Advice through the years Advice through the years (September 29, 2004)
This is hardly the first time deficiencies in Palo Alto's library system have been noted.

For numerous years, the Library Advisory Commission (as well as other city groups) has presented the City Council with reports about critical flaws and badly-needed improvements. Here's a snapshot of findings and guidance from the past few years.
Year:2000 Document:New Library Plan Author:Library Advisory Commission
Finding: "Financial support for library collections, reference services, hours of opening, cataloging and processing and technological innovation has been insufficient to meet present public needs."

Advice: Hire 36 new library staffers, open the library more hours, increase the spending on books and periodicals by 56 percent, and expand the libraries' space by 115 percent through new construction projects.
Year:2002 Document:Library Staffing Plan Author:Library Management Consultants

Finding: "Staffing levels throughout the Library are critically low. The Library is barely keeping the doors open to the public."

Advice: Agreed with New Library Plan's contention that many new librarians are needed.
Year:2003 Document: Palo Alto Library Plan Status Report & Recommendations Author: Library Advisory Commission

Finding: "The Palo Alto Library is suffering from a 15-year City record of consistently under-funding its library system to the point where services and collections have seriously eroded."

Advice: Close the Downtown Library branch, and use the space for technical services, to allow for more room at and funding for the two major libraries; increase hours at Main and Mitchell Park; strip down College Terrace Library to the basic services; use more self check-out machines; reconfigure libraries for more computer stations and teen services; expand Children's and Mitchell Park libraries; pursue a new libraries-only bond in the future for further expansion. -- Bill D'Agostino

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Advice through the years Advice through the years (September 29, 2004)This is hardly the first time deficiencies in Palo Alto's library system have been noted.

Advice through the years Advice through the years (September 29, 2004)
This is hardly the first time deficiencies in Palo Alto's library system have been noted.