Statement before the Glenn A. Walsh
Council of
the
City of
Funding for Telephone:
412-561-7876
Carnegie Library Electronic
Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc
>
of
2006
December 12
Good morning. I am Glenn A.
Walsh of
Yesterday, Carnegie Library
came before you to make requests for additional City financial support of the
Library system. Let me first say that I find their request of $250,000 for City
support of day-to-day operations is not
unreasonable. This is particularly true since the Library Director seemed
to make a commitment to use that money to increase hours of operation and
services specifically in the neighborhood branches.
It is certainly true that
non-city residents use the Library system; this is why RAD will provide the
Library $16,764,000
in operating subsidy next
year. However, all Carnegie Library branches are within the City limits. Hence,
an additional City subsidy of $210,000
for library services in the neighborhoods is a quite reasonable request.
However, their
half-million dollar request for capital funds should not be considered until
Carnegie Library agrees to stop abandoning original Library buildings,
including the Allegheny Regional Branch next to Buhl Planetarium. And, until
they provide a plan to reoccupy the original Hazelwood library building on
Thank you, Mr.
President, for bringing-up the deplorable state of the Carnegie
Library-abandoned historic building in Hazelwood. However, your comments should
have been addressed, not to the City Administration, but to the Library
Administration.
They are responsible
for foisting a building on the City, which cannot be used for anything but as a
library. This is why no one else has shown any interest in using the building.
And, while empty, the Hazelwood neighborhood has no access to the Library’s
250-seat auditorium.
As the Hazelwood
Library building has been empty for nearly three years, likewise the Allegheny
Regional Branch library will remain empty for many years if the Library truly
abandons it. And, without funds to match the Governor’s grant, who knows when a
new North Side library would actually be built?
This Council
should insist that the Library continue to use the original Allegheny Regional
Branch library. And, you should also insist that Carnegie Library begin, now, to plan to reoccupy the original
Hazelwood Library, when the lease on the current site expires in two years.
Thank you.
gaw
