There is no doubt that the Oil City Library is a jewel of a community and regional asset.
Libraries say a lot about a community and communities and regions without good libraries are at a disadvantage educationally, recreationally and even in terms of economic development.
Recently the Oil City Library Commission requested that Cranberry Township support the library with a $4 per capita fee, the same per capita fee that is now contributed by the Borough of Rouseville and Cornplanter and President townships.
Currently, Cranberry picks up the $35 per household library card fee assessed residents of non-supporting communities for a library card when residents request the reimbursement. The amount of revenue generated for the library is minimal.
The $4 per capita contribution is only a fraction of what residents of Oil City pay to support the library.
And of course, everyone can come in and use all the library’s assets without a library card, other than checking out or ordering materials. People use it daily who do not have library cards (free to residents of the city and municipalities that contribute on a per capita basis).
The residents and elected officials in Rouseville, Cornplanter and President should be lauded for their per capita contributions to the library.
The truth is, such arrangements and ultimately a better way to distribute and cover the costs of the library and all our regional assets are necessary if we are to continue to have those assets.
As some point the residents of Oil City will be either unwilling or unable to shoulder a hugely disproportionate share to support the library and other regional assets. And they will be no different than the residents of any core community that hosts a regional asset and picks up most of the costs.
In the case of our libraries, perhaps a county library system is the answer. For other regional assets, such as our recreational facilities, perhaps a regional authority is a logical solution.
I do know that how we now support the library and other regional assets is not sustainable. If we don’t find a better way at some point those assets will be lost or significantly degraded and then everyone in the region will pay a very heavy price.
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15 comments:
Details, John. Details. An effective conversation (blog) cannot be conducted without access to the source information upon which you base your position. Otherwise, everything stated is just opinion.
Provide us, at a minimum, a link to all the data used by you.
This should be done for all position statements.
Thanks, Scott
Scott,
I'm not sure what additional details or source information would be helpful, but I will try.
Links are largely not available, since the data is not readily on-line.
The $4 per capita contribution from Rouseville, Cornplanter and President is a matter of public record.
A very conservative per capita support of the library figure for residents of Oil City is $26. It can be discerned by taking a look at the budget and deducting all the non-Oil City-taxpayer money brought in by the libary (contributions, grants, state funding, etc.) according to Library Director Bruce George.
Obviously, if others join in making a per capita contribution, the costs of the library are spread out. The same would be true for any other regional asset, such as the pool.
This blog is my thoughts and opinion on a range of issues relating to the city. I believe I have also formed that opinion on factual information, although certainly others might form a different opinion based on the same facts.
I agree with a county wide library system! This would cut down on costs for Franklin, Oil City, and Cooperstown by consolidating purchases and resources.
Cooperstown is a wonderful library which provides so many community activities, yet the librarian is paid a pitiful wage. If a county system was created I would hope this situation could be rectified!
As far as Cranberry goes - it would be wonderful if they would contribute the minimal amount of $4 per capita (I believe there was an article in the Derrick last week which supports your facts, John). It's hard for me to understand how this area with much greater sources of revenue can't afford to contribute that of smaller communities. If there was a county system at some point - it would be nice to see a Cranberry branch of the Venango County Library System. While I am not a huge fan of malls, a mall branch might encourage non-library users to give the libraries a try.
It is more than cutting down costs through joint purchases, etc, it would be everyone in the county helping to pick up the costs.
Additional branches would be nice, one is needed in the Emlenton area. A branch at the mall would be helpful. Still, preserving our core assets should be paramount.
If people are not willing to support assets like the library this is an indication that they don't think it is that valuable.
I think you are stretching when you suggest economic development depends on a good library.
Unfortunately, what some people think might not be that valuable has little relationship to something's real value.
I don't think it is a stretch to say good libraries are important to economic development.
A study by the Urban Institute released in 2007 said public libraries "build a community’s capacity for economic activity" and went into a fair amount of detail.
If you doubt the importance the major movers and shakers put on public libraries consider the funding Bill and Melinda Gates are pumping into them.
Technology companies look for communities that value education and knowledge and that have amenities desired by their workers. Libraries are high on the list. Without a good, high-quality public libary I truly think we lose the chance of attracting a lot of companies, we simply would not be in the running.
