS, I DON’T KNOW THAT BUT I BELIEVE THE CITY DESERVES A LIBRARY BUT BEING REALISTIC WITH THE MONEY PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY, THE CHALLENGES THAT THE CITY FACES, IT’S GOING TO BE A CONSTANT BATTLE EVERY YEAR.  IF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WANT A GOOD LIBRARY SYSTEM, I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO ATTAIN THAT GOAL IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE IS TO RAISE THE LEVY ISSUE AND OF COURSE THE THOUGHT OF WHAT WAS NEEDED AND EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD AND COME FORWARD WITH THE IDEA SO THAT CITY CHAMBERS, OTHER PEOPLE COULD SUPPORT.

 

CURRAN:  BUT EACH TIME THAT THEY’VE HAD A LEVY ELECTION, I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN MAYBE JUST 2, I’M NOT SURE BUT IT’S BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN AND I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE, I THINK IT’S CERTAINLY THE WAY TO GO. 

 

CHUCK:  I SPEAK FOR MYSELF, I’M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. 

 

CHARLOTTE:  SO TIM WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY AT THE MOMENT?

 

TIM:  BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I TOTALLY AGREE.  PART OF OUR PROBLEM WITH OUR CITIES OPERATIONS IS THAT WE’VE GOT RISING PERSONNEL COSTS AND FLAT TAX REVENUE COMING IN BECAUSE THERE’S AN $8.10 PER THOUSAND DOLLAR VALUATION CAP ON WHAT THE CITY CAN TAX AND SO IT’S GOT RISING PERSONNEL COSTS AND YOU KNOW RELATIVELY FLAT REVENUE BECAUSE  IT’S ALREADY AT THAT CAP LEVEL.  IT’S BY STATE STATUTE CAN’T GO ABOVE IT.  ONE OF THE WAYS TO LOOK AT A TAX LEVY AND INCREASE OF TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE LIBRARY IS IN ESSENSE TO VIEW IT SORT OF AS A SPECIAL TAX THAT IS ONLY GOING TO GO TO THE LIBRARY BUT ULTIMATELY BENEFITS THE WHOLE CITY OPERATION.  THAT’S ONE THING AND CHUCK IS EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT’S ONE THING THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD REALLY HAS TO STUDY.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY WITH RESPECT WITH, WE’RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT SORT OF BIG LIBRARY PROJECTS AND THEN TO GET TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, SORT OF BIG LIBRARY PROJECTS IS HOW CAN WE IN THE CITY WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT THIS OPERATIONS PROBLEM AND THE TAX LEVY IS REALLY ONE THAT WE’RE STUDYING AND THE LIBRARY BOARD YOU KNOW SHOULD BE SORT OF AT THE FOREFRONT.  WE’RE GOING TO NEED LOTS OF HELP INCLUDING FROM CHUCK AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PATRONS TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT AND GET IT BEFORE THE VOTERS BUT THAT’S ONE THING WE’RE LOOKING AT.  THAT’S A NEED THAT WE’VE GOT TO ACCESS AND FIGURE OUT RIGHT NOW.

 

WHEN COULD YOU HAVE THIS ELECTION?

 

TIM:  THE SOONEST WE CAN DO IT BY STATE STATUTE IS IN NOVEMBER 2009 ELECTION.

 

YEAH I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE DISTANCE.

 

TIM:  AND IT’S GOT TO BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS.

 

CHARLOTTE:  A SIMPLE MAJORITY?

 

I THINK SO.

 

CHARLOTTE:  RATHER THAN THE 60% WE NEEDED WHEN WE BUILT THE LIBRARY.

 

TIM:  NOW ANOTHER BIG NEED THAT WE HAVE IS FACILITY NEEDS.  WE’VE GOT A CLOSE TO 25 YEAR OLD DOWNTOWN FACILITY.  WE’VE GOT A GROWING WEST SIDE POPULATION.  WE’VE GOT PROJECTIONS THAT SHOW WE’RE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE LIBRARY SQUARE FOOTAGE THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND WE’VE GOT A RISING USE OF THE LIBRARY ON THE WEST SIDE IN OUR WEST BRANCH.  SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT IS REFURBISHING THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY SO IT CAN LAST FOR ANOTHER 25  30 YEARS AND DOING SOMETHING WITH OUR WEST SIDE BRANCH.  WHETHER IT’S AT WESTDALE MALL, WHETHER IT’S A STAND ALONE BRANCH LIBRARY WHETHER IT’S IN LEASED COMMERCIAL SPACE, WE HAVEN’T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHUCK IS TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE STUDIES THAT WE’VE ASKED THE CITY TO APPROVE, ONE IS AN ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING OF WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.  WE’VE GONE THROUGH A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF BOTH OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR WEST FACILITY AND WE’VE GONE THROUGH A BUILDING PROGRAMMING PHASE WHERE WE HAVE AN EXPERT THAT COMES IN AND WORKS WITH OUR LIBRARY STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR BUILDING NEEDS ARE BOTH DOWNTOWN AND THE WEST AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO, TWO THINGS, ONE, WE NEED TO BUT SOME DRAWING SO THOSE WORDS, THE BUILDING PROGRAM DOCUMENT IS A REPORT THAT NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW THOSE WORDS NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT THROUGH AN ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING.  THEN THE SECOND THING WE NEED TO DO.

 

CHARLOTTE:  THIS ALL COSTS MONEY.

 

TIM:  THIS ALL COSTS MONEY, YEAH.  TO GET AN ARCHITECT.

 

CHARLOTTE:  YEAH, THEY’RE NOT DONATING THIS.

