It appears that it will take more time to resolve the issue of library expansion. I thought I’d stick my neck out and give you my take on the current situation with the library branch buildings. Please remember this is my blog and reflects my views alone. No matter the outcome please be assured that we will continue bringing you the best possible library services we can. Our staff are dedicated professionals who make it easy for me to say that we love our jobs and enjoy serving you.
As a library director I describe my job as trying to arrange the best possible conditions for successful delivery of services. Right now, the conditions are substandard. We don’t have enough room to provide the programs and services that our customers ask for, that other town libraries offer and that our staff would love to deliver. Perhaps this is why, when Irondequoit residents use public libraries, almost 20% of the time they do it in other towns, a number that grows each year. The majority of our customer complaints can be attributed to the friction that results from too many people trying to do too many things with too few resources in way too small of a space. We will continue to do as much as we possibly can with what we have. We will continue to make repairs and do maintenance when we must. Investing in big repair projects when we don’t know how or when the situation will be resolved is difficult.
There are so many possible ways the building situation could be resolved. I only want to reject two of them. I just cannot take seriously the claims from some that everything is just fine and nothing needs to be changed about the library buildings. By all objective measures we have outgrown our buildings and they have become ill-suited to deliver modern library services. I also reject the even more ridiculous assertion that we will soon be irrelevant due to the easy availability of information, electronic delivery or some other technological reason. We have evolved, as all smart organizations do, to the point that we are often the agency that leads in the adoption of new technologies and the first place citizens encounter and grow comfortable with them. As the pace of this change accelerates we find a steadily increasing demand for services that connect people with the exact same technology some claim will replace us.
I have always said that one of the best things about working here is that people in this town obviously love their library. This has rightly caused many residents to propose solutions to our space problems. One of the amazing things about some of the plans we hear is how little their proponents seem to care what their librarians think. It leaves me slack jawed to encounter some elaborate plan or some loudly proclaimed opinion from some person or group who never bothered to ask their librarians what works best. Would you choose new squad cars for the police without consulting them? These buildings are our tools. We use them to serve you. We know what works best. It is not just a matter of square feet. Configuration, layout, adjacencies and lines of sight are just some of the vital components to a successful library building plan. If you don’t bother to find out what we need don’t be shocked when we don’t enthusiastically embrace your solution. Please, before you bring us any more “solutions”, ask us what we need to serve you better. Is it so hard? We’re longing to be asked!
As financial pressures force government leaders to cut departmental budgets including the library, consolidation of services that are duplicated just 2&1/2 miles apart seems a reasonable way to increase library space and expand library services while keeping operating costs down. If you do not favor this approach then you must decide what you are willing to pay for. Are you willing to pay millions to just to rehab the existing library buildings without enlarging them? Are you willing to pay more to duplicate library services at sites so close together? I believe the library operation is as lean as it can be and still deliver high quality, professional services. There is very little left to cut or economize on. If consolidation takes place we can offer much more of what people are demanding including increased hours of operation with no need to increase staff which is by far the largest component of our operating costs.
It is easy to talk about what you want without looking at cost implications. Then the tax bill comes and people get upset. Now more than ever town leaders need to hear your opinions on how much more you are willing to pay to get what you want. What are you willing to pay to meet our need for increased space for facilities where all town residents can easily access services? Just the cost of the status quo is high.
I believe town government officials are eager to work with open minded citizens to seek solutions. I believe the library and what it adds to the quality of life in the community is too important to not challenge each and every one of you to propose solutions that we can all point to with pride and will improve library services for every resident, no matter where they reside.
As always, I welcome your comments. Also, feel free to contact me about any library related topics. Just click on ABOUT to see how.
April 13, 2008 at 8:05 am |
April 13, 2008
Blog Subject: Where do we go from here?
I agree that a new consolidated library would be the best possible solution. But, since State/County/Town governments are in an era of fiscal belt-tightening, may I propose an alternative solution.
If I had the power of a library Czar, here is what I would do:
Close East and West branch
libraries and conduct library business
at Eastridge and Irondequoit High
Schools, respectively.
Let East and West Irondequoit School Districts bear the responsibility of operating the town library on their respective premises. After-all, schools are an educational, publicly funded facility as are town libraries. It would be a natural fit for the school districts to assume the additional cost because each district already supports an existing school library.
