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Think Library, Not Building
I read your coverage of the downtown library situation. I am not opposed to enhancing library services for people who live in/near or work in the downtown area who may want to access a library. I’ve not concluded that a new building is necessary. Before proceeding with any active plans for building a new “downtown” library, I’d like to suggest that someone explore another option.
The University of Tennessee has a “downtown” library that was built and is also supported by “public” funds. I’d like to suggest that Knox County and UT explore a cooperative plan where public funds are maximized so as to avoid building new facilities that overlap in their ability to serve the public. If that means an addition to UT’s facility or enhancing its library holdings with the county funding part of that, so be it. I’m sure that would cost much less than the mayor projects for a completely new facility.
It’s too easy just to say, “We need one of our own,” vs. exploring other options which include using existing public facilities and services even if they need to be modified or enhanced. The question that should be posed is: “What could be done to increase library services in downtown Knoxville?” rather than; “Should we build a new downtown library?”
Dale B. Robinson
Knoxville
Library Makes Sense
Jack Neely’s [ July 29 ] story “Library in Limbo” did a good job in presenting the overcrowded and cramped conditions at Knox County’s central library, Lawson McGhee. His interview with Director Frank and his other research well documents the pressing need for a planned new building of 185,000 square feet. Even Blount County’s new facility is larger than Lawson McGhee. Almost half our collection is in practically dead storage and difficult to access.
The need is clear, and County Mayor Ragsdale’s latest proposed site for the library on the State Street site that the county already owns seems to make a lot of sense. Bordered by Central, Commerce, and Union, with an opening to Gay Street and Wall, it’s a link to Summit Hill, Market Square and even the Old City.
Another bonus comes from setting it on top of the KAT bus transit center. With the possibility of federal funding help for that, the cost could be reduced. The terrain lends itself to a high-capacity multi-level parking deck to serve not only the library, but downtown as well. Combining the library with the Transit Center on county property helps the economies and functionality of the plan.
While the new library doesn’t hinge on the wheel tax alone, many other needed projects do. It’s a progressive solution to making a lot of improvements for all of the Knox County citizens. It’s a very nominal way for everyone who uses county roads and streets to pay their share towards making this a better place to live. As Commissioner John Schmid points out, “Without the wheel tax, we’re going to have to either cut programs or raise the property tax.” And, non-property owners don’t avoid property taxes—they just pay it month by month in higher rent.
So, now is the time to support the wheel tax... for many reasons.
Edward S. Albers Jr.
Knoxville
On Library: Think Big
Jack Neely did a great job [July 29] describing what has become all-too-familiar politics in Knoxville and Knox County. For once, Knoxville and the county have come up with a redevelopment project that I can support whole-heartedly. Neely makes clear that the county cannot continue to rely on the current main library to serve the needs of its patrons in the near and distant future. Anyone who’s been in Lawson McGhee knows it’s too cramped. The patronage and need are present, but the space is not.
The only thing that makes me worry about the project is that Knox County will screw it up by trying to short-change it. It’s OK to save money, and we should expect that from our elected officials. But, someone recently said to me, “Come up with a world-class idea, and the money will follow. Don’t worry about the money as the first issue. Worry about the idea and the plan.”
I feel that Knoxville needs a new Lawson McGhee library downtown (yes, keep the name). But I don’t think the county and city are thinking big enough. The library needs Gay Street frontage and ample parking. If the library were combined with the ideas regarding a presidential museum and a “discovery center,” then we could develop it as a world class project that would bring in people not only locally, but from all over the country.
My idea for this “discovery center” is that it needs to be the Tennessee Museum of Natural History. Tennessee has no such state museum. This is the most biodiverse state in the nation save those with coastlines, and East Tennessee is the seat of biodiversity in the state. The Smithsonian might be willing to kick in some funding.
This grand complex of library and natural history museum would be a winner and something that everyone could be proud of. But please, Mr. Ragsdale, don’t doom it by starving it of adequate funding. My preference for location is the Gay/State gaping hole. The loftily named “transit center” (a.k.a., the bus station) should be at the old News Sentinel site, using the promenade to connect the two. If we ever have a real transit center, it would need to tie into the train lines at the yard below Gay and Depot.
Lisa Huff
Knoxville
Go to ACME
With all respect, I heartily admire Joe Sullivan’s coverage in support of the wheel tax to fund a new transit center/library complex, among other things. In the editorial [Insights] of the July 22 issue, P.T. Barnum couldn’t have done better at gift-wrapping a road-apple (similar to a meadow muffin).
The wheel tax is a hit for those on fixed incomes, the working poor, and just a major annoyance for everyone else. It does succeed in creating just a little more poverty, the scourge of pawn shops, and in making Knoxpatch a less livable, unattractive community.
The doo-doo deepens by squandering those funds for the Nightmare on State Street: a bus Mecca stuck underneath a book Nirvana—don’t forget the rooftop blimp launch and skeet shoot.
Only $45 million—the Fed’s kicking in a couple dozen. Wow. It’s another fine concept in urban development rustled up by the motive engineers at ACME Corp., Wile E. Coyote’s supplier. Purveyors of multi-task wonder products such as the salt and pepper shaker/toenail clipper combo, and the emergency parachute/fishnet. Unlike Wile, I like to pop a tin of sardines swimmin’ in hot mustard, and I enjoy a frosty pint of pistachio ice cream—but not one on top of the other. That would be perverted—sort of a clash.
For years, I’ve been a regular customer at Lawson McGhee Library. It’s well run, well staffed, well stocked, and all good—yet under-used. I’ve never once seen anything like a crowd. Ditto for K-Trans. I see a lot of near-empty buses. Due to that under-utilization, a new book and bus bologna sandwich cannot be justified. I do see bus riders waiting by the road in the rain, and there is a waiting list for the library computers.
Money would be better spent (much less) by expanding passenger shelters along bus routes and maybe a new west wing plus parking for Lawson McGhee. Or, Wile suggests replacing bus drivers and librarians with Hooters girls—just on Thursdays.
And, to all elected talent who bring us tax whammies: ACME is seeking a new CEO and board of directors. Pick your seat.
Joe Acree
Knoxville
Report Not Belated
Thank you for the [July 29] coverage given to our review of downtown Knoxville demographics. One point of clarification, however, is necessary. We would not consider our report “belated,” as labeled in your piece. The place-of-work demographics presented in the study were not released by the Census Bureau/U.S. Department of Transportation until late-January of this year. We place a great deal of importance on providing timely information through our reports, and this study was prepared soon after the pertinent data was made available to us. It must be understood that while the Census Bureau (and, subsequently, USDOT) collected the raw survey data in April 2000, it takes them a few years to compile and aggregate the various series of information, then release the products to local government agencies and the general public.
One might question the length of time taken by the agencies to disseminate these valuable data sets, and they often hear such criticism; however, we must work within their schedules.
Terry Gilhula
Senior Research Associate
Metropolitan Planning Commission
August 12, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 33
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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