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Aurora [Change Location]

Mr. Weygand, Libraries mean more than you say

by: Marixa Evers
view profile ▪ view other postings from Marixa Evers

Article Contributed on: 6/25/2009 12:45:34 PM

This letter is in response to Mr. Weygand's 6/23/2009 hyperbolic rant against the Aurora Library ballot initiative.

Weygand ponders "Must everyone have a private passenger auto that works for the city? What ever [sic] happened to "city auto pools"? Weygand also tells us "Ditto cell-phone distribution. You don't audit personal useage [sic] because its [sic] cost ineffective? Instead, you granT [sic] city employees $100 each for personal use!!"

Surely, no one reading this believes that EVERY city employee drives a city owned passenger vehicle and EVERY city employee gets cell phone money.

In his haste to poison the well, squash discussion, and needlessly worry citizens, Weygand is clearly painting with a broad brush.

I would encourage the citizens of Aurora to ponder more rational, documented items. These would include the following:

1) According to the American Library Association "New studies show that the nation's public libraries are engines of economic growth, contributing to local neighborhood and community development through early literacy programs, employment services, and small business information resources... Ten percent of households with job-seekers used a public library in the past month to get information to help find a job." This statement is supported by the 11% increase in patron visits to Aurora Public Library facilities from 2007 to 2008. Contrary to Mr. Weygand's perspective, I'm sure these patrons view their library visit as an "absolute necessity."

2) 74 percent of libraries report their staff helps patrons understand and use e-government services, including enrolling in Medicare and applying for unemployment. 73.4 percent of libraries provide technology training to library patrons. Shall we rob these persons of the resource that is the Aurora Public Library?

Contrary to Mr. Weygand's perspective, I'm sure these patrons view their library visit as an "absolute necessity."

3) Aurora simply does not measure up to other metro library districts. Aurora is last in per capita: A) funding for materials acquisition (books, database subscriptions, periodicals, etc.), B) staffing, and C) library space.

The citizens of Aurora are being given the opportunity to decide what sort of community they wish Aurora to be. Do we wish to provide one library for over 300,000 citizens or do we wish to be a community that strives to minimize the digital divide and increase the dissemination of information? Do we want a city that provides only public safety, streets and water, or do we want to be a vibrant community with informed, active citizens? With all due respect Mr. Weygand, the return on this investment is priceless.

All facts can be checked by visiting: ( http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/library/libraryfactsheet/alalibraryfactsheet6.cfm)

or contacting the Aurora Public Library.

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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments

Michael Davis wrote on 9/26/2009 @ 2:26:39 PM

All I can say Ms. Evers is you must be employed somehow for the library system. The average homeowner I have talked to does not support this issue. They are willing to pass bond issues and mill levy increases for the public school system because the benefit is obvious. I honestly believe if you consolidate the books into the 3 main locations, rent unused retail space and put the movies, music and computers in it, your patronage will not go down very much, if at all. This tax is unfair, unrelenting, unreasonable and not for the benefit of the average citizen. Vote NO on 4A.

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Michael Davis wrote on 9/26/2009 @ 2:21:41 PM

Here is some food for thought. If you read the economists out there, each and everyone is calling for some kind of double digit inflation. They are saying it will hit 6-18 months after the FED pumped trillions of dollars into the economy. I noticed that on some of the items I purchased at a local store have gone up 30-40%. This is just the beginning, it is just now starting with the small items. If you honestly think the Consumer Price Index is only going to go up 2-3% a year, you are not looking at history. We may not have the 5473% inflation per month they had in Zimbabwe but it will still be double digit. I would vote for a property tax hike if it wasn't tied into the inflationary rate. True the inflation rate over the last 10 years has been between 2-3% but these economic times are unlike anything that has happened since the great depression. The inflation the US experienced in the 70's will likely be upon us again and this tax is tied into that rate. Vote NO on 4A.