The school libraries(or perhaps only one?) will need expansion in order to accommodate more books and patrons but, in the long run, everyone benefits-students and Irondequoit residents, alike.
I’ll itemize some benefits derived from the above scenario:
1. Eliminate the need for new construction.
2. Eliminate the cost of repairs to the older buildings
3. Make more money available for purchasing extra computers, books,
dvds, cds, audi-books, etc.
4. Retain, for many, the appeal of the neighborhood library.
5. Resolve the parking problem.
6. Work within an established infrastructure.
7. Gain the expertise of experienced personnel.
8. Income producing potential-if the former library buildings are leased
or sold.
The additional expense will dutifully be absorbed by the school districts themselves simply because they receive tens of millions more in State funds than the Town library.
In summary, what’s wrong with physically and financially incorporating the town library within the publicly funded town high-schools? I’m quite sure
that taxpaying citizens of NY won’t mind.
By combining the school and town libraries into one functional library, it opens up the library to the entire community; it won’t restrict itself to just students and teachers.
Respectively,
Bookrunner22
April 22, 2008 at 8:09 pm |
um…in response to the previous comment… i’m sorry but that makes absolutely no sense. none. that is impossible, inconvenient, and how does that resolve some of the issues with space and parking? it would then just be MORE cramped at the schools. the school budget and the town budget are two different things, and tossing the library into the school district’s budget is a burden on them and school taxes would shoot way up. so…reading this comment has made my head hurt. it seems as though you haven’t actually read the director’s blog entry thoroughly. none of your proposed ideas address the fundamental problems with the current service, and actually make it more complicated. think about it. i agree with the director, why hasn’t anyone asked the librarians for their opinion? after all, they must work there…they should know their own space better than the casual visitor. let’s see what they think!
April 23, 2008 at 8:15 pm |
Some Library staff were asked for input/opinions/comments in 2003-2004. The replies were 100% silence. All attempts to engage and discuss and obtain input were met with no comment. One admitted they had been told not to comment.
I again asked for opinions in 2007 and received no reply. No opinion, no comment.
I did get one brief comment on February 2, 2008 regarding newly expanded, renovated, upgraded, branches. “It would be wonderful” was the comment.
The buildings have been neglected beyond belief. Town Government, not the Library Board, has neglected the real property assets belonging to the stakeholders of Irondequoit.
Town government attempted to negotiate a public-private partnership with multi-millions of tax dollars going to out-of-state investors. Why did someone not ask: “Is there a way to partner with local investors?” Has no one asked about a partnership for branches?
Where is the long term Master Plan for the community? The Branch Library System is very much a part of Irondequoit’s character and seems to be the desired solution based on surveys. Approve of the surveys or not, agree with the questions/answers or not, they do represent data produced by leaderships.
When engineering errors in library studies were pointed out the response was not one of “thank you” for discovering this, it was one of confrontation, argument, and objections to fact.
When an effort to incorporate Branch designs was offered by residents, it was met with demanded special meetings with government where the observed sole purpose was to deride residents for daring to offer reasonable alternates to the governments commercial lease scheme of old vacant property. Government was invited to participate in Branch Option discussions and design. The response was no response, other than to write how they knew nothing about the student project—-a statement that was false. Government refused to work with residents and interjected themselves into a program for no apparent reason since they clearly had stated that “evans branch can not be expanded”.
Government ignored special funding programs that may have saved millions.
The overwhelming majority of problems, roadblocks, negative attitudes, and misinformation has come over time from 1280 Titus. The Library Board, Staff, Patrons and Stakeholders have suffered at the misguided whims of politics. The outrage should be against those who misled, misguided, excluded options, low-balled costs and not against those who chose to raise concerns and offer constructive solutions.
April 24, 2008 at 12:32 pm |
TO: GL
Your comments suggest to me that you’re employed as a school administrator who is protesting or should I say “protecting your turf”.
Let me remind you that change is not always easy.
New ideas involve change.
Combining two knowledge/educationally driven institutions into one, is NOT beyond the realm of possibility. Haven’ t you heard of the consolidation of public services which is occurring across the State?
