The 1% special sales tax proposal on the October ballot includes funds for a new Valley library building at Dimond Park. I support this project as a mother, as a taxpayer, as a library user, and as a librarian.
As a mother of a freshman at Thunder Mountain High School, I see a need for library space in the Valley where teens can gather and study after school and on weekends. The current mall location is too small to offer a teen area, and not very appealing. The new library will provide a safe and welcoming environment for learning, research, and career exploration. Unlike the other facilities in Dimond Park, the library will be free, and not centered around athletics. Our kids, and everyone in our community needs this type of space at Dimond Park.
As a taxpayer, I am appalled by the sum that is spent on rent for the library at the Mendenhall Mall. Annual rent is currently over $198,000, and goes up every year. The City’s studies show that having its own building will save CBJ money in just a couple of years, even factoring in operating and maintenance costs. This project already has $9 million of dedicated grant funds from the State and from Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries. Over two-thirds of the cost of the building is already covered. We should not let the opportunity to use these gifts pass by, but we have to act soon to commit the remaining local funds. Some may argue that the City should continue to pay rent. This doesn’t make economic sense. Those who have been fortunate enough to be able to buy their own homes know that there comes a time to stop throwing rent down the drain and invest in your own place if you can. This makes sense for the City as well, particularly with two thirds of the cost of the new building gifted. As for staff costs, the new library is designed to run with exactly the same level of staffing as the current location.
As a library user, I see the current space is a problem. The staff has done their best with the arrangement and furniture, but the space is just not functional. The children’s area is not positioned with a clear line of sight for the staff. The one meeting room is hard to book because of demand. Collection space is very small, and there is no natural light. Separating quiet study areas from interactive workspace is impossible; creating an environment that is ideal for no one. There is not even a restroom within the library. I am not expecting the new building to be anything fancy; in fact I know this is not the plan. But providing what is currently missing is just meeting basic needs.
I am a librarian, but I have never worked for the Juneau Public Libraries and have nothing to gain from a new library building other than the improved services and space we all would enjoy. Because of my profession, I am aware of the ongoing problem of information inequality in our society. Access to information, especially electronic information, is absolutely vital to be an informed citizen, a connected family member and friend, and an ever-evolving person. The Juneau Public Library provides free Internet access to those who can’t afford computers, smart phones, and network accounts. Free library programs promote reading to thousands of Juneau kids each year. Since our national recession started, library use around the country has gone up. Borrowing books and DVDs is still popular. Use of e-books is on the rise, and the JPL provides access to over 70,000 e-books for free. Library staff also helps people learn to use their e-book readers. The Valley library is the busiest branch in Juneau’s most populated neighborhood. After 29 years of inadequate mall space and millions in rent, a new building is appropriate and makes fiscal sense.
These are the reasons why I will be voting Yes on the 1% on October 2nd.
• Hassler is a librarian living in Juneau and a member of Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries.
Comments (17)
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no on the sales tax extension, teen library, have them use the library that's in the school, can't afford a smart phone,GCI, ACS & AT&T all offer the 1 dollar a month plan for those qualifying (which I'll add those paying the full price also pat for the 1 buck plan).
I will agree that renting space in a mall for 200k a year is a waste of money, but wasting millions more on a facility that'll be under used, over staffed & involve continual maintenance expenditures that may or (likely as w centennial hall) may not get funded is just another want rather than need.
Thank you, Caroline
Your article helped articulate why the library is being sought. Nicely done.
I find myself agreeing with isldandhopper to an extent. Perhaps we need to separate out the various needs you outlined and see how best to meet them.
1. Study area for kids. Agree with isldand - what's wrong with the schools? Make staffed space available after hours for this purpose.
2. Computers/internet for poor people. Seems there are many ways to meet that need that don't require building a large building. Subsidized computers and access, maybe some free internet kiosks in public spaces... We could buy a lot of computers for the millions we're talking about. I'll bet the state and federal agencies and businesses throw away lots of outdated computers that would be totally acceptable as web browsing units - maybe set up a donation center for these machines to be reused.
3. Meeting spaces. Let's get a better profile on that one. Is the demand mainly for evening meetings? Again, why not utilize the schools if that's the case?
All that being said, you've given me a lot more to think about. Perhaps there's a way a scaled-down facility can be built for the $9 million already available if some of the above functions can be shed?
But we're all in agreement that the current mall situation needs to end.
VOTE NO
We don't need another new library. If TMHS students need a place to study then have the school open the school loibrary.
This town is spending like their living on their Daddy;s credit card.
they're
and i had a good library
Excellent points about the new Valley Library
I live in Douglas and I don't have children or teens who would likely benefit from a new valley library directly but as a tax payer, I think your points about 2/3rds of the funding coming from gifted money and the savings to the municipality in rent make sound fiscal sense. Not to mention that from a real estate standpoint, having nearby access to amenities like a good public library raises property values by increasing the desirability of your neighborhood (thereby indirectly increasing the CBJ tax base).
As far as children and teens just using their school libraries...the school district doesn't have funding for extended hours. Even if they could find a way to extend hours, no one wants to stay at school after hours, or go there to hang out on the weekends...it's just not the same.
Even though some of the content held in public libraries can be accessed online, most of it still requires money to access, and not everyone can afford that. Anyway, libraries are more than just the content they contain, they represent a cultural center for their communities, a cool place to go where you're not expected to buy anything, and that is becoming increasingly rare.
