The Norman Transcript
May 22, 2008 12:23 am
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Transcript Staff Writer
More books will be coming after the millage increase passed on the May 13 special election, Norman Public Library board members were told at their meeting Monday. And the library staff is ready to move to "Plan B" after the narrow defeat of the $49.5 million bond package to build a new Norman library.
Efforts to increase radio frequency identification or RFID tagging on books and other items will increase as well, thanks to the vote, said NPL librarian Nancy Littlejohn. RFID tagging helps track books through the system.
Another improvement will be increased hours throughout the Pioneer Library System, which manages collections and operations in Cleveland, Pottawatomie and McClain counties.
The Norman library likely will have more hours on Friday evenings and Sundays.
"That was one of the first things we asked for," said Theresa Dickson, PLS associate superintendent for operations. Dickson attended for Anne Masters, who was at a seminar. "We'll have different hours for what different branches need. All of the Pioneer branches will be open Sunday."
Self-checking stations will be added, where the customer can place a whole stack of books and their library card and it will automatically check them out.
"We are going to have to be making some plans as far as functionality in this building for the next several years," Littlejohn said.
Norman branch manager Susan Gregory lauded her staff for how they dealt with people who came into the library during the unsuccessful $49.5 million campaign for a new Norman library May 13. Those who didn't agree with the idea of expanding the library were sometimes hostile and angry, she said.
"We had a lot of people who came into the library to tell us what jerks we were (for asking for the bond project for the new library)," Gregory said.
The referendum narrowly failed by 280 votes out of 12,544 votes cast, translating to 51 percent against to 49 percent in favor.
"We especially need all kinds of energy as we move to Plan B," Gregory said. "We see this as a bump in the road. It's not the end of our dream and we're going to work on making (the project) better. And the Norman staff and I are going to do everything in our power to continue excellent service."
She said many of the library employees took vacation time off to be able to knock on doors to promote the library vote.
"One of the good things about this process was that there were folks who haven't been so involved in the library (who got involved)," said NPL board chair Glynis Edgar.
She said one of the problems they dealt with during the campaign was the number of e-mails sent out by those opposing the library with erroneous information.
"The quality of the information was so flawed," Edgar said.
NPL board member Charles Suggs said the election was "not a smashing success for the naysayers."
Gregory said several people had complained that they found the ballot language confusing.
"Some thought they were choosing between a new library and remodeling the old library," she said.
Edgar said that is another thing to put on their list to work on toward a new library.
"I think we have a lot of good information about where to go and what to do (about a new library proposition)," she said.
NPL board member Karen Rieger inquired about finding some of the funding for a new library from foundations or other groups.
"If someone wants to come and offer us land or come and offer us money, we would not turn it down," Edgar said. She said they continue to hope a donor will come forward with either land or funds to buy a site.
On various library projects around the country, donations have tended to come in after a successful vote for the primary financing.
She noted that Fayetteville's Blair Public Library had $8 million in donations from families like the Blairs, Waltons and Tysons. Jim Blair pledged $3 million in 2002 to the FPL Foundation in testament to his grandmother, Bessie Motley Blair; aunt, Mary Grace Blair; and late wife, Diane Divers Blair. The donation came about two years after Fayetteville's 1 percent, 18-month sales tax referendum passed by a 75 percent margin Aug. 15, 2000, to help fund the new main library, which opened in 2004.
"Donors don't want to commit until they see that it's going to happen," Gregory said. "As dirt is turned is when they've had success raising money."
She gave the example of the McLoud library where one of the main donors walked in and wrote a check as construction was going on.
"He said he knew it was going to happen then," Gregory said.
Rieger said a foundation would need a non-profit to give money to, with the appropriate track record.
Simm Rudnick said the Norman Friends of the Library are a non-profit.
"We're ready to step up and the mechanics are there. It's a matter of getting that active," Rudnick said.
Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com
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