Cordially,
Bookrunner22
PS If your head hurts, take two aspirin and see me in the morning.
April 24, 2008 at 2:05 pm |
Bookrunner22 and GL,
The idea of combining school and public libraries is intriguing. Speaking of knowledge driven, I did a little research into the issue and searched the professional education literature. Most of what I found was library and education professionals reporting on the success or failure of their projects. Most public and school library combinations fail although a few have been successful. The conditions required for success reported by the few who had managed to achieve it were a desperate need on the part of both the school and public library which generated a total dedication to both the success of the project and the working out any problems from both the school and public library perspectives. Here in Irondequoit the need is only desperate on the part of the public library. The schools have addressed their library’s inadequacies and I can’t see how they would be motivated to rework everything again to the extent the literature suggests would be needed for success.
The main reasons for failure can be lumped into 2 categories. The first is the great disparity in the missions of the 2 institutions. The school library and staff are mainly dedicated to supporting the curriculum of the school. The collections and expertise of the staff reflect that. The public library and staff is dedicated to being a source of information and recreation for all citizens at all stages of their lives. In many cases of failure it was an inability to sort out this difference and give the two disparate missions equal standing that was cited as the stumbling block.
The second main reason for failure is the dissimilarity in access to which each type of library is dedicated. Schools have a security mission that is highly important. Parents send their children to a school building where they expect their children will be safe and secure. I’m sure for most parents that would include the library inside the school. These days, great efforts are made to ensure security in the schools. Visitors are routinely detoured to a main office for screening or even searched or run through a metal detector. Public libraries on the other hand are, by law, totally open to anyone. We are required to welcome the sort of people the schools are trying to keep out. Security is minimal and only egregious violations of social order or the minimal conduct regulations ever result in ejection. Homeless people, the downtrodden, the unhygienic and other unfortunates are regular visitors of the public library because of these required open access policies. I’m guessing most parents would be distressed to find their children sharing library space with some of the members of society’s bottom rung that routinely frequent the public library. For this reason, most of the successful school library, public library combinations are not combinations at all but actually achieved in separate, adjacent buildings. Here in Irondequoit we actually have separate but adjacent building now. Unfortunately the public library buildings need to get much bigger to actually do much for the students so the adjacency is currently wasted.
The school library and public library, although both are called libraries, are two very different institutions with 2 very different missions. I’d compare the situation with saying that a school is a school and that kindergarten through college should be combined to save money. I’ll leave to the experts to tell us why but I’d guess there are some equally compelling reasons why that may not be a good idea either.
April 25, 2008 at 5:49 am |
When does the inane whinning end?!?! You say 20% of the people in Irondequoit go elsewhere for services that Irondequoit libraries can’t provide. That is their choice to use someone elses services. That doesn’t cost Irondequoit anything does it?
The fact of the matter is that a Town library is an ammenity not a right nor even a necessity. Many Towns aacross the country do not have a Library because of affordability. It has to be affordable and since it is a non revenue generating entity you have to realize that there are more improtant issues to address financially.
Get over yourself already!! If we had more money we could do this, that, and something else. You dispense and chronical books and magazines…that’s a library!!! Need more space? For more programs? Are you serious?!?! Why is that, so you can do more clown shows or have more magicians in one night. How about a Las Vegas review?!?! Now that would be library related type activity, wouldn’t it?
I truly embrace your complete incompetence discussing new technology. Everyone in Irondequoit will just run to the library to learn how to use their new laptop because the library staff is so adept. That’s right, if something goes wrong with my new Windows Vista, the first person I call is Terry Buford.
Stop whining!! Where is your proposal to use what you have. Where is the proaction to make what you have work? Where is the creativity?
Remember you are an ammenity not a necessity. Do what you are supposed to do in a library, BE QUIET!!!
April 25, 2008 at 9:49 am |
I don’t know where to begin with tgolan’s comments so I’ll just plunge in. Please remember, the statements below are strictly my own musings and should never be construed to be official anything. Above all else, our entire staff of dedicated professionals will work hard to give excellent library service no matter the location or circumstances. Naturally, I have opinions about what circumstances are best for delivering good library service.
