Last fall, Mayor R.T. Rybak proclaimed the need for a long-term solution to the Minneapolis Public Library’s budgetary problems. As a result the City Council did not provide any ongoing additional funds to the Minneapolis Public Libraries. The Library Trustees said the one-time money was not sufficient, even in the short-term, and they closed Webber Park, Southeast and Roosevelt Libraries. Simultaneously two committees were addressing the long-term budgetary issues; the Library Advisory Committee (LAC) and the Committee on the Future of Libraries in Hennepin County. They came to the same conclusion; it is time for the Hennepin County Libraries and the Minneapolis Public Libraries to become one premier system. This plan has been referred to as a merger, a consolidation, a takeover, and the only hope for reopening our closed libraries; which of course includes Webber Park Library.
The vision of the Futures Committee is, “To be a premier library system in the country by building on the strengths and talents of the Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Library Systems.” The new system, as proposed by both committees, would be named the Hennepin County Library, and would be a department of Hennepin County, under the direction of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and library director. There would be a 10-member Library Board which would be advisory to the Commissioners. This new board would be appointed and would be at-large, (not elected, as in Minneapolis). It was also agreed that for three years only, three of those appointments would go to residents from the City of Minneapolis. Minneapolis would transfer a 15-library system to Hennepin County, (meaning the closed libraries would be reopened). Minneapolis would pay to reopen and operate the three libraries during the first three years. The effective date of consolidation would be on or before December 31, 2008, if enabling legislation is offered and approved by the State of Minnesota legislators.
There has been a varied response to this plan from the public, but both the Minneapolis Library Trustees and the Minneapolis City Council approved moving forward with the plan. The only dissenting votes were from Library Trustee, Laura Waterman Wittstock and City Council members, Diane Hofstede and Cam Gordon. Mayor Rybak pledged $2.1 million from the city’s general fund to re-open Webber Park, Roosevelt and Southeast Libraries. The funding is part of the City’s effort to unify the two systems, and would be available pending legislative approval for the merged systems. The Minnesota House approved legislation that would open the door to the merger. In addition, the House omnibus K-12 Education Finance bill includes a one-time appropriation of $4,500,000 to assist with the cost of the merger. It is the County Commissioners who have slowed the train. They have tabled approval of the plan three times, pending resolution of some sticky labors differences. Minneapolis library employees generally make more per hour, have a shorter work week and receive more vacation days than Hennepin County employees. Hennepin County employees have a stronger retirement plan.
The approval to move forward was not without angst from some of the Minneapolis Library Trustees who voted for it. An elected board has been running the 122 year old system for 80 years. Trustees Alan Hooker and Laura Waterman Wittstock have expressed concern about the lack of transparency for the public, the speed at which this is moving forward and the change to an appointed board. Alan Hooker and Rod Krueger have both pointed out that this is just a vote to move forward, but not the final vote in the process.
Commissioner Stenglein expressed “100 percent support” for the consolidation. He said he does not like to see dark buildings, but he did state that the labor differences would have to be overcome. He is also open to “renovations or relocating Webber” Park Library. Commissioner Mike Opat expressed concern for the consolidation in terms of what it would mean to his suburban constituents. “For the City the benefits are many. The small libraries now closed will most certainly be re-opened. Hours at all Minneapolis libraries will be expanded. Scheduled remodeling will continue. The system will once again be solvent and not headed for bankruptcy. For suburban county residents, the benefits are much harder to define. Most will see no benefit whatsoever, but they may receive some, in terms of back office savings,” stated Commission Opat. As for the future of Webber Park Library, Commissioner Opat said, “Without a County system, Webber will likely remain closed into the foreseeable future. With a County system there are many possibilities, including a new library on a more accessible site.”
The next two years will be very interesting in regards to our libraries, and if you are interested, it will be important to stay actively engaged. The Minneapolis Public Library was founded in 1885 by visionary people, and its roots date back to 1859. Walker, Taylor, Countryman, Hosmer, Webber are just some of the names that are associated with the legacy that is the Minneapolis Public Library system. Its creation was itself a merger of sorts, in which the Minneapolis Public Library grew out of the private library association; The Minneapolis Athenaeum. The Minneapolis Library and the Minneapolis Athenaeum signed a 99-year contract to share resources and this action made libraries and their resources accessible to all people. It was known as “The People’s University.” Hennepin County Library sprouted from the Minneapolis Public Library system in 1922, and was housed out of the Central Library for many years to come.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who created our Minneapolis Public Libraries out of a merged system, in 1885. Perhaps the Hennepin County and Minneapolis Library merger is just such a visionary action. Great things can come from visionary actions of courage, which are tempered with skeptical inquiry and the wisdom that comes with historical knowledge. Let’s move forward, but not too fast.