All posts in the topic County Library Board resolution on Mpls Library Friends? (Short link)
Summary
- There are 14 posts — by 7 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Jack Ferman at Aug 31 04:39 UTC
On Wednesday's Hennepin County Library board meeting agenda, a resolution on the Friends of the Mpls Public Library and suburban Foundation will be discussed/passed. 5pm. Eden Prairie Library. http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/board_agenda.cfm The resolution doesn't seem to be online (unlike the City Council and County Commission meeting docs). Nothing about it on other websites. Does anyone have more information about this?
The Minneapolis Friends of the Library and holding out for a rules change
before agreeing to meld with the County Friends. The issue is that when
donations are given to HCL, it's policy is that the donor cannot specify which
library the money should go to. Whereas at MPL, donors (like neighborhood NRP)
can specify to which library donations are given. It's a big issue. Minneapolis
residents want to target funds to their neighborhood library and they do. The
Friends of MPL want the policy changed because there are still unspent Phase 2
funds from NRP.
A call or email to library board members is in order, unless you want to truck
out to Eden Prairie to have your voice heard in real time.
I want to clarify that the posting from Wizard Marks that her statement is
simply not true. As Executive Director of the Library Foundation of Hennepin
County, I want to clarify that donors have ALWAYS made gifts to the Library
Foundation that include designated gifts for specific libraries in the system,
specific programs, system wide initiatives and unrestricted gifts.
Minneapolis residents, as well as suburban residents and organizations can
designate gifts for their community and neighborhood libraries through the
Library Foundation, including funds from NRP. For more information about the
Library Foundation of Hennepin County, visit our website at
www.hclib.org/foundation.
Well, dang. I got the information from MPL employees who said that the HCL
policy does not allow donors to target resources to particular libraries.
Considering the post from from Friends of HCL Director Jane Johnson, it appears
that it is a FEAR of MPL employees that donors will not be allowed to target
money to specific libraries.
I understand their concern. For several years the acquisitions budget has been
robbed to pay for other things. The current budget for acquisitions for city
libraries is bupkis. It is MY fear that what little money there is will be used
to supply the new Central library and the community libraries will get the
paltry leavings. The acquisitions budget is already lopsided in favor of county
libraries.
On this list I talked about the CDs from Hosmer being confiscated by the
supervisor of the head librarian for Hosmer. Many of those CDs were returned to
Hosmer. When the crates with the CDs were delivered to Hosmer, the notes inside
the crates said "for Central." I should also say that this was done without the
knowledge of Director Amy Ryan.
Well, it turns out I was more right than wrong.
The county appointed library board wants the 4,500 member, 60 year-old, Friends
of the Minneapolis Public Library to dissolve itself, giving over its entire
membership to an umbrella department of the HCL system which, in turn will
spawn 41 + 1 (digital) mini Friends of the (fill in specific branch) Library.
The Friends object to the county high-handedly resolving to dissolve the
Friends. (I call this the cultural genocide gambit).
Also at issue is the donation policy (LB Policy 9). In 2004 HCL library policy
was that they accepted donations of money, but the library employees would
decide where to spend the money, the donor could not specify how the library
would use the money. The policy was often honored in the breach.
That policy was changed, but it still does not guarantee that donations will go
to the branch specified by the donor. Ergo, money like NRP money, for instance,
will not necessarily remain in the neighborhood libraries, nor does it
guarantee that money donated to community libraries will be used for the
purposes it was donated.
This is a hugely sticky wicket. If you want to donate money or collections to
the library, the library can either reject the donation, as they do in terms of
objects people have tried to donate to the library (books, original art work,
musical instruments), or accept money, but ignore the donator's wishes.
I would estimate that there is another six months of conversations between the
board and the Friends, but that there is by no means a meeting of the minds at
this point.
It was also clear that the county board has a steep learning curve to endure
while the learn to unite the two different cultural entities that comprise the
merged library. The instinct, announced from the beginning by insisting on the
name being Hennepin County Library, is that the county government will control,
through this >appointed< board, what and how much Minneapolis Libraries will be
supported.
My nightmares are coming to fruition. I hate when that happens.
We have been members of the FMPL for quite a few years. I will
vigorously protest any transfer of my name and dues into any county
wide whichimacallit. The donation gambit, I hope, will become a major
issue in the next round of commissioner elections. This high
handedness could be the spark that raises a fight to make the Hennepin
County library have an elected board that is independent from the
commissioners - who are in majority conservative republicans.
Minneapolis through its large population does have so far unused
powers. Shall we foment a movement to take back our library governance?
Jack Ferman
Kingfield Neighborhood
<email obscured>
On 8/28/08, John Ferman <jwferman@ties2.net> wrote:
> This high
> handedness could be the spark that raises a fight to make the Hennepin
> County library have an elected board that is independent from the
> commissioners - who are in majority conservative republicans.
Right on. Next we can do something about that city council who is a
majority of liberal DFLers and green party members. After that the
state senate which is a strong majority of liberal DFLers. Great
idea...
