What library?

But most of that money that was take from the libraries in 2002/2003 was a direct result of the previous admin in the state and its miss manage of the state budget for one thing or another. Gotta take money from somewhere. This time around Ed atleast was to keep money for libraries. It was the republicans in the senate that wanted to slash everything to balance a budget. Blame them. Now we have this crap for table games,,,go to Atlantic City for that or Vegas.

As someone previously mentioned in a post, where was the mayor and all the rest of these so called elected officals for all the community meetings that happened. The mayor's office does have a representive on the so called board. Does he not talk with his staff about what they are doing?

Actually Tom Ridge and Mark Shweiker left the state, especially the libraries in pretty good shape by the time "Fast Eddie" took office.  Libraries gave no priority with this governor, nor with state legislators unless it's a library in their district.  Then it's the most important issue on the agenda -- until it isn't.  Where's Chelsea Wagner been all this time?

To Mark A....for your information...Chelsa Wagner has been the ONLY one on our side, fighting this LONG before it became an issue.  More than Motznik, much more than Fontana, and certainly much more than her Auditor General uncle...who I don't know how he can still live in Beechview for how run down he let it get without lifting a damn finger.  You better do your homework.

There is no reason any library should close. My opinion comes from 20 years of management experience. There is only one problem --- mismanagement--- lack of accountabilty and lack of fiscal responsibility. When a Director starts talking of cutting hours, closing lbraries and cutting staff,  it's to pressure the public to pressure the politicians to give the money to the library...why you ask? Because the Director is more of a politician and hasn't a clue on how to run a library. This idea Ms. Mistick presents is clearly one I'm sure she got a B on as a first year library student...the paradigm has changed. It's time to sell the horse and buggy and try to understand we're in 2009 and apply the ideas of managing a library that has come out in the last few years.  

The board needs to find a Director that can make the tough decisions to keep all libraries open and staff on board. I've been around long enough to know from the numbers I'm seeing thrown around it could be done. I see something like 70 to 72 % of CLP funding is from RAD and 60 % of total is salary --- stop hiring friends and friends of friends and giving crazy raises.

But the bigger problem is that CLP and ACLA are "buddies" on this EINetwork thingie. Marilyn Jenkins the Director of ACLA has gotten $20,000 in raises over 3 years.  Ms. Jenkins use to be on the advisory board to the RAD...conflict of interest? Onxce again we need a Director that is a Director and not a crony.

We should look at the direction ACLA gives directors when it comes time to file the annual report to the state. Monies not spent is the money ACLA should be taking and redistributing. In that way ACLA would be holding the libraries accountable for the taxpayers dollars. But this take someone othe than a crony with political favor. To have a county system run by one entity that entity must be there at the beginning. If you try and obsorb already functional libraries into a county system libraries will be lost. History shows it will be the libraries in the poorer communities that  need it the most. These communities do not have the political connections to stop the closing usually.

 ACLA will continue to grow and the only way of increasing the ACLA budget is by cutting the libraries funding. The RAD Board also needs someone that is a visionary and understand the communities needs and fiscal responsibility.

Mistick maybe a Mistake?

ALF Watching

 SAVE OUR LIBRARIES!!

Rally at City Council Open Hearing Tuesday, October 27th 10 am

Now is an absolutely crucial time for showing your support for our neighborhood libraries. We can stop branch closings and get our politicians to commit to real long-term funding in this election time. They've already started discussions so let's keep the pressure on and make it happen!

3 Rivers
6 Rings
19 Branches
NO LESS.

Show up with signs and friends.

City Council Building
414 Grant Street
Downtown Pittsburgh

YOU CAN ALSO:

- Write a letter to the editor
- Call the Mayor's 311 Line
- Call your County Council Representative

In looking at this list, we can see it's a throwback to a muxh earlier day when both the city and county funded the library, and boards of trustees were assumed to be patrician and looking out for the best interests of the little guy.

This is an example of a grossly archaic structure that hasn't kept up with developments in the world of libraries and civic administration; neither the city nor the county provide direct funding of any substance to the library.  The idea of "Life Trustees" is quaint, but rife with patrician and Tamany Hall like overtones.  This board is also ridiculousuly large and neither agile or able to respond to today's needs.

