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Yes yesyes. Yehhsssssssss. You betcha. Yes.

It so happens I recently processed through Multnomah County's get-a-library-card routine. It works. Yeesssss.

More than 'Roman and Greek culture,' Randy, library consciousness is culture itself. Concept!

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Actually, A better way to get more money than asking the voters for it is to actually cut (at least in half) the salaries of the high level management and the head librarian. Nobody is woth that much money and perks. We could avoid all this nonsense of ballot measures by cutting the fat of the management.

Randy:

I'm sure I'll be voting yes, because I love a good library. And to be sure, we have a good system. However, The Truth does have something of a point.

Also, I have a serious problem with the library buying new-release DVDs and then being closed on Mondays. I would really like you to give them a little once-over on their priorities. A new-release DVD section shouldn't even exist in a library. It's not appropriate in my view. Why not open a theater and let people watch first-run movies for free? It's that silly to me.

Full-disclosure - I do NOT own, work for, or profit from the DVD rental industry. I pay for my movies just like anyone else.

Randy-

My favorite saying mimics a line in my favorite Western Silverado, by Kevin Cline, where he goes into a Salon and sucks in the a breath and declares with reverence he loves a good Salon, books are my "good stuff" and I love a good library the same way. Whether it is a hole in the wall of a shopping center, or one of the wonderful old Carnaige buildings, they are special places.

My concern however is sustainability, the Library asked for more money this time, and as you well know there are multiple levy's and the problem of compression comes in. If the larger library measure passes, it will cut the much needed Parks and Childrens Initiative, already starved as the Library has been by the levy monies being used as backfill for General Fund cuts.

All of this twisted in with TIF and tax abatements in UR areas where for example in the Pearl, there have been millions spent on new roads, parks, and infrastructure capital, but no monies additional monies to maintain them with the tax abatements.

Don Smith--

Don't know about your branch, but mine's open on Mondays.

Interstate branch = closed on Mondays.

Central's open, of course. But I believe all the satellites aren't. Or at least the ones in the poor neighborhoods. Those that have them. Corbett's been waiting on a branch for decades. I'd much rather see us get small satellites opened than have new release DVDs and novels. I didn't mention novels. Why do we have the DaVinci Code at the library?

John- I agree with some of your concerns.

However, the great "equalizer" in our community is education. And nothing provides the resources for our populace to educate and empower itself more than a great library.

I also understand why, at first blush, Don is concerned about first run DVD's and newly released, best selling books being available at Multnomah County Libraries.

However, my perspective is that our Library makes those options available for working families who cannot afford cable or the price of a ticket to a movie theatre.

Sure, some may say "well then, don't go". However, I truly believe our libraries are, as I said before, the great equalizer in our community.

All citizens, regardless of income, have access to information and entertainment in our community without regard to income level.

I love that about Multnomah County LIbraries.

That kind of equalization on all levels would indeed make this a better world.

Thank you, yet again, Randy!

Do you have a yard sign yet? If not, I can get you one.

I would love a sign, Karin. Thanks.

On the other hand, if they didn't stock current DVD's, the thiefs might be less likely to visit.

From The Oregonian, July 29, 2005 (written by YUXING ZHENG)...

After two years of false alarms at Central Library as well as Gresham and Midland branches, 10 sets of the machines -- which cost more than $90,000 -- were shut off. The library also stopped hiding magnetic sensors in most of its items.

After Hoang's arrest, the library said that more than 18,000 items went missing from the Multnomah County library system in six months, including thousands of movies, music discs, audiocassettes and books.

I am the son of a librarian and the boyfriend of a librarian. I have a unique outsiders view of what they do.

<h1>1 A librarian has 2 degrees requiring a very intensive masters degree program. It is VERY expensive to go to a good information technology school. A masters degree costs upwards of 30,000-40,000 dollars anybody that thinks their salaries should be cut or that their experience doesn't matter has no clue. If anything they should be paid more. They are like teachers. Do you think teachers salaries should be cut any more than they are? If you want someone that knows how to build a proper collection then they need to go to school. They saddle themselves with debt to do this job and they should have a way to pay it back.</h1> <h1>2 Unfortunately the library is free. Of course things get stolen. Unless you want to pay someone else to sit at all the doors at make sure you're walking out with something you've checked out then forget about it. Its a losing cause. I have never once seen someone actually stop when the alarm goes off at the library. I never see anyone stop if they set off the alarm at Fred Meyer and they have loss prevention officers at the doors.</h1>

The Library Association of Portland became a public library (in large part) due to the generosity of nineteenth-century businessman and library benefactor John Wilson.

