North Branch Library - will be closed

Submitted by JunadRizki on Sun, 01/03/2010 - 17:33

The writing is on the wall the North Branch will be closed. There are not enough votes on the council to save it.
What should be done?

  1. Create a separate taxing district which would be approved by the voters of north evanston to fund the operation.
  2. There appear to be several ways to do this. My only suggestion is the city of Evanston council would have no control on the funds or operation. ( most have no interest in the branches and they are currently misusing township funds which the are transfering to the city for patronage programs.
  3. The city should give the North branch current space to the district plus the adjoining space. A capital program should be start for renovation.
  4. The library should have a more focused mission - I would suggest more focused on young families and children. Currently it  is about 50/50.  I would support a more kid friendly facility, since I believe it would be a major asset to the area, to help attract young home buyers.

 

Comments

johnzbesko

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 22:24

Junad,
 
I'm shocked you would suggest new taxes. ;-)
 
The creation of a new taxing district was discussed during the last aldermanic campaign. There are many issues of governance and district boundaries that I think would take a very long time to sort out.
 
The question I ask of the CSNA is: do the community centers, known as branch libraries, have to remain branch libraries or would some other use that would be more self-supporting be acceptable, especially if the alternative is to close them down?
 
 

jeffpsmith

Thu, 01/07/2010 - 04:20

John, thank you for what I sense is creative thinking on this. State law governs some use of libraries, but while under civic umbrella my initial feeling is that other uses could be shoehorned in. City clerk or collector extension services, for example. The opening of suburban branches for many County services revealed that there is significant demand for not having to go to a central location.
 
I would like to see the branches -- and for that matter the central library -- carry in their permanent collection DVDs of all City Council, Plan Commission, and school board meetings.