Viewpoints
Allow for a Location That
Fits the Purpose
By Alethea Johnson
August 21, 2010
Saturday AM
I support the City's Proposition 1 because it gives the City
Council power to choose a location for our new public library
that will benefit the most residents of Ketchikan. The main purpose
of the library is to meet community needs for information, programs
and gathering spaces. Our public library should be centrally
located, as large as we can afford, and easily accessible for
all.
The people who are promoting Proposition 2 are not focused on
increasing the library's capacity to provide services for residents.
Rather they are attempting to use Ketchikan's Public Library
as an anchor to improve the economy of the downtown core. But
the city does not own a viable lot that is conveniently located
and large enough to accommodate a facility that would achieve
both of these goals.
Proposition 2 would tie the City Council's hands and bind the
whole community to a choice between two bad options: a cost-prohibitive
re-building at the Centennial Lot or an expensive two story structure
on the inhospitable heights of Grant Street. Neither of these
options will be attractive to the majority of library users or
to funders who finance projects that are carefully planned and
fiscally responsible.
If Proposition 2 passes, we will likely lose our opportunity
for 50/50 funding from the state. Without funding from outside
sources, construction of our new library may be indefinitely
postponed. We have been waiting a long time to build a facility
that would allow for expansion of library services at a cost
we can sustain. The Feasibility Committee has identified several
sites that will meet documented needs and funding criteria, including
the preferred choice, Copper Ridge, approved by the City Council.
Don't let our new library project be derailed by a special interest
group. Please vote "yes" on Proposition 1 and no
on Proposition 2!
Alethea Johnson
Ketchikan, AK
About: "I am a year-round
resident, library patron, and former employee of the Ketchikan
Public Library."
Received August 19, 2010 -
Published August 21, 2010
Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
 Webmail
Your Opinion Letter to the Editor
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
E-mail your letters
& opinions to editor@sitnews.us
Your full name, city and state are required for letter publication.
SitNews
©2010
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|