Mays Street & Old Settlers Park
In Favor of Proposition 6
RECEIVED Wed., Nov. 1, 2006
Dear Editor,
Please vote for Proposition 6, a new central library for all of Austin.
The central library is not a warehouse but the administrative core of the entire public library system. This is where the technical services staff that selects, purchases, and catalogs/prepares materials for all of the library system are housed. This is where the youth services support staff members are housed. They create the programs and materials used throughout the system. This is where computer support staff members are housed. They fix the computers and telephone systems throughout the library system. This is where the security staff members for the entire system are housed. Unfortunately and embarrassingly, their current office is a small closet in a stairwell!
It would be greatly inefficient for a municipality to not have a central library coordinating these activities. For example, with regard to acquisitions, this would entail having each facility in a system select and purchase materials. One would need staff for that at each location – very expensive. There would be no coordination in purchasing, leading to waste of taxpayer money in overlap purchasing, as well as not being able to get large discounts with one vendor.
The current central library facility opened in 1980 when Austin’s population was 345,496. The current population is 718,912 and will continue to grow. The next time a central library could be on a ballot might be 2012 or later. Now is the time to invest in our future, when we have resources to do so.
I especially encourage new Austinites to vote for a new central library. It is my impression that newcomers often have the experience of better library systems where they previously lived and are a little taken aback by the shoddiness of our current central library. They know what an excellent library system can be!
Please vote for Proposition 6, a new central library for all of Austin.
The central library is not a warehouse but the administrative core of the entire public library system. This is where the technical services staff that selects, purchases, and catalogs/prepares materials for all of the library system are housed. This is where the youth services support staff members are housed. They create the programs and materials used throughout the system. This is where computer support staff members are housed. They fix the computers and telephone systems throughout the library system. This is where the security staff members for the entire system are housed. Unfortunately and embarrassingly, their current office is a small closet in a stairwell!
It would be greatly inefficient for a municipality to not have a central library coordinating these activities. For example, with regard to acquisitions, this would entail having each facility in a system select and purchase materials. One would need staff for that at each location – very expensive. There would be no coordination in purchasing, leading to waste of taxpayer money in overlap purchasing, as well as not being able to get large discounts with one vendor.
The current central library facility opened in 1980 when Austin’s population was 345,496. The current population is 718,912 and will continue to grow. The next time a central library could be on a ballot might be 2012 or later. Now is the time to invest in our future, when we have resources to do so.
I especially encourage new Austinites to vote for a new central library. It is my impression that newcomers often have the experience of better library systems where they previously lived and are a little taken aback by the shoddiness of our current central library. They know what an excellent library system can be!
Jennifer Thomas
Librarian
Librarian