Councilman Bartlett, You're a very good liberal to tell us all what you think we need and what is best for us even if we feel we don't need it or want to pay for it. The library has been there all along so where are all the Technology companies that are moving in? So either the library isn't that good or your theory is wrong.
I don't think my reasoning is wrong: companies, especially companies that value an educated, world-view workforce, will place a higher value on communities with a library. In part, that is common sense. I also will point to the recent Urban Institute study and several others.
Our library, and Franklin's as well, indicates our communities and greater Venango County value education and life-long learning. The library is a symbol, and symbols mean a lot.
John, don’t bother posting this if you are going to edit my comments
PART 1
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Oil City Library
John Noel Bartlett said:
“I do know that how we now support the library and other regional assets is not sustainable.”
John, after my posting on the “Library” requesting details or links, you still haven’t provided any of substance. The direct quote at the beginning of this comment doesn’t provide supportive information either.
John Noel Bartlett wrote:
Monday, May 12, 2008
“Why?
That’s the question I have after learning that a resident apparently found it impossible to call the city staff or come to council and ask about questions and concerns he/she had regarding the city’s HOME grant.”
John, WRONG. I attended that meeting and directly after, asked someone about those suggestions and inquiries without satisfaction.
“Rather than do that, the individual wrote a letter to the regional federal Housing and Urban Development office alleging that the city might be intending to place restrictions or requirements on the program beyond those permitted under federal regulations.”
John, Isn’t that what was talked/suggested about – requirements to add fencing, landscaping, etc? I suppose you don’t do your own background investigation. Why can’t I?
“Apparently he/she misunderstood something that was said during last week’s work session as we – council members – asked the staff about the program and how it could be used and its requirements.”
John, I don’t believe there was a misunderstanding at all. My recollection is that both someone and someone, without offering a resounding “NO”, did state that the HOME grant guidelines related to the structure only. Still, the question persisted in various forms at the meeting. Of particular concern to me was that the cost of these additional requirements be borne by the applicants. The HOME program targets low income individuals/families and as such, these requirements/restrictions would potentially disqualify the targeted population.
“Of course the individual’s letter immediately raised questions with federal officials about our pending grant application, which were passed on to the state officials who administer the program who called the city for clarification. The call could easily have been made by the individual.”
John, I talked with HUD (Pittsburg) and via emails with DCED (Harrisburg) for clarifications after describing the aforementioned potential add-on requirements. Wouldn’t you go to the fountainhead? They took it upon themselves to contact the City. I had neither requested nor encouraged this.
“There is no doubt that the city’s application, which council approved tonight (May 12) will now be under the microscope and receive an exceptionally severe review for any possible flaws. And it is unnecessary.”
John, Its now been over a year. Did any of this prediction come true? If so, prove it.
Part 2
“If a person has a concern about how council or the city intends to do something, why not ask about it, especially if they believe there might be some violation of federal or state program guidelines. If they still believed that after seeking explanation, they still have the option of taking their concerns to state and federal officials.”
John, That’s exactly what I did and in that order.
“I would be saddened and deeply bothered if an individual felt they could not come to council or the staff with their concerns and receive a fair and honest appraisal and/or explanation. I’m bothered, but angered, if the reason they did not seek explanation was out of some desire to play “gotcha.””
John, Do you mean: come to you?
“The HOME program has the potential to greatly help eligible homeowners bring their properties up to code in one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods, which will help everyone who lives there and anywhere within the city. We’ve used the program with great success in the past.
We need to all work together in a cooperative fashion to address our housing issues and the needs of our residents. Jumping to conclusions and failing to seek clarification before raising allegations of program violations doesn’t strike me as being very helpful.”
John Noel Bartlett said: “Jumping to conclusions and failing to seek clarification before raising allegations…”
John, Isn’t that what you just did? And publicly too. At least I conducted my fact finding quietly and planned to present my results to Council only. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the State beat me to that end.
Besides my responses displayed throughout the “Why” blog; if you’ll remember, I talked to you about this offline and provided printouts of all emails concerning this matter late last summer (2008).
What bothers me is that you invariably respond to commenters on each blog, and while I did not respond in the blog, you suggested that I do so, rather than yourself. Well, I am commenting now.
I don’t doubt the sincerity of your beliefs, comments, and positions. But, it appears to me that you ask us to accept them without question. At Council meetings that I attended in the past, you did the same thing. You probably have the information to back you up. You just don’t offer to share it (or rather “volunteer” it).
