Since Mr. Weygand provided us all with the fiction [link], allow me to provide the facts.

Fiction: "The Ballot issue as proposed seeks $12,514,000, more than double! That's a LOT of salaries, salary increases, and movie stock!"

FACT 1:Mr. Weygand cleverly attempts to make it seem as though all library staff will receive a 200% pay raise. Let's talk about what really will happen with the 12,514,000. Library hours will expand (requiring more staff and other operating costs), more databases will be made available (these cost money too!), more public access computers, and (in fairness to Mr. Weygand) more DVDs and CDs.

Fiction: "The trend nationwide is not to expand and open new library branches which require duplication of staffing and materials, but rather to consolidate."

FACT 2: According to Library Research Services ( www.lrs.org), Colorado library square footage expanded by 113,018 from 2007 to 2008. Several library systems have added entire new buildings during that same time period.

Even Mr. Weygand's suggestions for providing library services fail to address the associate cost and logistical issues.

1. A larger expanded Central Library properly stocked and staffed with a larger research department additional computers, and offering expanded evening and weekend hours for public use?

At what point would the Central library reach maximum capacity? Does anyone believe this would not cost money? Expanded hours require expanded staff.

2. "...branch libraries... are grossly underutilized. To provide easy access to a Central library: Commence Utilization of one or more of the city's existing bus fleet of five-six vehicles to provide free circular bus transportation for library users to and from neighborhoods to the Central Library?

I'm not sure what Mr. Weygand's definition of "underutilized" is, but I'll take a stab. If the Library isn't opened, it won't be utilized! See Fact #1 regarding expanded hours. Again, who would believe this would cost zero? Gas, drivers, and insurance all cost money.

3. "Expand present book delivery service presently offered to shut-ins to anyone that requests a book or movie. Convenient Drop-off locations could be established by working with grocery chains and/or school libraries"

Staff would have to distribute and retrieve these circulated items. Someone would have to check then in and out and guess what? It costs money regardless of where the citizens collect their books. And just image the potential for theft as the library entrusts its collection to non city staff.

4. Re-establish use of neighborhood bookmobile service?

Costs, cost, additional costs. Vans cost money, gas costs money, drivers cost money, insurance costs money. And how comprehensive of a collection can a Bookmobile really have? Even a limited collection costs money to establish and maintain.

"..Aurora ranked dead LAST in the percentage of open library hours for evening and weekend use. The same study ranked Aurora Last of use of library facilities per capita. On Circulation per Capita, Aurora ranked 11 th worst of 12 libraries surveyed. On Public Use-Programs per 1,000 residents, Aurora rated 151 per 1,000 vs Denver at 436 per 1,000. "

Mr. Weygand has just made the point that PROVES the case for additional library funding. "Aurora is dead last in percentage of public hours for evening and weekend use." This is clearly the reason for the low use of library facilities per capita. If we aren't open, how can people use the service? How can we provide public use programs if we are not open? The proposed dedicated mill levy would allow Aurora Public Library system to keep all seven libraries open and expand its hours of operation by an amazing 154 hours.

Fiction: (actually, a misleading statement); It does not cost $12 million to provide free computers for public use. The State Unemployment and State Job Centers also have readily available computers for the unemployed.

How very ridiculous. Of course $12 million will NOT be used exclusively to buy computers. As I stated earlier, it will cover the cost of additional staff for expanded hours, additional database subscriptions, larger and more current bookstock and expanded periodicals.

I know Aurora citizens are smart enough to reject Mr. Weygand's nonsense and instead vote to save the libraries that directly impact the quality of life for themselves, their families and their neighbors. For more information visit www.saveauroralibraries.com.