Library Board votes to close Webber Library
By: Staff 12/01/2006
At its October 25 meeting, the Minneapolis Public Library’s Board voted to close three neighborhood libraries in January – Webber Park, Southeast and Roosevelt – and to close Central Library on Mondays in order to balance the library budget for the next three years. However, new funding options presented by Mayor Rybak and discussed at the City Council Ways and Means Committee presented the possibility that these libraries might be shuttered rather than sold or additional permanent funds might be found.
The 12 remaining libraries will be open five days a week including Saturday and will have consistent hours. There will be no staff lay-offs and staff at the three closed libraries will move to new sites, including two community libraries – North Regional and East Lake – that were under renovation and are scheduled to open in early 2007.
While the Minneapolis Public Library has 15 sites, because of construction and renovation, only 13 have been open at any time since 2003. Some libraries, including the two of the three slated to close, have been open only three days a week since dramatic budget reductions in 2004.
Mayor Rybak offered $1.1 million in one-time funds to help the Library forestall the sale of the three neighborhood libraries pending a possible permanent increase in LGA funds in 2007. He also supported converting capital and referenda dollars from closed libraries into operating dollars for longer hours of service at remaining libraries. And Council Member Barb Johnson is going to serve on a Hennepin County task force to examine our mutual library systems and look at ways to work together (see page 5).
The Board’s decision will be finalized in December when the 2007 budget is adopted. Contact the mayor, city council and library board members and let them know what you think about closing or funding libraries: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council, www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/mayor and www.mpls.lib.mn.us/boardadmin.asp#board.