I’d sure like to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the years of fruitlessly seeking input from the library. Who got asked? What were they asked to give input about? Who did the asking? What were the circumstances? I can think of plenty of circumstances when silence might be a reasonable response.
Were plans or proposals sent with a request for an official reaction? Were invitations issued to the library for somebody to sit in on a planning meeting or design session? This is the sort of thing I was thinking about. Something similar to the way the Library Board and Thomas Group put together the stakeholder team and the design charettes for the more than 20 meetings that were held to obtain public input on the library options.
I’m a librarian with many years of experience and director of the library since 2004. If you ask me the best way to configure a building to deliver library services or to assess how a specific building or proposed addition would be suitable for use by the library I’ll be glad to contribute to the discussion.
If you are looking for me to join you in a town government bashing session, beating assorted dead horses or making judgments about finances, real estate or other areas that are not my field of expertise, I decline to participate.
I only speak for myself in this blog but I don’t remember deriding anybody or anything. I might have respectfully disagreed with a few folks. I only remember explaining the process that resulted in the recommendation to consolidate and why in my opinion it was a good way to improve library services and keep costs down. The town board sought a recommendation from the library board for the best option to improve library service to all residents. We weren’t asked to rank the options. We weren’t asked to give a second favorite. Community involvement was part of the process. Many people at many meetings gave their opinions which were, as one might expect, all over the map.
The result of all that work was included in the Thomas Group report which I think is without glaring errors. Reports of this type usually include opinions from paid professionals based on their training and experience. Reasonable people can disagree about the findings since they include opinions. Sometimes people disagree with an opinion and call it an “error”. Then they give their opinion and call it a “fact”. Point of view becomes important. In my point of view, for instance, when it is your opinion it is an error. When it is my opinion it is fact. How does that sound? Reasonable? We can probably agree that perfection is an elusive goal, even in the reports of paid professionals. In hindsight, I’d prefer that the report did not say that the Evans Branch cannot be expanded. I’d prefer it to say that the Evans Branch cannot be expanded in a way that promotes good working conditions, efficient operations and meets the needs of the community for the next 20 to 30 years which I believe is a more accurate representation of the findings of the report and of the goals of the library board.
It is difficult for me to see how anybody can say the library board didn’t involve the community and consider their input after 2 years of stakeholder meetings, design charettes, town board presentations, public hearings and workshops. When things don’t seem to be falling the way you prefer, it is so easy to say you weren’t listened to or you were derided. With so many different views about the best way to proceed and only one to be selected it is only natural to expect there would be disappointment and hard feelings. My first lesson in government was: Good luck with pleasing everybody!
But, we are still in the existing buildings. There is still time to promote new ideas or different approaches. I encourage you to move forward. Instead of continuing to complain about a plan that was rejected you might be better served by offering your own plan in public. I suggest holding a series of public meetings and explaining why your plan is the best way to go. Call me cynical but there might be people who say you ignored them, deceived them or derided their ideas. But maybe your plan will be so good it will be met with near universal acclaim and very little outrage. My sincere best wishes as you move forward.
April 25, 2008 at 3:41 pm |
re: Dash Murphy
Don’t you just hate it when people keep it all bottled up inside and don’t say what they really think?
April 25, 2008 at 9:54 pm |
hi mr. dash murphy,
i work in the library. i’d be glad to do with what i have, if only i could find what it was i supposedly have.
re: clowns and magicians…do you understand that by getting children into the library for fun activities they leave with PILES of books? why not make the library a fun place for children. it makes them want to come back, it honestly does encourage smaller children to read, and associate reading with having fun. what’s wrong with that?
also, people love to discuss books…it would be great to have enough room for the book discussions, and not have to ever turn people away due to space constrictions. i’m not saying any of this to inflame you, as much of your statement was intended, but just as a “did you ever think about…” , just another side of it.
to dispell any expected gripes about the fact that i am posting anonymously, i simply don’t want to be attacked by anyone, and i resent any hostility in this and any blog…there’s no need for it. we can all be mature, can’t we? well, some of us can.
April 26, 2008 at 8:08 am |
Says and Terry Buford
I see nothing wrong with children wanting to read and they should have fun doing it even though as Terry Buford says the facility is open to the dregs of society; homeless, unhygenic types.
