Comments on: Library OKs Budget, Tax Rate Unchanged

By: Libby Hunter

Libby Hunter — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:59:45 +0000

Here are documents provided in response to FOIA request to Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) requesting emails and all written documents between staff, board members and consultants regarding the Allerton Hill consulting firm from November 2012 through date of this request: [link] AADL staff hired Allerton Hill for $28,000 to perform a Communications Audit and Plan. The website is [link] If you review the documents and the Allerton Hill website, you can draw your own conclusion on why Allerton Hill was hired.

By: Libby Hunter

Libby Hunter — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:05:01 +0000

The AADL staff was able to find ways to allow for raises without a tax increase. Are there other opportunities for savings that do not affect services? From the AADL website:

Ann Arbor District Library Values

Excellence in customer service
Providing, supporting, and advocating access for all
Acting with initiative, creativity, and flexibility
Working together, with enthusiasm and optimism, to reach goals
Responsible stewardship of resources

Are there other opportunities to better align funding with the library’s values without increasing the budget? Are there opportunities to expand services to underserved populations? Are there opportunities for cost savings by collaborating with other entities, including CTN, A2 City and AAPS?

By: Libby Hunter

Libby Hunter — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:11:37 +0000

I sent the following email to the AADL director, Josie Parker.

May 10, 2013

Josie Parker
FOIA Coordinator and Director
Ann Arbor District Library
Ann Arbor MI

Dear Ms. Parker:

I am requesting the following documents under Michigan’s Freedom of Information statute:

Emails and all written documents between staff, board members and consultants regarding the Allerton Hill consulting firm from November 2012 through date of this request.

I would like the material in electronic format.

If you believe any item is exempt from FOIA, please describe the item and the reasons that justify the exemption.

If the cost will exceed $10, please contact me.

Sincerely,
Libby Hunter

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:23:35 +0000

Re #6: Thank you for pointing that out, John Q. The townships are often left off people's mental map of questions like this. Another example is when people respond to AAPS's transportation budget problems with "why can't they take an AATA bus?" But AAPS has students who come from many miles outside AATA's service area, from North Territorial to south of US-12, and from Baker Road on the west to east of Curtis.

By: Doug Jewett

Doug Jewett — Sat, 11 May 2013 10:33:57 +0000

I very much value the comments of David Diephuis with regard to the Open Meetings Act. I had, over the last year, identified him as a patient observer and apparent good listener. Now to that, I have to add – an eloquent and exact commentator in response to issues at hand. We can all benefit from his example.

By: John Q.

John Q. — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:43:37 +0000

“One of the premises, he said, was an expectation that there would be a 16% growth in Ann Arbor’s population by 2020. Last year, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) published a forecast of only 6.1% growth in Ann Arbor by 2040, he said. “There’s quite a difference here, and the incremental years have changed the prospects of population growth – this should be considered.” There’s a much less urgent need, he said.”

The Ann Arbor District Library serves a greater area than the city of Ann Arbor. The population growth in the city isn’t the appropriate metric for comparison. One has to factor in future growth in the surrounding townships which will likely be much higher percentage-wise than the city.

By: James Jefferson

James Jefferson — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:53:08 +0000

The library does a great job with our tax money as far as I am concerned and I would have been willing to pay even more. Great to hear of the savings found in switching back to more base technology. The bar code also has the ability to extend the technological aspects of the library into the future, in as much as smart phone apps can also recognize bar codes, maybe there are ties ins as yet unthought of in this area? I agreed they will be readable for a long time now. The RFID was nice but this is better.

By: fridgeman

fridgeman — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:14:51 +0000

I use the Internet at Pittsfield about twice per month. I have never, ever, had any issue with connection speed – even when there on the busiest weekend afternoons.

By: Glenn Thompson

Glenn Thompson — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:59:32 +0000

The Library Board room is one of the best public audio and video wired rooms in the city. Many meetings in this room have been recorded for the city’s Video on Demand program.

The meetings can be recorded at very low or no cost. Requiring an outside group to hire a videographer at their expense is inconsistent with the concept of true open and public meeting.

The idea that the Library Board believes that the library should heavily invest in extensive video equipment for loan or public access when they are unwilling to use the equipment available to them today is either ignorance of the technology or hypocrisy.

By: Donald Salberg

Donald Salberg — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:59:11 +0000

The video-recording of the Ann Arbor District Library board meeting (May 6, 2013) can be accessed through the Protect Our Library website: [link] or directly through YouTube: [link]