Comments on: New Downtown Library? If, When and Where

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:24:31 +0000

Fred, thoughtful commentary. I agree about perceptions of wastefulness being a top priority. The library has been proud to announce it built the last three multi-million dollar branches without asking for more than it’s ‘normal’ money. If they can set aside ~$20 million in 5 years, do you think their estimates are conservative? Not to mention the constant closures of these brand new branches due to electricity, plumbing, and other issues that should NOT happen with brand new buildings (I hope we’re not paying the same contractors to fix their own mistakes).

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By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:04:27 +0000

You can have conventions there, they just have to be secret conventions.

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By: Fran Wright

Fran Wright — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:24:46 +0000

Is the top of the Underground Parking Structure off limits to the Library? What about plunking the new Library building on top of the parking structure? That would free up the corner where the current Main Library is for a park, which is what people seems to want for that area in the first place. Having the library, even four or five stories, on top of the Underground Parking Structure would save us from the much more invasive “secret” Convention Center (what happens at a Convention Center when there are no conventions?) . The Convention Center then could go, with a smaller footprint, across the street on the old Y lot. Then there’s something for everybody: park, books, and more parking!

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By: Fred Zimmerman

Fred Zimmerman — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:57:38 +0000

I am glad to see that the library board is engaged in thoughtful substantive discussion of its strategy going forward. I remain convinced that a vibrant downtown library is one of Ann Arbor’s crown jewels, something that is absolutely vital to both our quality of life and our economic growth.

Since the library has the authority to raise its own operating and construction funds via millage, comment #1 about spending “public money” is a bit beside the point. If the library can get the millage, it can get the money. But in the words of that amazingly popular library resource, Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility.” ;-) The very first priority must always be to maintain a secure public consensus with unqualified support for operating millages. For that to continue, there must be no perception of wastefulness or grandiosity. For the time being, I think the library would be best off focusing on operational excellence.

I would push hard for more than a 2% increase in operating expenses and for more than 1.77 mills, though. The demanding Ann Arbor public needs both soothing amenities *and* breadth and depth in collections. If the library plays it too conservatively, it risks stagnation and gradual deterioration in services, which might lead to a decline in expectations; a vicious circle that would be hard to reverse.

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By: yellowfly

yellowfly — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:39:11 +0000

“slowly but surely falling down”…..Yes, as is every structure ever built. The listed capital expenditures are reasonable maintenance/upkeep issues. If a millage is in place that could fund a $70 million building … the existing millage is too high.
“It will be interesting – and fun – to think about what their needs might be”……How can one argue the fun inherent in dreaming about how to spend $70 million (+/-) of public money? In this period of widespread economic hardship, please get real and tighten your belts…..and your tongues.

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