I am also quite sure that with so little activity in Irondequoit, joining hands to discuss Melville is at the top of everyones “must do” list. I bet thousands are turned away due to lack of space. Wouldn’t expanded branches give you more space for the extra two or three people who feel inconvenienced during discussions at the current facility?
Don’t you get it though? This brand spanking new library is a political shell game gone bad. “Elect me I will give you brand new amenities because I love you”. This goes on for years…through all kinds of elected people and the simple fact is you can continue to placate people that you are trying to do something by forming new comittees, having more meetings, all sorts of delay tactics…”Re-Elect me I am working on all those amenities I promised you. You need me to finish all these great things”.
Behind closed doors the discussion is, “Isn’t it great how we placated all those fools and still got re-elected. There is no way the people will let us spend $50 million dollars and us keep our jobs. Let’s schedule some more meetings to delay this process further.” You get the point? Talk is cheap.
Anyone can convince you of something if YOU want it bad enough but it won’t happen if THEY don’t want it and are just telling you what you want to hear. “Show me the money” should be the question asked. How will you pay for it? The fact is Irondequoit can not afford it and the community is not convinced that we need to spend millions on a consolidation of an ammenity instead of say, road repair.
Let me know if straight talk inflames you. I will discreetly leave some Preperation H in the drop off bin
April 26, 2008 at 10:59 am |
there is a difference between straight talk and digs. no one means any personal disrespect to you, and i would appreciate no sarcasm in response. i’m not angry and i don’t have a problem with you expressing yourself, but it doesn’t have to be a giant dig.
irondequoit can’t afford even road repair, either btw. part of the idea behind consolidation was to deal with the upkeep of one building, spending less in the long run, instead of two buildings which have frequent expensive repair. so it was actually a move in the direction of spending less money. i know this doesn’t convince you of anything, i’m just saying. you also know that i won’t agree with your opinion, but it is nice to get everyone’s inclusion. have you spoken at a town board meeting or library board meeting? you might enjoy that; you would receive a wider audience than the blog. btw, i just want to say that i do understand where you are coming from, and politics aside, do you understand where staff and some patrons are coming from too? the people that work here live and breathe the library everyday…we know what we need, and we’d love to provide all that people have asked us to provide. believe it or not, we do receive many people who ask for more–not just two or three.
April 26, 2008 at 12:04 pm |
Says—great comments.
I agree with you. You need more space. You need clean space. You need more programs. The kids programs especially need to be expanded! Bring the “Tales for Tails” back more often ( it was very successful).
The Library Board was behind its own survey. I didn’t create the questions. The Library Board was responsible. The results are what they are.
The town government followed last summer with it’s own survey. I didn’t create the questions, the town leaders did.
Residents seem to want the Branch System. Professional Engineers and consultants seem to recommend consolidation. Staff would certainly like a large new consolidated building. At what point do the residents get to retain a branch system? The surveys indicate about 65% want the branches.
I do not know the answers. I do not have a specific plan. I do believe if residents want branches or at least want to see a branch option it should not be difficult to assemble a concept plan. Why the resistance to offering a branch option is only obstruction by government.
In my opinion, Staff has not been treated well for several years. Not directly but thru the neglect of basic conditions. Factoring in the terrible substandard working conditions I would bet the staff performs at higher levels when compared to other towns that have updated, clean, renovated buildings.
Imagine new, expanded, upgraded, renovated branches. Perfect for library services? No. If the stakeholders want this then why not support it in mass and let’s start the process immediately. I was told there are some capital improvement donations for the branches. Why not get several more and clean the building this summer?
April 26, 2008 at 4:10 pm |
Director
Really—-just what circumstances would elicit the Director of the Library to condone instructing librarians to stifle there own opinions about the library facilities or programs when asked? Tradition suggests librarians reject censorship as a matter of principle. Serving political masters to attain goals while sacrificing principle has no place in public arenas of information.
Asking all your questions is great; as it demonstrates you realize you have much to learn. The politicians had all the answers and look where the library is now. Not the fault of any “small group of residents”.