The Irish immigrant's bequest of 8,000 books (in 1900) was predicated on transforming the heretofore private Library Association books into Portland's first public library open to all.

After arriving in Portland in the early 1850's, Wilson became a successful merchant and downtown property owner. The library that he established became what newspapers of that era called one of the six best private collections in the United States, unrivaled on the Pacific coast.

Upon his death in 1900, Wilson's will specified that his books be donated to the Library Association of Portland with the stipulation that they be available for use by the public. At that time, the Association possessed fewer than 28,000 books, so a donation of 8,000 volumes was significant. In accepting Wilson's bequest, the Library Association enriched its collection and moved Portland into the mainstream of the public library movement that was then embracing the nation.

I can only imagine how Mr. Wilson would react if he visited the library today, and watched the homeless bathing in the sinks, the dealers hiding from the police, and the mentally ill languishing all day long.

I'll be voting no on the proposed tax increase. At least until they have hired a few security guards to enforce basic standards and to protect their holdings. The library should be a safe and pleasant environment for those who don't eat out of a trash cans. My children should be able to visit the any branch of the library network (especially the main branch) without fear or a chaperone.

Where's the "Interstate branch"?

There isn't one ... the North Portland Branch is open on Mondays. All the branches were closed on Mondays at one point. The voters approved funding to reopen them.

Corbett's been waiting on a branch for decades.

And I suspect it will wait at least another decade. Its hard to justify staffing a facility for Corbett's population - I'm not even sure Corbett has a full-service supermarket. Troutdale is next in line in east county.

the library said that more than 18,000 items went missing from the Multnomah County library system in six months

I believe that figure included mis-shelved books.

Why do we have the DaVinci Code at the library?

So that those think it is offensive don't have to run out and buy a copy just to find out what is in it? The library is successful because it serves as wide a range of people and interests as possible. You ought to wonder if there is information or other resources that are unavailable, not when they are. There will always be items that are of little interest or seem frivolous to someone.

Where's the "Interstate branch"?

There isn't one ... the North Portland Branch is open on Mondays. All the branches were closed on Mondays at one point. The voters approved funding to reopen them.

Corbett's been waiting on a branch for decades.

And I suspect it will wait at least another decade. Its hard to justify staffing a facility for Corbett's population - I'm not even sure Corbett has a full-service supermarket. Troutdale is next in line in east county.

the library said that more than 18,000 items went missing from the Multnomah County library system in six months

I believe that figure included mis-shelved books.

Why do we have the DaVinci Code at the library?

So that those who think it is offensive don't have to run out and buy a copy just to find out what is in it? The library is successful because it serves as wide a range of people and interests as possible. You ought to wonder if there is information or other resources that are unavailable, not when they are. There will always be items that are of little interest or seem frivolous to someone.

One thing bugged me when the renovations where going on at the downtown branch. Why didn't they build a bigger building and rent out space to help cover the cost of operations? How about a ten story structure with three floors for the library and the rest rented out, or a parking structure underneath? And today why not rent space in an existing building to expand the number of branches? Michael

"I can only imagine how Mr. Wilson would react if he visited the library today, and watched the homeless bathing in the sinks, the dealers hiding from the police, and the mentally ill languishing all day long."

I challenge you to make a difference. Do you honestly think the homeless and the mentally ill want to live like that?

Here's another idea. I was in an art gallery once that had a large fish bowl that was used to collect donations just inside the front door next to the guards. Why shouldn't the library association put a donation box near its front doors at each branch? Even pennies would help and that would also help develop a sense of community participation. Simply because I like books and read a lot doesn't mean you should support my habit. Michael

I still belive we should cut the salaries of the head librarian and the middle management as well as get rid of perks. No one deserves that amount of salary for any job. By cutting these salaries in half, we would have the money we need and find that ballots for library money are not needed.

I seem to stand corrected on the Monday thing. I was there just a few weeks ago and it was closed. However, it's possible it was before ten and I simply thought the Monday closure was still in effect.

And while I understand the arguments being made about new DVDs and the DaVinci Code, it still seems to me outside their scope, Randy's "great equalizer" theory notwithstanding.

All that said, I'm sure I'll still be voting yes.

You can pick up your lawn signs at Libraries-Yes! campaign headquarters (The Convention Plaza, 123 NE Couch, Room 321.) You can also pick up signs at your local library branch on the following dates:

September 23 Northwest
Albina
Woodstock
Gregory Heights
Fairview-Columbia

September 30 Gresham
Central
Sellwood
Hillsdale
Capital Hill

October 14 Holgate St. Johns North Portland Hollywood Rockwood

Randy, I will bring a few to your office either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thanks.