It is not too late - Reduce Libraries Around Town, posted by Wil, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 12:45 am
Why do we have so many libraries in Palo Alto? Reduce the number of library facilities down to one or two, total. If the city is serious about saving money, build a mega library at a site like Cubberly. Have the citizens use the shuttle to get across town and have everything centralized.
Posted by Resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 9:28 am
We have so many libraries in Palo Alto because we have never had a City Council with the strength or courage to close any of them. Lets hope the next City Council will see the light and close a couple of them, but don't hold your breath. It's a Palo Alto political juggernaut!!
Incidentally, the proposed new library in Mitchell Park will need more staff than the present one, that means more hiring and maybe a parcel tax to pay for them.
Posted by Marvin, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 9:36 am
And if you read today's Daily Post, they are going to spend $270,000 for a piece of art to go at the new library. But Jim Keene said not to worry, the building will end up costing less than expected so there will be more money for art!!!
Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 10:02 am
I also still don't understand why we are funding 5 libraries. I understand many people like having so many branches, but many people like steak too - I don't think this economy can support either. Both College Terrace and DT could be repurposed for a better use (maybe even using the land for DT for the Police Department, closing Forest at that block) should we really being buying so many duplicate books? Should we be paying for redundant staff anywhere in the City?
Art - with the talented and generous citizens of PA, why on earth are we paying anyone for art? If you walk around PAMF, do you ever read the signs next to the paintings? Donated in honor of, donate by the artist, etc. Then there is the topic of the art selected by our city (the color of palo alto???)
We should look at this economic downturn as an opportunity to par back spending, rethink priorities and use the immense creativity of our citizens. Just like the tech industry, where downturns produce some great start-ups. This downturn could produce some great ideas.
Posted by Me Too, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 12:47 pm
We actually did close 1 library - Terman branch, on Arastradero. I would amend the original post to say we never close as NORTH SIDE libraries - after all, the city is run for the benefit of the north side, right? Unfortunately, aside from Mitchell, there are no more South Side branches left to close or neglect. ;-)
Posted by Darwin, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 4:02 pm
The downtown libary was part of the bond, so it is unlikely that they will be closing that branch.
However, the College Terrace library was not part of the bond measure, it's too small, and not use by very many people. They should close this branch while the have the opportunity and while the economy is bad.
Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Many people voted for the library bond because they were frustrated about the conditions of Main and Mitchell, not because they liked the branch system. Even though they thought that we had too many libraries, they felt that a yes vote was the only way to get any progress on the state of the library they used most of the time.
It is now 12 months since the bond passed and we still have no progress.
Posted by Libraries will go on, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Oct 28, 2009 at 9:15 am
"Many people voted for the library bond because they were frustrated about the conditions of Main and Mitchell, not because they liked the branch system."
If you voted in favor of the library bond you also voted to spend $4 Million to refurbish the Downtown Library. Stop kidding yourselves, the voters of Palo Alto voted to support three libraries Mitchell, Main and Downtown.
I am proud to say I voted against the Library bond because I was opposed to including the Downtown Library and the expensive art work. The voters of Palo Alto also voted to approved the $270,000 for the Beasley monument. It was part of the bond measure.
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