Re–Library Board involvement–Great question. When any governing body takes off the table the will of the people as stated in the Boards survey results, how can it be a constructive participant in the process? It seemed clear that any movement contrary to the preconceived consolidation plan was considered adversarial and was treated in a hostile fashion. Government restricted participation and ideas. Their right, their decision, their results, their responsibility, and their mistake.
Librarians are dedicated to the concept of freedom of expression, proliferation of information, knowledge and honesty of process. All High Ideals and they should be left as such.
When a process is putrefied by false claims and fabrications, it becomes nothing more than a charade. You are here to serve the will of the citizens of Irondequoit in their quest for knowledge, not here to serve the politicians quest for god knows what!
Re engineering “opinions”. I agree with you. Any reasoning intelligent Board would surely realize the statement by consultants indicating Evans’ footprint could not be expanded was nothing more than an opinion. So why was it relied upon and represented to be fact? ? ?
Re studies–workshops–input:
Honestly Terry; can you say that soliciting the will of the people on multiple occasions, finding consistent results of polls as to opinion of residents has no bearing on recommendations? Disregarding this fact so as to take the town on an unwanted, outrageously expensive and dangerous joyride is not, in my opinion, anything close to “listening” to the citizens you serve.
We have seen the integrity of the government plan. We have seen the quality of results of 4 years of “experts” spewing controlled misinformation. Is this the sort of process that makes you proud? Your sarcasm about “my plan” is likely made to divert attention from the utter failure of the highly politicized process to date.
If you are sincere in your “best wishes” comment, then you will join the process as an integral and enthusiastic participant, and dedicate your positive efforts to finding the best way to serve the will of the good people of Irondequoit in a manner that does not overburden them with crippling levies.
April 26, 2008 at 5:16 pm |
Says, I am sorry you take this personally but the logic you offer along with others is completely bizarre.
This is by no means a personal attack nor a shot at you or anyone else. Let me see if this makes sense to you. I want to spend $25 million dollars to save on three or four people and some other assundry overhead costs.
That makes no sense, nor does it reflect well for your argument. Sure you can do more with more. To me that isn’t a huge deal. Doing more with less it tough, and you aren’t used to it nor do you want to become used to it but the simple fact is that the one solution that would work was to costly for Irondequoit.
I thought that was clear in January. The same will be true this December and next year
April 26, 2008 at 5:23 pm |
Tgolan:
Substandard work conditions? Have you lost your mind. They may not be the best working conditions but substandard? By who’s opinion, by what standard. Are there rats? Are people in peril? Are there health risks?
Don’t you think that the people would be screaming if the conditions were substandard?
That is how things get blown out of proportion. You say something, someone reads it, and all of a sudden it is fact. The libraries suck for sure, and are a classic example of not taking care of things, but substandard?
April 27, 2008 at 9:07 am |
To: Dash Murphy
To criticize or make sarcastic comments about an idea or a process is one thing but to berate a person with your crude language is way out-of-line.
Besides, your apology rings hollow.
You know, Murph, the old adage still holds true:
“Let’s step outside and clear the air.”
Bookrunner22
(alias “The Boxer”)
April 27, 2008 at 9:39 am |
Bookrunner22
You are wrong. Crude no; sacastic, for sure!! I respectthe people who toil in the branches but I find it troubling that they speak the company line. Your inability to debate intelligently is signified by your feeling it necessary to clear the air outside in a violent nature, People who struggle not getting their own way or who can’t debate intelligently always resort to such bully tactics. How sad
Dash Murphy, no alias, former Navy Seal
April 28, 2008 at 12:09 pm |
Hi Everybody,
I love the comments and the free flow of opinions. Other than being portrayed as an incompetent whiner and a censoring dictator its been great! Let’s everybody keep their shirts on and their dukes at their sides, shall we? Clearly we have differing opinions on where we go from here. As I’ve said before: Pleasing everybody? Good luck with that!
I would like to say a few things in reaction to everybody’s comments from the weekend.
1. This is my job, my career. Most of us who work at the library need our jobs to pay the bills just like everybody else So, it is difficult to understand why some of you think it is so important that we insult, denigrate or question the integrity of the town’s elected officials. We work closely with them. We try to keep our department in tune with their overall vision for the town government customer service effort. They set our budget and sign our paychecks. Even if we bought into your dark visions of government and politics, insulting them in public would be even dumber than some of you have made us out to be. I think they call that biting the hand that feeds you.
