Friends of Library Launch Petition Drive
Prince George, B.C. – Friends of the Prince George Public Library have launched a petition drive.
President Margaret Johnston says it’s to remind the city of the importance of building a new library entrance.
“The library has needed a new entrance for quite some time. The most commonly used entrance is the one from the parking lot into the library and up those stairs. Initially it was thought that would be a trade entrance and down the road it would be made more appealing and secure but that hasn’t happened.”
She says council appeared to be on board with the need for an upgrade when in December 2013 they voted to set aside funds in the 2015 budget but notes those hopes were dealt a blow when a city report this month recommended council drop the library improvements from the funded category and postpone them to an unfunded option in 2017.
“There was a lot of disappointment about that because on average there’s about 900 visits daily to the library and they get a lot of complaints about security and safety in the underground parking area.”
In addition, Johnston says the outside stairs that lead from the Civic Centre are quite slippery and dangerous during winter and notes they can’t be used by anybody with mobility issues.
She says the $2.5 million originally set aside in the 2014 capital budget wouldn’t cover the entire cost but be would enough for the “city to work with.”
Johnston says the petition is circulating in various places around town including businesses and the library itself.
She says the goal is to obtain 2,000 signatures which she feels would “send a message.”
Johnston says they will submit the document by October 6 in hopes of having it on the agenda for discussion at a council meeting the end of that month.
“If nothing else it brings to the city’s attention that we think enhancing the entrance to the library and making it safe and secure is important to the residents of Prince George.”
Comments
lol, perhaps the library should look at what the city really needs to be spending money on before pushing for a new entrance? Didn’t they get a fancy new garden area last year, which I’ve never seen anybody use BTW
Yup, signed it. Heck, in the late 80’s it was an issue to use the ‘basement’ parking lot entrance; when I worked there. Come on city council; the sticking your head in the sand attitude about these problems, doesn’t make them go away.
I think a thorough audit of the library is necessary, before spending huge taxpayer dollars on it. We need to start asking some hard questions and find out exactly what the library is being used for.
In the digital age, this is basically an expensive building which warehouses books, the vast majority of which haven’t been checked out in years.
Stand alone Library’s are soon to become the way of the dinosaur. I understand the need for them at colleges and universities, but no place else. Also hate to,see the heating bill for,that thing.
Some of you really need to educate yourself on the role public libraries play in your community.
http://www.librariesareessential.com/why-are-libraries-essential/
The library provides numerous public services that go beyond “checking out books”.
Literary programs for pre-schoolers
Programs for teens
Outreach programs for Adults/Seniors
Public computers with internet access and databases for those that can’t afford the gear (yes there are plenty of people in such a situation)
For those of you who don`t use the online service or the bricks and motor library I would like to introduce you to a new word for you to learn. Troglodyte………….A cave dweller, one who lives in a cave….in the past…
The Prince George library is a warehouses.
It stores books; that contain information, history, and knowledge. We are way past painting on the wall of your abode.
The Prince George library is a meeting place, summer and winter.
The Prince George library is a place to read…which many do. They come to relax, read the paper and enjoy the sunshine, summer and winter.
The Prince George library is where youngsters go to find new stuff to read.
The Prince George library is a place for new mothers to bring their newborn to meet others.
The Prince George library is the home of Lego for four months of the year…you gotta watch the youngsters excited as can be, building things.
The Prince George Library is a meeting place.
The Prince George Library is a place to display art.
The one constant in all the communities that I have lived in is the library. It has always been a go to place for a broad section of the community; as a matter of fact, the Prince George Library is community.
Prince George City councillors…approve the funds for the upgraded entrance….we need a new front door!
The Library costs taxpayers about $4 Million per year to run, which includes about $2.7 Million in staffing, wages, and benefits. (according to the City’s website). These numbers are only going up.
The library is a very well used public facility. the number of people who visit per day and per year are much higher than many of our other civic buildings and programs. It’s always busy when I go. a community without a strong library isn’t a community. Let’s do it right and get this building entrance done properly, finally.
JB, what is your point regarding this capital expenditure?…this is not about operating costs. Or do you understand the difference?
I understand the difference between capital and O&M, runner. You obviously didn’t read my previous posts.
And I wouldn’t worry. The library will likely continue status quo for the foreseeable future. Nobody has the stomach for asking the hard questions or auditing the Library for usage to see if taxpayers are getting a good bang for their buck.
Revenue for the PG Public Library for 2013 was $4.2 million. $3.67 million was municipal funding. The rest came from provincial funding, late fee collection and public donations.
Since we’re on the subject of numbers going up…
– More than 3500 residents signed up for NEW Library Cards in 2013. That’s a 5% increase over the previous year, and does not include renewals.
