This morning we posted two letters from "citizens'' of Oro Valley that took John Musolf to task for his view that the library under the auspice of Pima County would be horrific. (My word)
Well, guess what? Behind the scenes, pulling the strings, if you will, are none other than "The Friends of The Library."
We believe these people have every right to voice their opinion and to point out why they believe Oro Valley should maintain control of the library.
Where they "cross the line," is when collusion is involved. We need not look beyond the two letters in the June 17 Explorer that we posted here. Two Letters For Keeping Control Of Library Filled with Misrepresentations
Collusion may be a strong word, but look where it comes from.
Read these statements from "Friends of the Library": (We xxx'd out the names, but they are available)
"Someone must respond to John Musolf's letter in the Explorer. It can't be me, but I have written one that anyone could redo as their own. Please e-mail the board and ask if someone will do this. I will get the letter to them. Have them call me 825-xxxx"
"As xxxx is married to a committee member it could be construed as collusion so she and I have agreed it is best she not sign. I imagine xxxx or xxxx could sign, if they agree with xxxx points."
"Apparently xxxx has a neighbor who is going to sign off on the article. I guess this avoids any comments from the public that it is a Friends of the Library article."
"By the way, I don't think personal attacks work very well, but I hope our letter reminds people that the crank (alluding to John Musolf) resigned from the task force."
Note: The writer says "I don't think personal attacks work very well," but has no qualms referring to Mr. Musolf as "the crank."
There's much more, but this will give our readers an idea that "The Friends of the Library" will
do whatever they can to stay in control.
Why? As far as we're concerned, it's an elistist attitude of "The Friends" that we in Oro Valley are just so much better than anyone else in Pima County. Shame on them!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Two Letters For Keeping Control Of Library Filled with Misrepresentations
We are posting two Explorer letters from OV citizens responding to a recent letter from John Musolf.
Here's the link to our posting of John's letter.
John Musolf Says "Turn Over Library to Pima County"
By the way, Ms. Kuhel need not note John's whereabouts. Mr. Musolf is a CITIZEN OF ORO VALLEY!
The main difference between John's letter and these two is John states facts. These two ladies misrepresent the facts
Their opinions are worthy of hearing. Opinions are one thing. Misrepresenting facts is totally different.
Here are the two letters. You judge for yourself.
_________________________________________________________________________
OV must keep control of its public library
In response to Mr. John Musolf's June 3 "You Say" column (OV Should Give Library to Pima County's District, pg 16).
Mr. Musolf wants our town to give away a $7 million asset, which includes our meeting rooms and many of our programs and activities.
He fails to mention that would include as many as 30 percent of the books we asked for and paid for. As just another branch, our books, checked out through other libraries, would stay with them. The current collection policy requires our books be returned to us. Books and furniture of our library are valued at close to $2 million.
Then, there's the building. We would still be responsible for paying the $184,000 per year mortgage – on a building we would no longer control. We would also lose the income from the semi-annual book sales (approx. $20,000 per year) and resident gifting which seems to increase each year.
Furthermore, Mr. Musolf doesn't seem to realize that the county board lowered our secondary tax from $2.35 million to $1.8 million for 2009 – 2010. Of course, that would most likely be raised if they added the costs of our library to their responsibilities.
And what do you suppose would happen to our ratings? The Hennen American Public Library Evaluation rates our OV Library at 93 percent. The Pima County Library system is rated at 49 percent.
Also, according to a January town survey, our library is the #1 service provided by Oro Valley. No surprise, since we're told that we're a more educated, higher income area, with higher home valuations than much of the county.
As it is, we've expected more from our library and we've been gratefully receiving it. We aspire to the best and I believe our children deserve it.
Really, do we really want Pima County to hire our employees, select our books and not be answerable to our council? Sacrificing our long-term investments for a short-term fix is not good economic policy.
