Download The Friends' 2008 Advocacy Position Paper (1MB)

The Saint Paul Public Library contributes to the economic development of Saint Paul, addressing such pressing issues as literacy, workforce training, small business vitality and community quality of life. The Library is a dynamic tool to support our City’s economic growth as it:

1. Contributes to long-term economic success by increasing levels of school readiness. The Library reaches young children and families in diverse neighborhoods with early literacy services that are the first link in a chain of investments needed to build the educated, globally competitive workforce for the knowledge economy.
2. Prepares workers with new technology resources for employment and career advancement. With public computers, Internet access, and media products, the Library is a first point of entry for many technology users. Now that work readiness, search and application information are all online, library job search and career services focus on using and building technology skills.
3. Lowers barriers to market entry for small businesses, creating new jobs. The Library is the best source for new online business databases that reach entrepreneurs around the clock. When the Library provides business development workshops and research, prospective and existing small businesses advance, and new jobs are created.
4. Encourages community development. Libraries are highly regarded destinations. They contribute to stability, safety and quality of life in neighborhoods. Among private sector developers, libraries are recognized for the ability to attract tremendous foot traffic and complement neighboring retail and cultural destinations.

The City of Saint Paul is at a Crossroads
Due to the Governor’s veto of the 2008 tax bill earlier this year, the City lost an estimated $10.2 million of expected revenue through Local Government Aid (LGA). Facing a gap of $17 million just to maintain current services, the Mayor instructed the Library Director to trim up to $300,000 from the Library’s budget. However, based on an expectation that a special session of the Legislature will convene later this year to reinstate some or all of the vetoed LGA for 2008, the City has had to propose two budget alternatives. The Friends, therefore, advocates for Library support in light of those same possible scenarios; assuming LGA is restored (“Plan A”), with a backup position (“Plan B”) if the State fails to act.

PLAN A:
The Friends applauds the Mayor’s commitment to closing no libraries and maintaining levels of service hours, however, if a special session of the Legislature reinstates much of the anticipated $10.2 million in LGA, The Friends asks the City to make an added $587,350 investment in its outstanding civic development asset, the Saint Paul Public Library, by committing in 2008 to:

1. No cuts to the Library’s operating budget, with adjustments for inflation.
2. A technology initiative to include:
   Improvements to the website to make it more attractive, user-friendly and robust. With over 1.1 million hits last year, the Library’s website was its busiest branch, but it is woefully understaffed and at risk of being out-of-date, with limited functionality. We must commit the necessary resources to this important public amenity available 24/7. ($80,000)
   Upgrades to the Library catalog, making searches deeper and more global in locating all types of media and resources in the collection – books, databases, encyclopedias, magazine and journal articles, directories and business resource centers, etc. – and enhancing ease of use. ($39,350)
   Hardware and software upgrades to public access computers bringing them up to a basic level of capability for commonly required applications and services. The Library needs to provide resources and information in formats in which it is made available, as well as in media that people use. ($20,000)
   Digital collection enhancements – The Library looks to technology to provide new means of content delivery that are more cost efficient and have greater reach than loaning physical books. These enhancements include:
   — Electronic databases to support workforce training, homework help and small business development. ($100,000)
   — Downloadable books and music – The internet has the potential to make low-cost, wide-scale access to public library content a possibility. ($38,000)
3. A literacy specialist to work extensively with early literacy and children’s after-school programming. The critical years of infancy to 5-years-old determine how ready to learn children are when they arrive at school. Starting school with literacy aptitude and skills gained through the Library guarantees a lifetime of success. ($70,000)
4. Fire and security systems for nine branch libraries to ensure the safety and security of our libraries and their assets - including staff and users. ($90,000)
5. Restoration of Sunday hours at Rice Street and Merriam Park branch libraries — neighborhoods where the libraries are heavily used by families with young children and teens. These vital resources need to be available when residents are most likely to use them. ($150,000)
6. Investing in our future, today. We need to address the long-term capital needs of the Library and bring our facilities up to 21st century standards. By adequately maintaining our capital investments, we can prevent relatively minor repairs from becoming major expenses, but it takes vision and commitment from our leaders. While it has been estimated that $57 million will ultimately be required to bring all of our facilities up to standards, during the next 3 to 4 years, we ask that the City issue $10 million in library bonds for renovation of existing branch libraries at Sun Ray, Highland Park and West Seventh, and construction of a new branch library on the East Side.
   

PLAN B:
If the State fails to restore any additional LGA, The Friends asks the City to continue demonstrating its commitment to the Saint Paul Public Library in 2008 by:

1. Making no cuts to the Library’s budget, with adjustments for inflation.
2. Issuing $10 million in library bonds for making strategic capital investments in neighborhoods with economic and social challenges, renovating existing branch libraries, and constructing a new branch library – with both public and private, external partners – on the East Side.

FRIENDS’ MATCH:
In order to facilitate and support this commitment to the Saint Paul Public Library, The Friends offers to match City funds in two ways –

Plan A: If the City increases by $587,350 its investment in the Saint Paul Public Library, The Friends will match that with $200,000 in private funds for both the purchase of books and materials, and support of Library programs and services. Additionally, The Friends will raise $10 million in private funds to supplement Library renovations and improvements.

Plan B: If the City issues Library bonds for long-term capital investments, The Friends will raise $10 million in private funds to supplement Library renovations and improvements, continuing its pursuit of a vision that the Saint Paul Public Library is among the foremost library systems in the United States.