Re the branch libraries:
I think data are needed to make an informed decision. How many people use each branch per month - what do they use it for? Adults or kids? Do people take out the books, CD's, etc. that are there, or do they have stuff sent from the main library & use the branches as a pick-up & drop-off site? How many books are taken out from each branch per month?

I was in the south branch twice & was underwhelmed, both by the selection & the general shabbiness, though the librarians were pleasant & helpful.

Ann - I have read Diane's post - "I've been to the north branch about as often as the south branch. It seems more inviting and better stocked. It appears to be used more by foot traffic. It's location is more in the center of a thriving shopping area surrounded by family housing. I can understand it's popularity more, but I still don't see a burning need for it."

My alderperson - has helped to make a mess out of the entire renovation issue by pushing selling the adjoining building a very poor idea - which does not help the renovation process.

Ann I am concerned about tax dollars - but let me ask you why are we paying for a emergency hook up to the Wilmette water system at the tune of several million dollars - has the council done its homework on this?

This issue brings up many, questions? Alot of Citizens on this web site look at the branches as a big deal - but none of them blink a eye when the city spends millions of dollars on a project that appear to have questionable value. Just because the term "emergency" is being used may not justify the expense and its all buried underground!

Can you put it on the adgenda at APW for monday night?

Recently we gave $16,000 to five affordable housing group for administrative costs - were was the value in this?

Actually Micheles - comment is my view on the north branch renovation "It seems like a lot of expense for a reading room. The times I've been to the South branch, it doesn't seem to me to be used differently than a bookstore/coffee shop - I think we could put our money to better use attracting a bookstore to the area." The adjoining building and the North branch should have been combined and created a snack/coffee shop with the branch - thus it would have helped pick up the costs and future operation costs. Ofcourse the council may sell the adjoining building off in a sweet heart deal to someone - I am waiting to see that come up on the adgenda.

I have never been in the north branch library, and could really live without the South Branch. As Diane said, it's hard to park there, the selection is limited, and the atmosphere leaves much to be desired. It's just 5 minutes or less more in the car or on the el to the main library.

The data on the branch libraries has been available for years there have been many studies - bottom line Ann know's many citizens favor keeping them.

We need to have a real discussion here - about the likely 10% tax increase that is coming and how to minimize it. There are plenty of city positions and programs that can be cut - yet they are being protected by individual council members - ( I am not talking about basic services )

Ann,

I agree with Diane and Michele. Those sites serve some people, but the question is how do we get the biggest bang for the buck for most residents with limited dollars? Which is why we have to rank order city services, and not just by staff and Council, but by mere citizens.

We cannot just keep increasing taxes. For one thing, they impact more those who can least afford them. We have passed the point of diminishing returns. As an example, there is a constant outcry for "affordable housing", yet what little money we have goes to administrative costs and not actual housing. Duh?

If this such a liberal well meaning enclave, why does DuPage have a thriving Habitat and we have just administrators and botched housing attempts? The fetish for condo development (and supposed "revenue") has sapped the available rental market and provided us with an oversupply of expensive condos. The 708 Tower would have given us even more.

When is reality going to step in?

Edited by author 11-22-2008 03:13 PM
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) completed final paving of the
Emerson Street Bridge Replacement Project on Thursday, November 20th. The bridge
and new sidewalks are scheduled to be opened to traffic by November 25th. While the
bridge will be open to traffic, the project is not yet complete. We have been advised that
IDOT will continue with street and traffic signal lighting work after Thanksgiving. In the
spring, there will be additional tree planting and landscaping.

I have been going to the South Branch and plan to use it alot more. I've visited it three times in about 6 weeks. I find it convenient to have books tranfered there from other branches for eay pick-up. There are always children as well as adults using it and am surprised at how many people go straight to the internet. With more people losing their jobs, the library may become even more popular.

Edited by author 11-22-2008 08:41 PM
I have mixed feelings about the branch libraries. We used the South Branch quite a lot when it was walking distance from out home. But, when we moved south of Oakton, it became just as easy to ride the bus to the Main Branch. The North Branch is a very nice neighborhood library, and I know that having it withing walking distance means a lot to the families who live in that neighborhood. Central Street is thriving, and it can be very convenient to drop an older child off to browse the biographies for a school project while going next door to do a little shopping. This is not as easily done at the downtown branch.