A permanent, 18-year resident and avid library user,
Arlene Lehto, Oro Valley
_________________________________________________________________________
OV library is of real value to community
Does John Musolf, who recently returned for the summer to his home in Wisconsin, realize the value of its local library?
Currently, according to a town survey, the Oro Valley library is one of the highest rated services provided by the town.
Oro Valley citizens value their lifestyle, living conditions and their good fortune to live here. We expect quality, which is what our library gives us.
Mr. Musolf appears to want us to give away a $7 million asset. If we allow the county to take over the facility we will still be paying our library tax, plus a yearly charge, for a minimum of three years, to the county. This amount could equal $1.5 million over that same three-year period. The current library district tax for 2009-2010 is projected to be $1.8 million (not $2.35 million), of which approximately one-third is returned to the town to help run the library.
Currently our Oro Valley librarians purchase the books we want or need. If we become a branch of the Pima County system, the county would select and purchase materials. If we become a branch of said system, could our locally purchased books be fed into the county and permanently lost to our local facility? Can we stand to lose as much as 30 percent of our locally purchased books, many of which are bought by our Friends of the Library and not from town funds? Would our Friends of the Library want to continue to purchase books that could disappear into a county system?
Pima County officials would be setting policy for our local library, and the employees would not be answerable to the OV Town Council, even though they are employed in our OV facility. Would we lose access to our community center for other than county-sanctioned events?
The financial value of the library, and the cost of maintenance, are great, but the value to the community is greater. Are we being shortsighted in accepting a long-term solution to a short-term problem? Turning over the library to an out-or-town entity is a permanent, irreversible solution to a temporary problem.
Judith Kuhel, Oro Valley
This letter was shortened – Ed. (Explorer)
Here's the link to our posting of John's letter.
John Musolf Says "Turn Over Library to Pima County"
By the way, Ms. Kuhel need not note John's whereabouts. Mr. Musolf is a CITIZEN OF ORO VALLEY!
The main difference between John's letter and these two is John states facts. These two ladies misrepresent the facts
Their opinions are worthy of hearing. Opinions are one thing. Misrepresenting facts is totally different.
Here are the two letters. You judge for yourself.
_________________________________________________________________________
OV must keep control of its public library
In response to Mr. John Musolf's June 3 "You Say" column (OV Should Give Library to Pima County's District, pg 16).
Mr. Musolf wants our town to give away a $7 million asset, which includes our meeting rooms and many of our programs and activities.
He fails to mention that would include as many as 30 percent of the books we asked for and paid for. As just another branch, our books, checked out through other libraries, would stay with them. The current collection policy requires our books be returned to us. Books and furniture of our library are valued at close to $2 million.
Then, there's the building. We would still be responsible for paying the $184,000 per year mortgage – on a building we would no longer control. We would also lose the income from the semi-annual book sales (approx. $20,000 per year) and resident gifting which seems to increase each year.
Furthermore, Mr. Musolf doesn't seem to realize that the county board lowered our secondary tax from $2.35 million to $1.8 million for 2009 – 2010. Of course, that would most likely be raised if they added the costs of our library to their responsibilities.
And what do you suppose would happen to our ratings? The Hennen American Public Library Evaluation rates our OV Library at 93 percent. The Pima County Library system is rated at 49 percent.
Also, according to a January town survey, our library is the #1 service provided by Oro Valley. No surprise, since we're told that we're a more educated, higher income area, with higher home valuations than much of the county.
As it is, we've expected more from our library and we've been gratefully receiving it. We aspire to the best and I believe our children deserve it.
Really, do we really want Pima County to hire our employees, select our books and not be answerable to our council? Sacrificing our long-term investments for a short-term fix is not good economic policy.
A permanent, 18-year resident and avid library user,
Arlene Lehto, Oro Valley
_________________________________________________________________________
OV library is of real value to community
Does John Musolf, who recently returned for the summer to his home in Wisconsin, realize the value of its local library?
Currently, according to a town survey, the Oro Valley library is one of the highest rated services provided by the town.