The following should seriously be considered before further public funding is provided to the Carnegie.

1. Reduce the Board size from 36 to 21, and eliminate the emeritii positions altogether.

2. Provide for 1 Mayor's representative, 1 from City Council, 1 from County Councel and 3 from the RAD.  Additionally there should also be 2 staff and 2 at-large community representatives.  The reamining 11 members would be general board members serving fixed terms.

The time has come to bring the Carnegie Library into the 21st Century.

So here is the library being two-faced again, coming on the heels of Saturday's promise to work with the city to keep the branches designated for closure open.  Doug Shields has proposed grants from City Council over two years that provide 50% of what the library claims is needed to close its current shortfall.  According to the PG's report (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09302/1009262-100.stm) on City Council funding 600,000 a year for 2 years, the library already looks to be backpedaling.

"Lou Testone, financial committee chair, alluded to stopgap funding as just that this morning. Without a permanent, "sustainable" increase in revenue, the branches will be closed eventually, he said.

The deck is stacked against them based on population and operating costs, he said. The Lawrenceville branch needs millions of dollars in rehabilitation work, while the West End and Mt. Washington buildings are unsuited to today's handicapped access laws.

Any quick fix would only buy time to "continue the dialogue," Mr. Testone said."

I thought the goal was to have a continuing conversation, and to involve both the city and county governments.  As for Lawrenceville's rehab needs, and ADA compliance at the other two locations; we keep hearing about what a successful capital campaign the library had, and that capital and operating dollars are separate.  Well, aren't these needs capital needs?  seems to me like the money is there.

Mark A--

Why are you being so negative? You're right, it's 50%, it's at least a start. Let's see where this goes...it seems you're already jumping to conclusions about the outcome. I don't think this is going to get solved overnight. 

Lucille,

If I'm being negative, it's a reflection on my faith in the library's board - or at least Mr. Testone, and not on the very laudable efforts of Mr. Shields and City Council.  It would be a very pleasant surprise if the Mr. Shields' proposal passes, leaving the library along with either the city, county or both to come up with the remaining 50%.  Given the success of the Pittsburgh Foundation's efforts yesterday and today, perhaps even less is needed to buy a year's time for everyone to come up with a sustainable package.

My fit of negativity is due to Mr. Testone's stated reasons why things won't work, yet the library is sitting on many millions of dollars or pledges of dollars for capital needs - the very items Mr. Testone rattled off.

 Where's the Problem? Any Library Board looking seriously for a Library Director has in the ad "required: a Library Science degree from an ALA accredited school". When someone is hired without the required credentials it usually means old crony time down at  the  "club" to give someone a favor and who cares about the community. These decision makers look at taxpayers as their "subjects" in their kingdom.  My searches on the web did not bring up any MLS degree for Dr Mistick (Zoominfo).  If in fact Mistick doesn't have a degree in library science it explains the poor management of a library, mismanagement of funds, but first business of the day is to give thyself a HUGE raise and decisions to close libraries. DOES MISTICK HAVE AN MLS?  If she does...it's embarassing.  The board defends this salary? I hope when the board compares CLP to other libraries they also look at the directers credentials, the conditions of the buildings and if the director has been jet setting around the world and partying at the "club".  Heck some library budget is being cut by ACLA just so Mistick can retain that all important membership. If it's that important ACLA should work membership for all library directors into the ACLA budget...it's that important! Face it anyone supporting the decisions being put forth by CLP and ACLA at this time should be ashamed of themselves.  But they won't be..they don't care as long as they can still siphon off the money into their own pockets. The Board should start making moral decisions that any person with a conscience could live with and stop the corruption in libraries in my opinion. Remember the elected officials and vote them out if they continue supporting this line of managment, that's mayors, house reps, senator and anyone else you can vote out.

ALF

"for your information...Chelsa Wagner has been the ONLY one on our side, fighting this LONG before it became an issue. "

Maybe nobody knows this but Chelsea Wagner VOTED for the bill that CUT funding to public libraries. So, next time she's out grandstanding at her rallies, maybe you could ask her why she voted to CUT LIBRARY FUNDING.