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Donít push, itíll happen

I suspect my comments here will put me at odds with the pro-library crowd, but I think some of these things need to be said.
First of all, Iíve heard absolutely no one saying we donít need libraries. So minds can be eased that there are people out there who oppose building new buildings and filling them with books and all manner of modern communication equipment to bring knowledge to people of all ages.
Secondly, I have covered the Chisago County Board meetings for almost four years now and I know very well the importance now chairman Ben Montzka places on libraries. He has dutifully kept the board apprised of the happenings of the East Central Regional Library, the process of planning for a new library in Wyoming and has pushed for added hours for other area libraries.
He has nothing but the best intentions when it comes to providing library services to the people of this county.
Knowing this, however, I was still surprised when a full-fledged proposal appeared at the June 4 board meeting for bonding for millions of dollars to build or improve area libraries.
Even more startling was the timeline proposed and adopted to move ahead so quickly with a decision to tax, albeit outside of the general taxation formula, county residents for funding libraries.
It was not a few months ago that many people were screaming about the ìfast trackî of the nursing home proposal and now it has to be libraries and ìright now.î
Much reference is made to the studies by task forces in recent years. I have read much of the paperwork produced by these groups.
In May of 1995, a citizen task force offered recommendations with ìbuildingsî being number 7 in a list of 9. Parking was noted as a problem in North Branch and Rush City. The final sentence under buildings reads as follows: ìThe size of the libraries, though small, is not as much a consideration as what is housed in them.î
Number 8 was a recommendation for a five-year plan to build a new library at Wyoming.
Number 9 pertained to the Lindstrom library. It said, ìthe Lindstrom library remains a viable and important element in the Lindstrom, Center City, Chisago City area. It is our recommendation that this branch continue to be fully supported by ECRL.î
There were, in fact, recommendations in a 1999 county task force report to the county commissioners for expanded facilities. The task force, however, recommended that facilities should continue to be the responsibility of the local city where the library is located.
It was the recommendation of this task force that a new library be built in Wyoming and that the local community should cooperate with adjacent townships to maximize the revenue input.
It was suggested that when the new Wyoming facility is completed, additional subsidy be provided by the local community or the county at large to increase the number of hours.
A survey, although only 26 responded, showed a majority preferring a larger regional library located within 10 miles of Wyoming that could be open 65 hours a week to a small library in Wyoming that would be open about 25 hours a week.
The 1999 task force recommendation also suggested that rental facilities be considered as an alternative to construction, being preferred in a service area until the population is over 10,000.
It suggested that shared facilities would be a desirable option if location, access and service needs of the library function are met.
In a 2002 Strategic Plan, approved by the East Central Regional Library Board, expanded services received top billing on a list of concentrations for goals.
These services included reaching out to the underserved with new programs, emphasizing services to pre-school children, finding better ways to use the bookmobile, expanding services to the nursing and retirement homes and finding innovative ways to encourage children to use the library.
Following all this was library buildings.
Expanded hours took priority here with encouragement for larger, better planned library buildings.
Lindstrom was encouraged to join with other local government entities to consider a joint facility. And that is being done.
North Branch people were encouraged to discuss with local government officials a possible joint use building. And they have.
All this information and more was included in a document about three-fourths of an inch thick that was before the commissioners in June.
It is true that the task force reports recommended construction of new library buildings, but there was also emphasis on services and technology that appeared to be as important, many times coming before building recommendations.
Emphasis is constantly being placed on the fact that per capita spending for libraries is very low in this county, as in the five-county regional library system.
Yet, here in Chisago County we have a library in Rush City, North Branch, Lindstrom and a bookmobile stop in Wyoming. In Isanti County there is a library in Cambridge and bookmobile stops to make up the difference throughout the county.
Yes, I understand space is limited. And I have been in the libraries when they are buzzing like a beehive with activity. Thatís good, isnít it? So a person has to wait for a few minutes to get help. A library is supposed to be a quiet, relaxed place of study, research and learning, not a fast-food scene where every need must be met instantaneously.
When it is pointed out that there is not adequate library service in this county, I think of the people in the northern end who do not have adequate roads. It took over 30 years for County Road 9 to get blacktopped- 30 years. To date there are still many county roads up there that are impassable or nearly so in the spring or during wet times of the year.
It becomes life and death if emergency vehicles cannot get to the people.
Chisago County currently pays $372,539 to the East Central Regional Library system.
I bring all this to your attention because I see panic and fear prevailing with good-intentioned people afraid that library services wonít be improved.
I truly donít believe that will be the case.
The proposal for bonding makes some sense. And I think what I hear from all of the commissioners is that they support the concept and will support the proposal when the time is right.
But there are many things to consider this year. Not only has the state aid been reduced for townships, cities and counties, but more services are needed and that demands more money from the taxpayers.
Taxpayers are already burdened with major increases for schools, as necessary as they are.
And if you follow the unemployment trends for the county, you will see that Chisago is already higher by at least 2 percent than the state average and increasing. Lay-off is becoming an all too familiar word among the workers in this county. Hard times are already here for many of our families. Added taxes for the low-income, the unemployed and those on fixed incomes will be devastating.
So when a proposal comes before the people, rapidly and with such intensity, one that will require more money from already stretched family budgets, you can understand why there is reluctancy on the part of some county commissioners to wait - wait at least until the impact of the lost state aid is known on services provided by the county.
I applaud every one who stood and advocated for the library bonds, but I implore you to have patience.
If you donít push too hard and too fast, I think it will happen.

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