– Library program attendance increased by 21%, with 1170 programs attended by 23,742 residents.
– There were 365,602 visits to the PG Public Library.
– Wireless internet access usage increased by 50%.
All of these are from the 2013 Annual Report. Sounds to me like it’s a well used facility.
Before making a decision on whether to fund this one should look back and see what project will be shifted to the unfunded pile if this beautification project were to procede.
If I remember it would be the shear strengthening of the Foothills Bridge, a project that started in the early 2000’s and should have been completed 8 or 9 years ago. I for one would rather see the money spent on making a major bridge safer to cross than making a book warehouse more pleasing to the eye. Do the engineers have a backup plan to eventually beef up the bridge eventually with some exotic African hardwood like the old Nechako bridge?
As the library project will do little to improve the functionality of the building it should be a lot lower in the funding pile than ensuring infrastructure like a 4 lane bridge is safe to use for the foreseeable future.
As increased taxes are a non-starter perhaps the “Friends of the Prince George Public Library” should collect some money with the signatures, maybe even get enough moola to move entrance away from the plaza with all the street dwellers using the bushes and benches in that area for bathrooms and a place to shoot up.
I swear there are people in this town that should be living in the bush somewhere.
A place that has ZERO public services, ZERO public facilities and of course ZERO municipal taxes…at the same time don’t come crying for fire protection, snow removal, ice for your kids to skate on, or pools for them to swim in. Personally I haven’t used the library in years, but my grandkids do! BTW, it’s not a beautification project, it’s a safety and ease of access project so before shooting your mouth off when you do not know what you are talking about do some research…and if you don’t believe me…send you daughter down there alone after dark some evening…see if she feels safe using the current entrance!
I would not allow my daughter anywhere downtown alone after dark never mind just the library lower entrance, even if the beautification project were completed it would still mean crossing the plaza/shooting gallery/open air toilets to reach the parking lots. Thanks,but no thanks!
The library had their turn at the front of the funding line and used the money to build a mezzanine level so it is to the back of the cue till other projects, like Foothills Bridge, are completed and they reach the front of the line again in 2017 or 2018.
BTW- Are they not asking for improvements to the lower entrance and new elevators too?
Nytehawk: “I swear there are people in this town that should be living in the bush somewhere.
A place that has ZERO public services, ZERO public facilities and of course ZERO municipal taxes…”
Despite the knee jerk reaction of a few, It is not a case of all or nothing. It is about looking for efficiencies and modernizing our facilities with the times.
We’ve got lots of public facilities, and they all should be reviewed and audited often to make sure they are providing maximum value for the taxpayer.
What does maximum value for the taxpayer mean JB? How do you measure that for a library?
I find it ironic that we are in the Information Age and people see to be advocating not needing a facility whose primary purpose is to facilitate the provision of information . . .
The City and the Library both provide Annual Reports which are audited by outside sources and thus reviewed. I’m not sure what kind of audit you’re looking for.
JB .. perhaps you should look in the library for some of the original research done by previous chief librarian Alan Wilson, financial researcher John Shepherd and a few other associates on a new and innovative method of establishing the actual financial value to the community of libraries, their services, assets and transactions. It has been recognized internationally as credible and innovative and has been published in leading journals. After reading the documentation, then perhaps you might be in a position to comment.
Until then, just carry on. Business as usual.
Nytehawk —> You are absolutely correct in identifying this as a public safety issue. Also, I am surprised that Worksafe BC hasn’t stepped in and made it a workplace safety issue. There is no way that the basement entrance would pass the current standards for a public building.
@PG101 The Knowledge Garden was privately funded and is well used by many community groups, including the library. Not sure where you are on those days??
Yup, It is a safety issue. The parking lot entrance has been a hang out for the panhandlers etc. for many years. I remember when we had a summer storm and it flooded! Elevator was out of service for ages!!!
To all the nay sayers–this is a well used public facility, it is not and never has been just a book warehouse. I can remember the good old days, when the library was on 4th!! 1959/60. The seniors centre now; it was a busy place then too!
NMG: “I find it ironic that we are in the Information Age and people see to be advocating not needing a facility whose primary purpose is to facilitate the provision of information . . .”
Nobody has said we don’t need the library. But I do know when you suggest something different or ask questions, people tend to get very defensive around here.
What did you suggest as different?
@ anotherside The parking level entrance is at street level. Because the library is built on a flood plain it was built on stilts. Fill was brought in and seeded on a couple of sides to disguise this- Grass skirt to hide the knobby knees if you like.
As this “pimp my building entrance” project does not include any parking stalls you can bet that those with mobility issues will still use the parkade as it is out of the weather and close to the elevators.
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