Oro Valley citizens value their lifestyle, living conditions and their good fortune to live here. We expect quality, which is what our library gives us.
Mr. Musolf appears to want us to give away a $7 million asset. If we allow the county to take over the facility we will still be paying our library tax, plus a yearly charge, for a minimum of three years, to the county. This amount could equal $1.5 million over that same three-year period. The current library district tax for 2009-2010 is projected to be $1.8 million (not $2.35 million), of which approximately one-third is returned to the town to help run the library.
Currently our Oro Valley librarians purchase the books we want or need. If we become a branch of the Pima County system, the county would select and purchase materials. If we become a branch of said system, could our locally purchased books be fed into the county and permanently lost to our local facility? Can we stand to lose as much as 30 percent of our locally purchased books, many of which are bought by our Friends of the Library and not from town funds? Would our Friends of the Library want to continue to purchase books that could disappear into a county system?
Pima County officials would be setting policy for our local library, and the employees would not be answerable to the OV Town Council, even though they are employed in our OV facility. Would we lose access to our community center for other than county-sanctioned events?
The financial value of the library, and the cost of maintenance, are great, but the value to the community is greater. Are we being shortsighted in accepting a long-term solution to a short-term problem? Turning over the library to an out-or-town entity is a permanent, irreversible solution to a temporary problem.
Judith Kuhel, Oro Valley
This letter was shortened – Ed. (Explorer)
Oro Valley Library Status On Council Agenda June 17
The Explorer has an in depth article on basically two points of view as it pertains to the OV library.
The Council will discuss the merits---or lack of merits of the Library Committee's recommendations at tonight's council meeting.
The issue is a little involved, but it comes down to whether it is best, economically and otherwise to turn the library over to Pima County, or maintain it ourselves. (All of the other 26 libraries are under the auspices of Pima County)
When all is said and done, we think we have the best solution.
There's no need to rush into a decision of this magnitude at this point in time. However, when one group of citizens (Friends of the Library) are convinced we keep control regardless of the cost ramifications, and other knowledgeable people say it makes no sense to be double, or potentially triple taxed to do so----why not do the following?
The Oro Valley Council should vote---at some point, to allow the citizens of Oro Valley the right to decide. We have two elections coming up---a primary for mayor & council seats in March 2010, and a General Election in May.
Do the democratic thing. Let the majority of the voters decide the future of the library.
Read The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/doc4a382b0c5a9e1420544057.txt
The Council will discuss the merits---or lack of merits of the Library Committee's recommendations at tonight's council meeting.
The issue is a little involved, but it comes down to whether it is best, economically and otherwise to turn the library over to Pima County, or maintain it ourselves. (All of the other 26 libraries are under the auspices of Pima County)
When all is said and done, we think we have the best solution.
There's no need to rush into a decision of this magnitude at this point in time. However, when one group of citizens (Friends of the Library) are convinced we keep control regardless of the cost ramifications, and other knowledgeable people say it makes no sense to be double, or potentially triple taxed to do so----why not do the following?
The Oro Valley Council should vote---at some point, to allow the citizens of Oro Valley the right to decide. We have two elections coming up---a primary for mayor & council seats in March 2010, and a General Election in May.
Do the democratic thing. Let the majority of the voters decide the future of the library.
Read The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/doc4a382b0c5a9e1420544057.txt
Reminder: Oro Valley Budget Scheduled To Be Voted On Tonight (June 17)
The Explorer has an article noting the budget that has been discussed for months will probably have a final vote this evening.
Does that mean the tentative budget of $121.5 million will be approved as is? That remains to be seen. Perhaps the number of town employees that have opted to accept the severance package that was recently offered will be a factor.
Read The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/doc4a382c5a0717e992265719.txt
Does that mean the tentative budget of $121.5 million will be approved as is? That remains to be seen. Perhaps the number of town employees that have opted to accept the severance package that was recently offered will be a factor.
Read The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/doc4a382c5a0717e992265719.txt
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