John Harris
webber-camden, mpls
Wizard, My nightmares too ... thanks to the Mayor and 7 council members. John, 'fomenting a movement' would take alot of legal $. Although described as 'air tight',a possibility the 'enabling legislation' itself was unconstitutional (it would take too long to describe here). Those suburban libraries are spacious and cool (Ridgedale, Eden Prairie) even tho you have a long bus ride out there. Unfortunate there will be even less staff to serve them..if not direct cuts, unfilled positions will remain unfilled unless the County board steps in. I learned last night that the Mpls Friends 4,500 members will be asked to vote on the takeover. Unlike the City decision forcing the library board to elimiate itself, at least we will have a vote in this 'merger'. Board jumped the gun and there are some very upset people. This item was the first politely contentious discussion I've observed since the merger. Appreciate Mr. Pacheco's amending somelanguage to be more sensitive to the Mpls Friends ... and the board member (sorry, I have learned them all yet) who made a point of requesting more testimony from the Friends before being asked to vote on it. Resolution passed as amended. Looked over the county's Friends policy....each library is required to have a Friends group. But 41 plus 1?..that's alot of 501(c)'s Question that I asked before the merger at the so-called public hearing held a month before the merger (and only because the legislature required one) ...what happens to my endowments, gifts? Was told by the city to ask the county. Same response given to everyone else at that hearing. Endowment looks 'safe' (don't mind sharing the art books with the County).. Hopefully the county won't tear out or 'exhume' the donated memorial shelving plaques (have one there) at Central...but ya never know. But...when I donated WWII memorabilia to Mpls Kittleson collection, I had a signed agreement (as does everyone) on how to dispose of the donation should the Mpls library not keep it. Included in that agreement was an option for ""RETURN"". Hennepin Co has a different policy. No acceptance unless its an outright gift. County retains all rights of disposal (sale, dump, etc.). see section below. Would this require contacting EVERYONE who has donated to Mpls. library ...special collections, art, books....ad inf. All policies (except admin) at: http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/board_policies.cfm *********Legal eagles....which policy prevails? ******** My agreement with Minneapolis or the County's policies? If there is a change, does the County need to 're-negotiate' my agreement? best wishes, cheryl luger nokomis east ps...resolution passed charging fines on kids/teen materials to bring Mpls into compliance with Co. policy.Other items in the resolution. Left before the last 2 items discussed...tried to get the chair's attention and request board members speak into the microphones...but was ignored. Finally passed a note to the clerk, and left. And....no, I wasn't the only one who couldn't hear, even with my sound amplifier device. This has happened at every meeting but one (library person lent me a set of headphones connected into their sound system), despite requests. Maybe the board members don't want to be heard. Is this ADA compliant, reasonable accommodation or failure to provide an alternative experience option? Will it take an ADA complaint to have them 'listen'? county donation policy: "... Donations of books and other materials may be made to the Hennepin County Library (HCL) and become the property of the Friends of the Library. Neither the Friends of the Library nor the Library will accept materials which are not outright gifts. All gifts must be in usable physical condition. Donated books and other materials (tapes, CD, DVD, etc) are sold at Friends Book Sales for the benefit of libraries within the Hennepin County Library system or given to Outreach. Because of limitations of space, money, and staff, the Library and Friends of the Library reserve the right to accept or discard, at its discretion, any donated materials. ..." I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed. --- Jonathan Swift
When the budget for the merged libraries comes out (next week?), I'm betting
that MPL libraries will get bupkis and suburban libraries will get the lion's
share of the resources. The claim will be that suburban libraries are larger
(though they often serve smaller populations). It is true that the square
footage of suburban libraries are greater than the footprints of all the
community and regional libraries in Minneapolis. However, it is also true that,
because of the shortage of funds, MPL libraries have not been sufficiently
stocked for several years.
As MPL libraries go downhill, it would be well to remember that the MPL board
never examined any other solutions than the merger. Remember the name Anita
Dukor, she was the leader of the laundromat to merge. The voices to examine
other options were rode over roughshod.
"As MPL libraries go downhill, it would be well to remember that the MPL board
never examined any other solutions than the merger. Remember the name Anita
Dukor, she was the leader of the laundromat to merge."
And also the only member of the Board who was NOT endorsed by the Minneapolis
DFL Delegates.
The mayor and the seven council members who voted for the merger were all
endorsed by the DFL.
This conversation has veered way off course. The issue, as I understand it
from Cheryl and others: An arranged marriage is in the works between the
Mpls Library Friends and the suburban library Foundation, and the two are
expected to come together as equals?
The suburban Foundation is a fraction the size of the Mpls Library Friends,
by any metric. And the Mpls Friends are much more than just a fundraising
arm. If the two are supposed to meet somewhere in the middle, we all loose
out.
Michael Schmitz: "The issue, as I understand it from Cheryl and others: An
arranged marriage is in the works between the Mpls Library Friends and the
suburban library Foundation, and the two are expected to come together as
equals? The suburban Foundation is a fraction the size of the Mpls Library
Friends, by any metric. And the Mpls Friends are much more than just a
fundraising arm. If the two are supposed to meet somewhere in the middle, we
all loose out."
What exactly can HCL do to FMPL? They can kick them out of their space
at Central Library. They can sever all means of contact. They can file
for an IRS order to rescind FMPL's 501(c)3; however, individual donrs
of property and money to FMPL could take various actions against HCL.
They can not seize any of the property or assets of the Friends. They
can not force FMPL to turn over the member list - there would be
privacy issues. The Friends board of directors could fire Anita - she
as ED is an employee. The board could take various actions against
Anita as a board member, if she is. We the people could take vengence
on Rybak and certain CCMs the next election cycle - so exactly who
voted against the merger. This needs to be kept alive for the next
city election. Step one: let the contribution checkbook snap closed.
John Ferman
<email obscured>