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livingdebBackground: I hate voting because I have trouble learning enough information.
Here's what will appear on our city ballot for Proposition Six:
When I first heard about this proposition to replace our current central library with a new one, I didn't like the sound of it. If the old library's too small, they should add on to it, not build a new one and quit using the old one. $90 million is a lot of money, and it seems like a waste. Also, I don't think it's too small; it still seems very spacious to me.
Then I got the idea to ask an actual librarian about this. Someone with insider information. Would they think it's great or would they think it was a waste?
Before I got to a librarian, I learned that the new facility would have a lot more parking and would be further from the bus routes. It would have more space for community programs and meetings and it would have an auditorium. So then I thought, this is just stupid. If you want space and parking, you should build that into the branch libraries. The central library is for people who use buses and for holding the most books, so it would be the place for researchers. Expensive downtown space for large-space uses is inefficient.
So then I went to my local library and I caught three librarians all standing together behind the counter with no patrons, so I asked them. Right away one of them made a funny face and started walking away. I knew he had an opinion.
But one of the other librarians explained that they weren't allowed to discuss their opinions or to tell me how to vote. She did show me a flier and how to find the library system's website explaining what all the proposition would do. I said, "Yeah, that's what the bigwigs think, but I want to know what the regular librarians think." The woman told me that this bigwig wasn't so bad. She had come by to visit and seemed very down to earth.
Of course the flier and website were extremely pro. My best guess is that the librarians are for this proposition. At the very least they are fantasizing that if they were at the central library, they would love to have this new library.
I learned from the League of Women Voters that the old library would be used to give more space to the Austin History Center. (At least it won't be demolished, which I find destructive for some reason.)
I learned from the City of Austin Bond Election brochure (which I've seen at community centers and libraries) that the new location for the library would be where the current Green Water Treatment plant is, right across the street from the hike and bike trail. (Although this location is not guaranteed.) I love that building because I love the retro writing on it. Since they insist on redeveloping that area anyway, I would like to have something cool like a big central library be there.
From the library's web site I learned there will be a cafe and a bookstore, which makes me think the library will get some revenue out of it, which I like. And which reminds me of the Denver library. So then I started thinking that as a car-owning person, maybe I'll be selfish and vote for the is totally cool sounding library. And those people who have to ride a bus and then walk several blocks with their walkers or their white canes, well, screw them!
Of course it will be at least six years before it opens and then I won't be able to quickly hike there and grab something during my lunch hour.
I don't know. Any opinions?
Here's what will appear on our city ballot for Proposition Six:
The issuance of $90,000,000 in tax supported General Obligation Bonds and Notes for constructing and equipping a new Central Library facility and acquiring land and interests in land and property necessary to do so; and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.
When I first heard about this proposition to replace our current central library with a new one, I didn't like the sound of it. If the old library's too small, they should add on to it, not build a new one and quit using the old one. $90 million is a lot of money, and it seems like a waste. Also, I don't think it's too small; it still seems very spacious to me.
Then I got the idea to ask an actual librarian about this. Someone with insider information. Would they think it's great or would they think it was a waste?
Before I got to a librarian, I learned that the new facility would have a lot more parking and would be further from the bus routes. It would have more space for community programs and meetings and it would have an auditorium. So then I thought, this is just stupid. If you want space and parking, you should build that into the branch libraries. The central library is for people who use buses and for holding the most books, so it would be the place for researchers. Expensive downtown space for large-space uses is inefficient.
So then I went to my local library and I caught three librarians all standing together behind the counter with no patrons, so I asked them. Right away one of them made a funny face and started walking away. I knew he had an opinion.
But one of the other librarians explained that they weren't allowed to discuss their opinions or to tell me how to vote. She did show me a flier and how to find the library system's website explaining what all the proposition would do. I said, "Yeah, that's what the bigwigs think, but I want to know what the regular librarians think." The woman told me that this bigwig wasn't so bad. She had come by to visit and seemed very down to earth.
Of course the flier and website were extremely pro. My best guess is that the librarians are for this proposition. At the very least they are fantasizing that if they were at the central library, they would love to have this new library.
I learned from the League of Women Voters that the old library would be used to give more space to the Austin History Center. (At least it won't be demolished, which I find destructive for some reason.)
I learned from the City of Austin Bond Election brochure (which I've seen at community centers and libraries) that the new location for the library would be where the current Green Water Treatment plant is, right across the street from the hike and bike trail. (Although this location is not guaranteed.) I love that building because I love the retro writing on it. Since they insist on redeveloping that area anyway, I would like to have something cool like a big central library be there.
From the library's web site I learned there will be a cafe and a bookstore, which makes me think the library will get some revenue out of it, which I like. And which reminds me of the Denver library. So then I started thinking that as a car-owning person, maybe I'll be selfish and vote for the is totally cool sounding library. And those people who have to ride a bus and then walk several blocks with their walkers or their white canes, well, screw them!
Of course it will be at least six years before it opens and then I won't be able to quickly hike there and grab something during my lunch hour.
I don't know. Any opinions?