Comments on: Survey Helps Downtown Library Planning

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:59:56 +0000

For more than a generation I have used various libraries in this area. It is increasingly obvious that they are dying on the vine. The five year strategic plan should expect a 50% or more decrease in core function library use in that frame. Time to plan on phasing the libraries out. Stop all hiring, let the buildings run down, they will be like Border’s stores soon.
Income tax time (April is the cruelest month) provides a snapshot of the libraries decline. Thirty years ago libraries had tables full of tax forms and instructions, most of the tables were full of busy desperate people working on their taxes, there were lines at the photocopy machines. This year at Mallet’s Creek I had to ask three employees where the forms were. One did not know what they were. As it turns out there is a small forlorn table with only the most common forms hidden away by the rest rooms. The reasons are obvious. TurboTax, the availability of tax forms on the internet and home printers with photocopying function.
On that visit there were many people at Mallet’s but almost all of them are just playing on computers. It is like a Starbucks without coffee. Why should the tax payers support this?

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:03 +0000

“Support was even stronger among survey respondents for scaled-back options with lower tax increases. [.pdf of survey results]”

Which was missing from the AnnArbor.com story completely. Thanks to the Chronicle for once again covering the entire story.

By: ScratchingmyHead

ScratchingmyHead — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:30:52 +0000

The informal survey conducted by annarbor.com indicated that among its readership, the majority of those who commented does not support this bond proposal and have some serious questions about it or need convincing that a new library is needed especially downtown. The usership of libraries are changing as a result of the electronic age and books in the future may not be how people inform or entertain themselves. AAPS is asking voters to approve a tech mileage because they are looking to upgrade their capability which includes offering on line classes which probably means less usership of the library in it present form. Therefore, before the Library Board rush to action, they should do a through job of determining exactly what the needs of the community will be.