Letter: Library plan doesn’t serve patrons

In The Advocate Monday on page 2B there is an article “Ready to be put back together” http://theadvocate.com/home/5065286-125/ready-to-be-put-back.

This article is about Lafayette’s main branch downtown being gutted and rebuilt. The price tag is $10 million. It’s unfortunate that the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board did not have the same mind set, i.e., to use an existing building and to spend so much less than the current plan to tear down and double the size of one of the least-used branches in the East Baton Rouge library system.

With the use of electronic downloads increasing by over 60 percent in 2012, the need for print issues will surely decrease and therefore there will be less need for shelf space. The current plan will mainly serve the needs/wants of the Downtown Development District, Baton Rouge Area Chamber etc., and certainly not the needs of library patrons. Like Lafayette, a redesign of the existing building would work.

When the time comes to renew the library tax, taxpayers should take into consideration how our tax dollars have been spent and whether or not the Library Board of Control has used our tax dollars wisely.

Gayle B. Smith

homemaker/early literacy volunteer

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by nimby? - 07/02/2013

Phil , exactly why I voted against it , almost 10 years ago . the wording was too vague , too many loopholes left open for personal discretion . too many local taxes are worded this way , they must be read , carefully ...

2) Comment by phil - 07/02/2013

The people voted for a general library tax and the final decision about a downtown library was not totally decided then. That is one problem with taxes in BR I think. The tax propositions are worded too broadly and then years after the tax is passed, the entire original plan often gets revised. Honestly, can you remember exactly what you voted for on a tax that was passed 10 years ago, for example. Then when you read the actual tax proposition that was passed years ago, you will often find out that you still cannot tell exactly what was voted on. Then you have a tax proposition like the CATS tax that was sold as a municipal tax and then it was decided it is not a municipal tax after the tax passed. How did that happen? Read that tax proposition and see what it states and see if you can figure out if it was supposed to be a municipal tax or not. Good luck on figuring it out. Maybe that was done on purpose?? If you read some of these tax propositions and Bills in the Legislature you might come to the conclusion that a first grader could have done a better job of preparing them. Just my opinion, of course.

3) Comment by SuzanneMS - 07/02/2013

You and me both, fedupebr. In what way will it not serve the needs of library patrons? She makes the claim but provides no evidence for it. I think she means that SHE won't use it. The primary problem with the current downtown library IS the building. It is too small. It is poorly designed, with space split up among three floors. It is not ADA-compliant and cannot be made ADA-compliant. It blocks WiFi. An early literacy volunteer should be aware that a library is not a warehouse for books. It is a community center. The new library will provide, among other things, appropriate space for sitting and reading quietly with children.

4) Comment by Bighug - 07/02/2013

Why build a new library on the site of a library that was little used? Simple. Got to move that money! When the new library is put in service we will never hear about its relative use, just as we have never heard from CATS what the cost per rider mile is on their busses.

5) Comment by fedupebr - 06/02/2013

The conspiracy mentality that progress is a bad thing is the main reason that I get fed up with living in BR. The people voted for a new downtown library. The thought process of rebuilding vs. renovating has been vetted over and over again by the Library Board and elected officials, i.e. the Metro Council. Apparently it was a better use of taxpayer dollars to build a new library that would have a longer shelf life. Seriously, I feel like I'm in the movie Groundhog Day with a vocal minority that is bitter towards anything that makes this city a better city. Finally, the voters don't have to ask whether or not the Library Board is using their tax dollars wisely: the Board has a surplus due to wise spending and proper planning of construction projects.