I read in today's News-Gazette that the Champaign Public Library (which isn't free, either) is finally getting ready to begin construction on it's $29.4 million new library project.
It's hard (impossible?) to argue that the Champaign library needs replacement. It pretty much needed replacement about a year after they opened the doors on the old glass and sheet-metal monstrosity.
For the next who knows how long, Champaign library patrons are gonna be crammed into limited space and forced to search for limited parking. But, judging from the pictures and schematics in the library's lobby, it certainly will be worth the inconvenience.
This is all, of course, dependent on the Champaign City Council finally deciding just how to pay for the project.
From the NG:
The council will meet at 7 p.m. at the City Building, 102 N. Neil St. After its regular meeting, the council will discuss how to borrow the money to pay for the $29.4 million library.We're this far along in the proceess and the council hasn't decided this yet? I guess I just don't understand government....
The borrowing will be in the form of city-issued bonds, and the discussion Tuesday will center around whether the council feels comfortable playing the interest-rate market or locking in a rate.
The city's financial staff is recommending the latter.
My only other question is: Urbana spent $8.9 million; Champaign's gonna spend $29.4 million and what will we end up with? Sure, two very nice libraries. Two very nice main libraries with two sets of administrations, two governing bodies, two complete staffs, two everything.
Why isn't there ONE library district with ONE main library and a number of branches, governed by ONE body with one budget?
Or am I being naive again?
And so it goes.
2 comments:
If there was one district, it would tax and grow, and grow, and grow into neighborhoods that don't want it, like Cherry Hills, or Savoy, or Wibur Heights.
And we would get books that were seldom used, maybe one or two readers per year, rather than books with lots people reading them.
And if there was one district, then they could belch smoke out their rear ends, just like....
See, I KNEW there was a downside.... just gotta think this through.
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