I’m losing faith (in you).
More to come if requested.
By the way, the two questions about landlord compliance and opposition (separate offline topic) were not rhetorical in nature. I did expect an answer. However, I will give you credit in that you are the only one who has responded thus far.
Scott,
I think to some degree we have to agree that we are going to see things somewhat differently.
First, regarding the library and regional assets. I thought what I posted in response to your request for details was substantive. I don't know what more I can say. The quote you reference is my opinion, as is every post I make in the blog.
And it is my opinion that the way we fund regional assets, such as the library, is unsustainable. My reasoning is a small group faces ever increasing costs to maintain the regional assets and they can only afford so much, or are only going to willingly pay so much. If we spread the costs around, it becomes more equitable and more affordable for all.
On the other subject. I continue to stand my my original blog on the subject. I believe the approach was wrong and that it would have been most appropriate to ask the specific question of council and the city staff. If you think you did so at a council meeting, we might have been talking past one another. That happens. There was some confusion that night, in part because of the questions some members of council had. Actually, I think that is what prompted your concerns.
It could easily have been clarified and straightened out by stopping in and asking.
Can I prove that our application was given greater scrutiny -- No. But given human nature and the responsibilities facing the folks that reviewed it, I have to assume that was likely.
If you have lost faith in me, I'm sorry. I think everyone on council tries to be as forthright and as transparent as possible. Believe, we don't always agree.
People who disagree with us philosophicall or even personally should make their objections known. I think I've been more than fair providing you this space.
John,
It seems everybody in politics is transparent these days, to bad (and I'm not suggesting that you aren't)most of them are not. It also seems that a certain blogger is needing his fifteen minutes of fame. After his peice in the paper where he taught another driver a lesson he's now coming to you. The thing is, if you want transparent government the blogger might try being transparent himself. Or not, one never knows.
To “Anonymous,” post #12, date 9/15/09 under The Oil City Library.
What is not transparent in my post? Please elaborate. I will address your response point by point on this forum, if John allows, or we can do it offline. My email address is: srsmail1@verizon.net (cut & paste works best).
How is posting as “Anonymous” transparent? Have some courage and be willing to stand publicly when expressing your thoughts. Don’t feel you have been singled out. I feel this way about all “Anonymous” postings.
If I hadn’t identified myself on the post, would you have been able to make the connection to the Letter to the Editor I submitted about the driver? On that note, please feel free to use my name instead of “certain blogger.” I won’t be offended. Really.
Posting my identity publicly may not make friends, but at least readers know who it is and what I stand for. That’s TRANSPARENT.
I would encourage John to not accept “Anonymous” posts. My belief is that if you are afraid to step up to the plate publicly, then you can’t really be all that serious about your comments, opinions, et cetera.
On the other hand, if you wish to, but don’t know how to create an account – contact John. He is responsible for this forum and should be able to guide you through the process.
Thanks, Scott Smail
Ps “It seems everybody in politics is transparent these days, to bad (and I'm not suggesting that you aren't) most of them are not.” It is hard to reconcile “everybody” and “most” in this statement.
Folks,
I would rather avoid the back and forth between individuals, anonymous or not. I appreciate everyone's comments and interests even when diasagreeing.
I've struggled from the very beginning on whether or not to allow anonymous comments. I do because I believe it draws more people to the conversation. It is fraught with difficulties.
One thing I think I'm going to do in the future is when a comment moves the subject far from my original post, create a new post.
John
John, I like the anonymous option. Who cares who we are if we have a good point. It's a lot like the "SPRAY" in the Derrick that frequently takes pot shots at folks and politicians. Who is the "SPRAY" anyway? Isn't it hypocritical that they use that column to shoot their mouths off but the paper won't print anonymous letters to the editor? How is that fair? This forum is great.
This is a small town and many people have high profile jobs that preclude them from speaking freely. That is just the way it is. As long as something isn't abusive or harmful, what does the comment hurt? It could actually help and I am convinced it does.
You, John, are the one willing to stick your neck out and take criticism from anonymous posters and good for you! You recognize it is needed and you can take it. I just wish this blog was more widely read and used.
BTW - I'll bet the SPRAY writer will hear about this post!!! Where else would he or she be able to see it anonymously like their comments? I'll tell you - no where!
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