380 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

OK, who wants to summarize this issue for me? I have not and will not read thru the hundreds of posts.

All I know is some people are trying to stop a nice new library from being built on an obsolete park. Is that right?
Who favors and who opposes?

[john]

I am considering closing this topic since it is a marathon thread, in favor of starting a new one (since a lot of people are like CV, nobody wants to read 19(!) pages of posts). If anyone is willing to summarize in a new thread, I can close this.

[pampChefLady]

QUOTE (Farley @ Jul 21 2004, 06:03 AM)

My vote goes to build the library some where else than the park with the Farley memorial.

You do realize that memorial isn't in your honor, right Farley?

jk (sorry I couldn't resist the bad joke!)

[clearwater]

Summary
some people want the library to be built in the current planned area fraught with traffic and congestion
Some people do not want to destroy the ball field in honor of Mr Farley.
Some people have suggested alternate locations.
Some people have questioned why Folsom even needs a library.

Hows that ?
Good time to start a new thread on this.

[Farley]

QUOTE (clearwater @ Jul 21 2004, 01:08 PM)

Summary some people want the library to be built in the current planned area fraught with traffic and congestion Some people do not want to destroy the ball field in honor of Mr Farley. Some people have suggested alternate locations. Some people have questioned why Folsom even needs a library. Hows that ? Good time to start a new thread on this.

Should have added that enough signatures have been gathered to put the location of the library up to a vote of the people. Nothing will be decided until after Nov. 2.

[clearwater]

Good point Farley

[Chad Vander Veen]

Surely you (clearwater) and Farley support a public library, right? What are some alternate locations? Who is Mr. Farley? Does anyone even use that ball field?

[bishmasterb]

Can't we just host the library online and save a ton of dough?

Then we can argue about what the URL will be instead of the physical location.

[clearwater]

CV
IN this day and age most libraries are antiquated at best and do not serve the public in a productive way that warrants not only the huge costs that are associated with building a new one, but are very limited in their offerings.
Folsom does not really need one and I have not seen real justification for one of this magnitude in this city.
Alternate locations can be anywhere if they insist on building one. But it should e in a place that has less traffic than the planned location and should be easily accessible for the majority of its users. Since we will have two high schools soon , it would make sense for it to be near one or the other or between them as HS students would likely use it more than any other major group of citizens.

I have no idea if the ball park is used, but considering the area, I would think it would be often.

Why not a virtual library ?

[billsfan]

Well as long as we are going to have impartial summaries:

- An excellent library design has been put together that enhances the look of the park and provides a "civic center" destination for all residents.
- A great veterans memorial is incorporated into the design that is much better than the existing plaque and softball field.
- There will actually be more usable space in the park, because the library is smaller than the softball field and the softball fence will be removed
- We've needed a larger library for years and can't afford any delays.

There are even more points attempted to be refuted in today's Folsom Telegraph Opinion page. Unfortunately most of the arguments provided by Mr. Auker can be explained to be in favor of building the library there.

There are a lot of people in favor of building a library there, we just don't have to sign petitions, just vote in favor of the site at the election!!!

[clearwater]

So what is the COST to build this monument of non use ?
And what is the cost to maintain it ?
Location as Bish suggested- WWW. Folsomlibrary. org

[bordercolliefan]

I agree with the points made by Billsfan.

I am shocked by those who feel a library is not an important or worthwhile project for the city to invest in. The current library is maxed out with kids and senior citizens alike. Libraries are the cornerstone of lifelong learning for kids and adults. Maybe some people can afford to buy every book they want to read, but most of us can't (and to do so is environmentally irresponsible, anyway).

I'm not wedded to having a huge Taj Mahal (as some have called the new library design), but if we are going to have one, we might as well make it attractive, inviting, and up to date. Perhaps as a city we can reverse the nationwide trend of decline in reading.

Most important, it needs to be spacious enough to accomodate all who wish to use it now and in the future (which the current library decidedly is not).

As for the location, I travel to that part of Folsom fairly often and have not found it to be particularly congested. There is a flow of rush-hour traffic on Natoma, but this won't interfere with the library very much since peak library hours are not during rush hour.

I think having the library, city hall, and civic center all together makes a statement about Folsom's identity (a place that values learning and democracy) and encourages community by creating a vibrant city center.

[bordercolliefan]

Clearwater, your reference to a monument to "non use" tells me that you have not actually been to our current library. If you had, you would never use "non use" and "library" in the same sentence.

I recommend you go there. Go at several different times. Check out the computers, the magazine room, the reading room. Visit one of the children's story hours (if you can squeeze in).

Then come back to this Board and talk about "non use."

[camay2327]

We do need a new library!!!!!

We, the people, should not have to go out looking for a place to build it.

The city should have given we the people a list of places that a library could be built and what the approximate cost would be for each location. Then give us a chance to voice our opinions.

Originally, it was going to be at the old fire station location and like I said before they changed it to the ball field location way to quickly. They really did not give we the people much time to digest the change and get to CC meetings to oppose it.

At far as the military memorial goes, it could be built anywhere in Folsom, it does not have to be at the ball field. Farley field could still be Farley field and the memorial could be built elsewhere.

I keep hearing that the Farley family agreed to keeping memorial at the present location, but if the city pushed it, they would probabally agree to any location in Folsom.

[clearwater]

In this day and age of the internet, just why do we need a new brick and morter library ?