However, the main branch offers everything that the branches do, and more besides. While two neighborhoods would feel a loss, they would not really be losing any services. It has been mentioned here before that the Bookmobile serves the whole city by stopping in different neighborhoods once a week. I'd feel better about losing the branches if the bookmobile could be reactivated.

Perhaps the city can make some income by subleasing the space it has already contracted for to retail businesses. But, holding out hope for an independent bookstore is a lost cause. Trust me on this, the entire book retail market is holding on by it's fingernails, barely able to make it quarter to quarter. Best-beloved independent bookstores from coast to coast are dying. When a best seller can be purchased at Target or Wallmart and the market for music CDs has dried up to nearly nothing, it's become a very tough retail environment, indeed.

After a Saturday afternoon at Macy's, I'm swearing never to Old Orchard return on a weekend, God Help Me.

Want to express your concerns about public safety in Rogers Park to elected officials and the police? Here's your opportunity.

State Senator Heather Steans, State Representative Harry Osterman, Alderman Joe Moore, and 24th District Police Commander Steve Caluris are hosting a town hall meeting on public safety in Rogers Park. The event is open to the general public (including our Evanston neighbors).

When: Monday, Nov. 24, at 7 pm.
Where: 1545 W. Morse, United Church of Rogers Park

I use the South Branch library quite frequently. I find it very easy to use the library's website to locate the books, place them on hold, and then request the books to be delivered to the South Branch. By using the library's website, the selection is not limited to their shelved books. The library also does a great job of notifying you by email when the book is ready for pick up and remining you when its due. There's a nominal charge for the hold ($.50), but I think it's well worth it.

I guess my question to the folks who use the South Branch library is: do we need a full-service library for what you're using? Could we offer a less expensive alternative, for instance a wi-fi kiosk with internet access at the Levy and Crown Centers with a book pickup/drop off station - would that address your needs? Would something like that be less expensive?

There are no doubt people who find the branches convenient and useful. That is great. The issue is what are we willing to give up in other services? We cannot simply keep increasing taxes and fees, and given the economic situation, we are already seeing city revenues falling, while their obligations are increasing. This is not a bottomless pot.

The question we have to ask is what do we do without to live within a budget. Most of us have to do that. The City will also have to learn how to do that. The pension fiasco indicates they have a lot of learning to do.

I could do without either branch library.
I only use the south branch about twice a year and can just as easily goto the main library.

The book drop-off idea is a good one. In Wilmette, the Community Center (mostly a sports and party room facility) has a nice, study book drop box. It is set up for cars or bikes to drive up and drop books, much like a U.S. postal drop box. You don't need to park your car or lock your bike.

In 13 years of living in south Evanston, I have walked into the South Branch once to get a book. But we have used it many, many times for book return.

I agree, I've always thought that the Evanston Public Library should create "mini branches" in the various community centers. Levy already has a book collection. I also think they should look into partnering with the school libraries. Many communities have worked to create "community schools" which are open longer and provide more services to children, families and community members. Many D65 school are already open many nights a week for school activities, what if we kept the libraries open for community members.

Ok, this isn't cost free, and would be a logistical nightmare getting the school district to work with the City, but it is an idea worth considering. It is time to begin thinking outside the box and not just about putting things into "keep this, dump that" piles. And clearly our community has lots of good ideas - let's tap into them!

The book mobile was shut down not because it was not used. It was shut down because it was falling apart. The city did not want to buy a new one!
They did not save any real money when the shut it down - the person who ran it was just transfered to the main library. ( they just did not have to spend any future funds) It was one of the library director ways to show the council he was saving dollars. ( which he was not anyway) during one of the budget hearings.

As for any joint effort with District 65 - they can not even run themselves - the school libraries have children books - the libraries clearly would not like the public in their spaces. beyond that - district 65 did not spend the capital when my kids were thier to up keep the libraries - the parents (PTA) put a fund together to renovate the place.


There are plenty of other places to start looking for cuts here - council members need to lead the effort - and ask the right quesitons and make the decisions. A great deal of what the city is doing is not in the public eye - like the branch libraries the real money is to be saved in areas that are hidden from the public.