2. Many employees do not want to get involved in any great controversy. They want to do their best for the residents of the town and avoid being singled out. For many, having somebody pop into the library and ask them without warning for their opinion on a controversial subject is a nightmare scenario. I have repeatedly told the employees they are free to give their opinions on anything as long as they make sure the questioner understands it is their opinion alone and isn’t an official institutional opinion. Most employees seem to prefer to do that outside of work if at all. They are also free to NOT give any opinion. Hence my comment on the reasonableness of silence when confronted. If somebody wants to talk about “the library’s” response to something they must present that something in some formal way and ASK for a formal, official response. That is the way these things are done and MUST be done. Putting some poor person on the spot, at work, is unfair. Silence is a an acceptable response to that.
3. I am unaware of any donations made to the library for the purposes of capital improvements. If you know of any please contact me immediately!
4. The Thomas group report reported in 2005 on approximately $2 million in improvements and repairs that need to be made to the existing branches if we are to continue to occupy them for the long term. About $280,000 of that cost was directly related to meeting health, safety and building codes. Another $102,000 was suggested to carry out testing and studies for likely health and safety problems for buildings of this vintage such as asbestos detection.
5. I think I’ve made it pretty clear that nobody at the library is advocating we let the roads fall apart or the criminals run free in order to shower the library with money. Currently, about 5.8 cents of each town budget dollar goes to the library operation. A bargain in my humble opinion. We are doing our best to keep costs down, live within our budget and provide excellent library service. I think we do a pretty good job. We are prepared to operate under the current conditions if necessary. We’ve been doing just that for 23 years.
April 28, 2008 at 4:09 pm |
Terry—come on–you know I did not point to you as a dictator or a censurer. You wrote in response to my censoring comment: “I can think of plenty of circumstances when silence might be a reasonable response”. I only asked what circumstances would be OK.
I did not even hint that you were the one who asked for silence as I know it was not you.
I think you would be utterly astonished at my defense of the Director, the Library Board and the Staff. Absolutely astonished!
In response to Mr. Dash’s comment of “lost your mind”. Perhaps–however the question of substandard conditions is one of fact.
On Monday April 28, light illuminance samples were taken; 25 at McGraw and 25 samples were taken at Evans; taken with an Extech Instruments 401027 Light Meter using the B Scale. Not to “dash” your dreams but the results were substandard. Stack standards are generally 6 to 35 FC; with the lowest being measured 12″ off the floor. Several library architects prefer using vertical book spine illuminance levels as they designate actual levels of light reflecting off the spines. Several of these measurements were taken with results in the 1 to 3 range.
Work table standards are around 50—measurements were taken indicating 18, 18, 20, 35, 18.
Many architects specify higher levels in libraries serving older populations.
With only a visual inspection of the lens, troffers and bulbs it is clearl there are major deficiencies.
6 Branch Concept Plans coming in 2 weeks with a broad range of sizes and configurations. Should be interesting, informative, provocative and thought provoking. Hopefully they will generate discussions. Hopefully questions like “Can this be done”; “Is there a way to do this”; “Could this fit into a long term Town Master Plan”; “Could this be accomplished in stages”; “Would these have uses if consolidation were to move to the campus”; “Could activity space be added resulting in multi-use facilities”. And several others. Most of all I believe stakeholders would like to see them or know that possibilities either exist or do not.
April 29, 2008 at 5:24 am |
Terry, I never said you were an incompetent whiner. To clear the air I don’t think you or anyone connected with the library is incompetent. I did say that you are whininig. Would you have preffered me to say you were lamenting and not whining? Technological advances are coming to every business and medium, why not embrace and be cutting edge?
Certainly we can debate terms and technology another day. The issue is that we have ONE LIBRARY with multiple branches today. What can you do creatively to facilitate the community, and your own stated needs, that doesn’t break the bank?
Tgolan, using the same process and techniques I would bet that any building built prior to 1960 would have similiar issues
April 29, 2008 at 8:21 am |
tgolan, i look forward to seeing your branch options in two weeks. i also work at the library, and am wondering if, at any point, you have included staff in discussion of these options? we have a lot of experience working in these buildings and have very good ideas for the size and type of space that we need. i don’t remember being asked by you what i need to provide effective service if we stay in branches.