I don't believe in using tax payer money for extravagant or unneeded projects, but after very careful consideration it's becoming increasingly clear to me that this particular project is a winner on multiple levels, and deserves our support.
vote NO!!!
Another library, another ice rink, another high school, when does the spending end. How about promoting sustanable industry in the Capital city. Is Princess Cruise Line gonna fund the valley library?
I would like to see some
I would like to see some usage stats for the Mall library.
How many people use it each day.
How many books are checked out daily.
How much computer use is there.
“Free library programs promote reading to thousands of Juneau kids each year.” The word PROMOTES tells me nothing…
“Since our national recession started, library use around the country has gone up” By how much? Has Juneau’s usage gone up and by how much?
“Library provides free Internet access to those who can’t afford computers, smart phones, and network accounts.” Yes…but to how many and at what cost per user…
“....and an ever-evolving person” HHHHmmmmm
Comment
I and everyone I know will be voting NO but the sales tax increase/extension will still pass. The indebtedness will also likely pass with the same circumstances. If government wants these things it needs to decide what it can do without. Misspending citizens' money on rent in a mall is not a good reason to increase taxes.
I avoid paying the sales tax as much as I possibly can, and as the US Supreme Court said; every American has a responsibility to avoid paying any tax they do not owe.
Vote YES!!!
on the sales tax extension.
The 1% sales tax impacts me both as a consumer and as a small business owner here in Juneau; that said, the benefit of projects that make Juneau a more attractive place to live far outweigh the relative low impact the sales tax has on individuals and businesses. Listen folks, the population in Southeast Alaska has been on the decline, and with it, tax revenues and our political clout.
We need ways to attract more brain power to Juneau, families who are going to want to buy a home and settle down in the community long term. We are not on a road system and living here can feel isolating. People come for job interviews and yes, it's beautiful but if there aren't affordable things to do, we will lose them and as all employers know, employee turnover is incredibly costly. The same can be said for trying to get our own children to consider going to college in Juneau and settling down in the area. They won't if there's nothing for them to do.
We need to support projects that provide recreational opportunities like a new public library (movie nights, poetry readings, video gaming club, meeting rooms, free books and DVD rentals), fixing up the dilapidated Juneau Arts and Culture Center (free art shows, concerts, and dances, a farmers market) and provide $ for Juneau Parks and Recreation (ball fields, Eaglecrest, picnic shelters) because even if we don't personally use those resources, a lot of people do. Without them, our community will wither and die on the vine, including my customer base and the CBJ's tax base.
Discussion with LarryB
We need to distinguish between jobs that use financial resources such as city government jobs and jobs that bring money into the community such as mining jobs. If miners move here because of poetry readings, concerts and video gaming that is news to me. And by the way, jobs that depend upon state and federal government grants appear to me to be quite vulnerable right now, and that is all the more reason we need basic industry jobs like mining. So do the Greens Creek miners have poetry contests on the boat trips to and from Admiralty?
gdog
Why doesn't Cathy Munoz find the funding? Skating rinks are more important than libraries?
I'm voting Yes
Thanks for writing this letter Caroline. You have pointed out excellent reasons for supporting the new Valley Library.
To "noroadfugitive" who wants to see usage stats for the existing valley library in its mall location, the point of needing the new facility is that the existing one is not well designed or located. A beautiful, well designed and centrally located library would see its usage rise substantially.
As far as statistic about library usage in times of recession, From a study in the journal "Library Review” called Rising to the challenge: a look at the role of public libraries in times of recession, "Early evidence suggests that public library usage rises as the economy declines. Public library authorities in the UK and USA have reported huge increases in visitor numbers, shifts in societal expectations, and demands for specific “job related” resources and services.”
Juneau’s unemployment rate is still relatively low and we’ve been somewhat shielded from the reality facing the lower 48, however, many of us are still tightening our purse strings with the realization there could be tough economic times ahead. Public libraries are a wonderful asset to the entire community and they will be needed even more if the economic downturn hits Juneau for real.
Dump the 1% temporary sales tax!
That whole "Build it and they will come" mentality is why CBJ is running in a deficit to the point of dilapidation of their current facilities. What's wrong with "Fix it and they will stay"? The only reason a new library was chosen in the vetting solicitation was to fill the headlining selling point "It's for the children!" I don't see the children using any of the 3 current libraries other than to instant message each other from across the computer kiosk. And they ain't using proper spelling, grammar and syntax.
Vote "NO" on the 1% temporary sales tax and "NO" on the $25million bond issue!
Since the Empire wont do
Since the Empire wont do it...
CBJ budget FY13 libraries $2,351,500
Overall use is down since 2010
Juneau Pop: 31,275
$2,351,500 / 31,275 = $75 per person per year
PAYROLL:
One Library Director cost $117,100 per year
4 Librarians cost $223,700 or $55,925 each
3 Library Assistant II costs 162,500 or $54,166 each
http://www.juneau.org/finance/documents/Libraries_004.pdf
As a wise friend
Told me a year ago " we could buy every kid in town a kindle and it would be more effective and less expensive than the proposed new library".... Still makes sense to me.
Voting No!
some thoughts about Sales Tax
everyone should have to pay a sales tax - Everyone!
....and that includes senior citizens and nonprofits!
Then let's see if it passes then!
We should change the sales tax structure in this town to make all "food stamp" items tax exempt for everyone.
Restore the old library hours
You've lost my support until you restore the old library hours. If you want to spend big money don't nickle and dime me downtown.