The word is out!
It was refreshing to find that the Star-News has finally realized that there is an election going on up here in Altadena. The results will probably not be the lead item on the November 7th "Morning Report" or the banner headline in the LA Times. That's okay. It's just that democracy is working up here. We're preparing to vote.
One of the major issues before the Board is implementation of their Five-Year Plan to complete the work necessary to bring the Library into compliance with requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
It was suggested that the Library should not be spending money to provide accessibility for disabled patrons. "The public as a whole is being disadvantaged for this extremely small group."
My thought is: the Library should be a resource for everybody, not just the hale and hearty. I am saying, "Look for new sources of revenue for this." There are foundations and governmental agencies that will not buy books, but they will help fund an ADA remediation project. The Board must assist staff in searching out these entities and ask them. And in order to make "the ask," the Library needs a Strategic Plan. That is the first step in broadening the financial base and the Board must take it.
It was also stated that, in the past, "elections were not held." Sitting members stepped down so that their replacements could be appointed. Perhaps the complainer should reflect that this is not how things are done in a free society.
I know that the Altadena Library Board is not a major player in the political game. But it has to be a sign of something good that the number of candidates is bigger that than the number of vacancies. If printing and mailing ballots to registered voters, securing polling places and poll workers, and counting and reporting votes so that the people have a chance to choose their public servants costs money, well, that's the way democracy works.
Anyway, if the Board is able to broaden the Library's financial base the way I think it can, the Library will be able to pay for the election and more.
Stay tuned!
One of the major issues before the Board is implementation of their Five-Year Plan to complete the work necessary to bring the Library into compliance with requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
It was suggested that the Library should not be spending money to provide accessibility for disabled patrons. "The public as a whole is being disadvantaged for this extremely small group."
My thought is: the Library should be a resource for everybody, not just the hale and hearty. I am saying, "Look for new sources of revenue for this." There are foundations and governmental agencies that will not buy books, but they will help fund an ADA remediation project. The Board must assist staff in searching out these entities and ask them. And in order to make "the ask," the Library needs a Strategic Plan. That is the first step in broadening the financial base and the Board must take it.
It was also stated that, in the past, "elections were not held." Sitting members stepped down so that their replacements could be appointed. Perhaps the complainer should reflect that this is not how things are done in a free society.
I know that the Altadena Library Board is not a major player in the political game. But it has to be a sign of something good that the number of candidates is bigger that than the number of vacancies. If printing and mailing ballots to registered voters, securing polling places and poll workers, and counting and reporting votes so that the people have a chance to choose their public servants costs money, well, that's the way democracy works.
Anyway, if the Board is able to broaden the Library's financial base the way I think it can, the Library will be able to pay for the election and more.
Stay tuned!
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