April 29, 2008 at 9:21 am |
jalala—I would welcome any opportunity to help assemble a viable Branch Option Plan. Even if only basic renovations. Then upgrades, then expansion.
Perhaps a long term “Big Picture” plan for campus consolidation.
Re Alfred—the drawings coming next week are not my plan. I did not initially contact the college. After they agreed to look at the project, I was asked to provide some technical information which I had available. I have some small knowledge, ability, and understanding of their process. I did meet them the first day they came to town and provided all the information from the library studies that I had available. I look at the project from an educational point of reference and have approached my suggestions to the college with that in mind. I did suggest that 6 different configurations be created. I think that is what is being done. I provided all the Thomas Report and Panz files for their review. The student course is one of “Adaptive Reuse”. Using the Irondequoit buildings did not fit the parameters as closely as two other library projects being done by other classes where they were involved with historic properties of significant architecture. Ours was more challenging in some ways. I think we will see some interesting solutions. I am extremely hopeful that they will elicit much interest in the community. I do not know how much detail will be included as to working library interior design. It is a student program with very limited time. The students are aware of structural challenges, parking limitations, zoning codes, and site limitations. If we see several design options that commences community dialogue then just maybe something can be done.
I think involving staff should be at the top of the list for creating a functional working environment within any particular building.
I appreciate your comments and would hope the community becomes very much involved. Happy to meet with you anytime.
April 29, 2008 at 11:22 am |
to dash –
i’m not towing the company line. nor have i heard any other staff going against their own opinion and spewing rhetoric. if we say something pro-consolidation, pro-branches…whichever it may be it’s OUR opinion. i just want to make that clear. nobody is blindly going along with something just because it may be the town or library board’s position. we’re in favor of an idea because we think, as experts in our field, that it is the best one.
April 29, 2008 at 2:54 pm |
Says — I can respect that you are an expert in your field.
May 9, 2008 at 5:35 pm |
I just happened on this site as a concerned life long Irondequoit citizen who enjoys the functionailty of the community libraries. The staff is friendly and informative and the job done is excellent.
However, after reading this blog I must also say that, although Dash Murphy is irrascible and some may want to throttle him, his points are well taken.
Because he does not express his opinions in what may be percieved as a palatable fashion, some are offended and due to his pointed nature the views expressed are obscured.
An immense amount of the population would prefer not to have a single branch, like the proximity of the current structures, and wish for an upgrade or on site expansion. It seems like the library board, based on surveys feel the need to consolidate no matter what.
I happen to agree with Dash Murphy in that we need to maintain the quaint nature of our facilities.
I do not applaud the whiner reference but I think the time has come to look at subsequent options as a means to ellicit a true community discussion. I do not agree with tgolan that thee have been survey’s done that are in any way meaningful or reflective or either side of the argument.
This is solely my opinion and I hope all can respect that it was rendered with a genuine sense of pride in what Irondequoit has today, what we have stood for, and what we can be
November 6, 2008 at 1:23 pm |
Amenity?
Capitalist American view.
I’ll take a library over a road anyday! Freedom from tyranny comes from knowledge. The only thing I’ve ever gotten from a road is rash.
Keep the two libraries. And, add another closer to the lake. Keep em small–Keep em close.
December 2, 2008 at 9:01 pm |
I was looking for a note and reread:
jalala Says:
April 29, 2008 at 8:21 am
jalala—-what did you think of the interior designs that were incorporated in the Branch Renderings of the Alfred Projects?
As I mentioned, I supplied the students with all the information from Thomas and Panz. Appears the students were diligent in their review and application of the information I supplied. The floor plans are spectacular and positively incorporate far more in conceptual design than anything yet presented by the Town Board of Irondequoit.
It was not I who recklessly slashed the 2009 library budget to near 2003 levels!
The Town Board liaison to the Library not only voted against the library’s best interests, but also spoke irresponsibly about the staffs care of the facility.
Fred— love the third branch idea. Who gets it? East or West? If it were to contain Town Board information, then perhaps the Amusement Park would be an appropriate location.