Comments on: Ann Arbor Library Signs Digital Music Deal

By: Rita Mitchell

Rita Mitchell — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:48:27 +0000

The library board should join in with the other public bodies whose meetings are available to view by video, live or taped. It makes sense to use the resources that are already used by other public boards, meeting in the same space. Nancy Kaplan has identified a good idea, and a public service on which the board can act. I encourage the entire board to support her resolution when it is presented for a vote.

By: Tom Whitaker

Tom Whitaker — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:39:30 +0000

While it may be easy to point at the obvious direct costs of providing an open, transparent, and accessible government, the hidden costs of secrecy and obstruction are certainly far higher.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:08:42 +0000

To echo Tom Whitaker’s comment about online availability of videos, I’d like to point out that the City of Ann Arbor has done an excellent thing in making the videos of each discussion item available separately. This is now a part of the permanent record of Council proceedings and as someone who is not on cable, I find it invaluable.

The DDA is also now posting videos as a record of their board meetings.

The AADL should emulate these other public bodies in what is clearly a trend for our connected age.

By: Libby Hunter

Libby Hunter — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:33:30 +0000

Excellent idea: transparency in all public meetings of import to we the public. Thank you for raising this, Ms. Kaplan.

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:48:33 +0000

As a former Library Board member I strongly support cablecasting of these meetings. I am sure the technical problems can be worked out.

By: Alice Ralph

Alice Ralph — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:24:14 +0000

Thank you Ms Morgan for more coverage of our “cutting edge” AADL. Even with proposed taping your coverage will remain invaluable for the added context and history.
I would be please if digital materials become more broadly accessible, without special fee-paid memberships. Usually, the power of information need not be subject to use by a strictly limited group. Usually, the larger the user group, the greater is public benefit.

By: Tom Whitaker

Tom Whitaker — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:48:41 +0000

I agree with Vivienne. This seems like a relatively easy, in-house thing to pull off and I can’t believe there is any resistance to the idea whatsoever.
Posting the meeting video’s on the AADL website would also be simple and I think much more effective and publicly accessible than only having set broadcast times on CTN (especially for DirectTV customers like me who don’t even get CTN).
Our library board ought to be on the cutting edge of information-sharing and archiving of government business. I hope they all support Ms. Kaplan’s resolution.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Until the Chronicle began reporting on AADL board meetings, this governmental body was essentially invisible to the general public. (I first wrote “virtually” but that is still the case, as reported.)

Congratulations to Nancy Kaplan for her proposal. I understand that there are some operational barriers to taping and televising AADL meetings, but this would be valuable not only in terms of topics, but as a record of their proceedings. Minutes don’t tell everything.