 

TIM:  YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO SEE ME, MY DRAWINGS.  AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS TAKING A LOOK AT HOW THAT IS ULTIMATELY PAID FOR, HOW THE BUILDING PROGRAMMING AND SORT OF THE NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY AND SORT OF THE FACILITY NEEDS, HOW DOES THAT GET PAID FOR?  THAT’S ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO STUDY AND IN CONNECTION WITH STUDYING HOW THAT GETS PAID FOR WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE CAMPAIGN IS RUN, ESSENTIALLY HOW THE TAX LEVY WORKS AND NOT PROCEEDURALLY HOW IT WORKS BUT WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO STRATEGICALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE VOTERS HERE.  HOW DO WE WANT TO BASICALLY BRING THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON.  AND THOSE ARE REALLY, THOSE ARE TWO BIG NEEDS, OPERATIONS FUNDING AND OUR BUILDING FUNDING.  NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OPERATIONS FUNDING AND THE NEED, WE’VE GOT A COLLECTION WE’VE GOT A COLLECTION SIZE THAT’S REALLY BELOW AVERAGE.  WE SPEND BELOW AVERAGE DOLLARS ON IT, WE SPEND BELOW AVERAGE DOLLARS IN IOWA ON OUR LIBRARY.  THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE  IF WE’RE GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS CITY BEING A TOP FLIGHT IOWA COMMUNITY, A TOP FLIGHT MIDWESTERN COMMUNITY, A TOP FLIGHT LIBRARY IS A TOP FLIGHT COMMUNITY, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO GET IT THERE AND WE’RE NOT DOING THAT NOW AND IT SHOWS I THINK. 

 

CHUCK:  TO BE HONEST THOUGH, I DON’T MEAN YOU I’M SAYING TO BE HONEST.  YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.  MONEY IS THE ANSWER SO OFTEN IT IS.  MONEY IS THE ANSWER BUT THERE’S THE REALITY, THE MONEY IS NOT THERE RIGHT NOW UNDER THE NORMAL WAY THAT THIS RUNS.  WE DO NOT HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS TO CONTINUE SUPPORT AND WE CONTINUE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN BUT THERE IS A LIMITED POT AND IF THE DOLLARS ARE THE ANSWER, I AGREE, I WANT THE WEST SIDE BRANCH NOT ONLY TALKS AT TIME ABOUT IT CLOSING AND EVERYTHING, I MAKE A POINT, THE WEST SIDE BRANCH DOES IF I GOT BY THE LIBRARY NUMBERS, IT DOES 14% OF THE LIBRARYS BUSINESS LAST YEAR BUT OF THE DOLLARS THAT GO TO THE LIBRARY IT ONLY GETS 5% OF THE DOLLARS.  NOW, AS I SIT BACK YOU KNOW I ADMIT I LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, I ADMIT THAT THAT DISTURBS ME, WELL, IF IT DOES 14% OF THE BUSINESS AND IS RISING, THEN WHY DO WE ONLY GUYS GET ONLY 5 OUT OF THE HUNDRED DOLLARS?  THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE TO BE APPROACHED AND I PERSONALLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY WE’RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION IS BY GETTING SERIOUS, NOVEMBER OF 09 IS GOING TO BE ON US A LOT FASTER THAN WE WOULD EVER DREAM AND WE NEED TO BE WORKING RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE URGENCY BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WE WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME TYPE OF THING.  THE COSTS FOR THE CITY ARE GOING TO GO UP AND IT’S BASICALLY BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL ISSUES, THE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP AND WE ARE STILL HELD DOWN AND EVEN MORE STATE FUNDS MAY BE GOING AWAY FROM US.  WE WILL ALWAYS DO THE BEST WE CAN BUT THAT’S REALLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH SO WE HAVE TO STEP FORWARD AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.  I SPEAK AS A CITIZEN AS WELL AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

 

CHARLOTTE:  CURRAN, AS SOMEBODY WHO’S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FOR A LOT OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WISH LIST FOR THE LIBRARY?

 

CURRAN:  I WAS THINKING AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.  I THINK ONE OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE THINGS THAT OCCURRED WITH THE BUDGET CUTS LAST YEAR WAS THE CLOSURE OF THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY ON SUNDAY BECAUSE THAT’S A FAMILY DAY, THAT’S WHEN PEOPLE ARE OFF WORK.  IT’S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE.  NOW I’VE ALREADY EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT KEEPING THE WESTDALE LIBRARY OPEN.  THESE PEOPLE THAT USE THAT IT’S A WONDERFUL CONVENIENCE FOR THEM AND WE HAD ANOTHER LIBRARY ON THE EAST SIDE THAT WAS A WONDERFUL CONVENIENCE FOR PEOPLE BUT WE REACHED THE POINT WHEN I WAS STILL ON THE BOARD MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THAT HAD TO BE CLOSED.  I FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT USE THE WEST SIDE LIBRARY WOULD NOT GIVE UP USING THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THEIR PLACE WAS CLOSED SO I THINK WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE THE WEST SIDE LIBRARY AND AT SOME FUTURE TIME WHEN THINGS WERE BETTER YOU KNOW MAYBE THEY  COULD OPEN UP ANOTHER FACILITY ON THE WEST SIDE.

 

CHARLOTTE:  HOW MUCH, AND I DON’T LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE.  I’VE HEARD THAT TOO THAT YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT PERSONNEL COSTS BUT JUST ANYBODY WHO HAS BOUGHT A BOOK LATELY KNOWS THAT THE PRICES OF ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING UP.  WELL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AND DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE.  I KNOW IT’S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY AND THIS WINTER THE CITY COUNCIL IS BURDENED WITH SNOW REMOVAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

 

CURRAN:  WHAT ABOUT THE STREETS WITH THE WINDROWS?

 

CHARLOTTE:  AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT SUNDAY MORNING.