New Haven Independent

Posted by: robn | March 10, 2008 1:17 PM

I'm not sure what percentage of the NH Library's $5M budget goes to Stetson, but since its one of five branches, it must be a significant number even if its not 1/5th.

Is it really that hard for kids and other people to walk 3/4 of a mile on the well populated dixwell/elm to the downtown main branch? I walk one and a half miles to and from work every day and it only takes me about 20 minutes.

I'm all for providing kids with places to be and be educated but we're talking about a redundent facility that is really close to the downtown facility. We're also talking about a 5 year period in which taxpayers are seeing 20% annual tax increases.

Posted by: facChek | March 10, 2008 2:39 PM

ROBN, For the record:
Fac Check#1:
The current library budget is $4,002M not 5M. We do not know how much of this amount is distributed to the Stetson library, because of it's size and circulation, I doubt that it receives 1/5th. of that amount.

Fac Check#2:
The mayor has actually proposed increasing the library budget for 08/09 to $4,122M, so much for the talk of closing a branch to save you $$$$.

No, it would not be any more difficult to walk to the main branch on Temple and Elm, but, as you know we spend 200 times the $4M on school transportation, when many of the schools are within walking distance as well.
Fac Check#3:
Not all taxpayers are receiving a 20% increase in assessment due to re-evaluation, However, that may be true for you depending on where you live.

Finally, the Mayor is proposing a 20.6M or 4.61 increase in spending for next year, there will be at least eight other city departments receiving far more than the library department.

You were unfortunately fooled into believing the library is the source of our budget/ tax spending problems. You would be well served if you attended the budget public hearing on Wed. March 12 at 5:30pm.

Posted by: True New Havener | March 10, 2008 3:13 PM

Umm . . . Robn,

This may surprise you but the people who use Stetson are taxpayers (or the children of taxpayers). These taxpayers had a revolt and let it be known how they wanted their tax dollars to be spent.

So maybe being "all for providing kids with places to be" includes a library which is close by. We need more safe places for kids, not fewer.

As long as we see even a small number of our children being shot, I would suggest you focus your tax cut frenzy elsewhere.

And $5 million in a several hundred million dollar budget is a pittance. I am glad we have local branches in Westville, the Hill, Fair Haven and Dixwell. The city should probably add at least one more . . . in the East Shore.

This is a great way for the city to spend its money. Visit your local branch or downtown library after school or on the weekend. You'll see they are very well used. (You'll also note that most neighborhood ones are close to schools for young children.)

Seniors use them to get books and meet. Children use them for research and as a place to hang out. Immigrants use them to learn English and use the Internet to find out about their home countries. Community groups have meetings there. And lots of people just go to check out books.

Posted by: darnell | March 10, 2008 3:30 PM

Robn,

With all due respect, you are off base with your reasoning.

1. the Library budget is somewhere around $4.8 million, but the personnel budget is only $2.8. The rest of the budget goes towards books, maintenance, etc. Stetson's budget personnel budget is probably somewhere in the $150,000. Other costs are approx. $150,000. Total $300,000. Not close to the $1 million you guessed.

2. The library is .9 miles from the main branch, not 3/4 as you state. Even then, kids come as far as the far end of Dixwell, near the Hamden town line, over 2 miles from the downtown branch. The other branches range from 1.5 to 2.4 miles from the main branch. Nearly equal in distance.

3. For children traveling alone to the library, many as young as 11 or 12 years old, walking through the busy intersections leading downtown, at night, is a dangerous proposition.

4. For those of us who accompany our children to the library (my 16 and 5 yr olds), parking is next to impossible at the main branch.

5. There are plenty of other places to cut the budget, education (libraries) should not be one. If you look at the budget, the personnel costs for the library for 50 FT positions is $2.8 mill. The Mayor's office has 13 positions at $945,907. An even worst bang for the buck comes from the CAOs office, 7 positions at $530,960.

Don't buy the Mayor's logic without doing a little research, you'll find that in the end it will be self serving.

Posted by: Michael Morand | March 10, 2008 5:47 PM

Libraries are one of our society's few public institutions that serve all people of all ages -- the homeless and those with vacations homes; the unemployed and the overworked. They are also among the most cost-effective government services (and by far the friendliest). It's no surprise national surveys confirm citizen and taxpayer support (http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=801)

Locally, it's useful to remember that the strong support the Mayor and Aldermen have shown in the past decade for public libraries has created a context whereby philanthropic support can be generated -- with more than $1 million raised for collections and programs. It is important to note that these private dollars come when the public sector does it part -- strong public funding generates private support, but private dollars will diminish if the public side falters.

We should all be glad to see our Dixwell neighbors rally -- and also be glad for the commitment the mayor and aldermen have shown in recent years and that the mayor demonstrates again in his budget proposal.

And we should never forget that a lot of towns are jealous of New Haven because we have the best branch library directors around!!!

Posted by: robn | March 10, 2008 10:28 PM

I stick by my point that the library is extremely close to downtown and safely accessible to this neighborhood (BTW Darnell...Stetson is .87 miles from downtown branch (we're both wrong) and 1.2 miles from Hamden town line). However I do concede to Facheck, TNH and Darnells point that the relative value of this budget compared to other city expenditures is small. I promise all you passionate library supporters (cross my heart) that I'll visit the branch and check out the scene.

Posted by: Darnell | March 11, 2008 9:24 AM

ROBN,

Google maps: From: 200 Dixwell Ave to 133 Elm St
0.9 mi

You are correct re: Hamden town line (1.2 mi).

Looking forward to your visit to Stetson, the oldest NH library branch.

Welcome to the light...may the force be with u. :)

Posted by: Darnell | March 11, 2008 9:49 AM

ROBN,

Correction. I was right the first time, the Main branch is 2.4 mils from the Hamden town line in the Dixwell/Newhallville Commumity.

Posted by: Librarian in another city | March 12, 2008 12:51 PM

As a New Haven taxpayer and a public librarian in another large CT city, I urge New Haven to keep Stetson open. The mileage to and fro is a concern as is the trek children ofa variety of ages would need to make at different times of the day and night. There are more opportunities for accidents, crime, and tempting distractions along the way. What I think is even more important though is that a local branch creates a haven for neighborhood families to visit, offers safe places for doing homework, resources for the elderly, and so much more. Since New Haven is keen on community policing, depriving neighbors of another place to meet each other makes that very deep sense of community at risk of disappearing. Every penny spent on Stetson (or any of the branches) is more than paid back in many intangible yet irreplaceable ways.