|
|
|
July 1, 1999
Nicollet Countywithdraws fromlibrary system,Sibley Countyopts to stayBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer Nicollet County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to withdraw from the Minnesota Valley Regional Library system, leaving Sibley County as the lone entity. During a meeting Wednesday , the official deadline for notification of withdrawing, no action was taken by Sibley County commissioners. They had reached a consensus not to withdraw from MVRL. Commissioners established a task force and appointed Economic Development official Steven Renquist as coordinator to develop a plan of action for the future of the system. Mankato and St. Peter officially withdrew during separate meetings Monday. City officials said the future of the system was too unstable to maintain membership in MVRL. "North Mankato officially announced they were withdrawing a couple of days ago and we are waiting for their letter to arrive," Nicollet County Commissioner Judy Hanson said. Nicollet County might explore the possibility of joining with Sibley County and St. Peter, with Sibley County as the governing body of the new system, Hanson said. "If we don't join, we might be able to buy our services from Sibley County, North Mankato or Mankato," she said. Nicollet County commissioners know that there is no interest from the governing body in Mankato to have Nicollet County, St. Peter and Sibley County in a joint powers agreement, Hanson said. "I guess we will have to go back to the drawing board to determine what services our people want," she said. It will be important for the commissioners to know what people living in the western half of the county want in the way of library services, Hanson said. "We don't know how people feel and need to find out," she said. "Are they happy with the bookmobile? Do they want a library in the county?" What the residents want may not necessarily be affordable, but the commissioners need to know what residents want them to do, she said. Hanson said it will help if residents in the county contact the commissioners and tell them what services are desired and what they would be willing to pay for. There is always the possibility of leasing space in the county for a library, or working out an arrangement with one of the schools in the county to provide services, Hanson said. "The collection is the main thing involved with a library and information is a major factor to consider with libraries," she said. "But, we can't discount the need for books and magazines, either." The one commissioner opposed to the decision to withdraw, Lavonne Craig, said she understood the reasons for the decision. However, she felt there were times when a person needed to take a stand on certain issues. "I believe the system is very good and my opposition was symbolic of the way I feel," she said. "It is a good system that is economically viable and it can't be taken apart. It will cost money either way you look at it." The citizens within the service area never had a chance to voice their opinions or ask the entities for information regarding the issues because there was never any open meetings, Craig said. "The employees have taken a hit they didn't deserve, which is why I am voting against withdrawing," she said. "Yes it is the only thing we can do, but it's not the right thing to do." Because the books in MVRL system are cataloged cooperatively, dismantling the system and recataloging collections will be costly, Craig said. "There is no way to look at how it should be done, there is no precedence on tearing apart a 25-year effort," she said. "We are treading in unchartered waters." There are still questions in the mind of residents as to how the entire situation came about. "We won't realize what happened and what's been lost for several months, and by then it will be too late," Craig said. "We will find out what we've done in a few years and we have to ask if things will be the same if a similar system is rebuilt. I don't think they will. It took us 25 years to get where we are." Libraries are important and it is a shame when things like this happen to them. she said. Nicollet County has paid approximately $105,000 per year to the MVRL system, which is paid from a tax assessed to residents within the county living outside of St. Peter and North Mankato, Hanson said. Sibley County pays approximately $156,000 for its share of services, with the cities providing library space. MVRL started nearly 25 years ago, and it was in existence when the Regional Traverse des Sioux System was established, according to New Ulm Library Director Dan Reilly. "There will be some serious impact on the Traverse des Sioux system from all of this," Reilly said. "But a lot depends on whether the new entity that is formed decides to remain a member of Traverse des Sioux or not." The Minnesota Valley Regional Library has been a major member of the 12- county Traverse des Sioux system for many years, Reilly said. "We are a federated system rather than a consolidated system like MVRL was," he said. "A federated system means each branch maintains local autonomy. With a consolidated system, there is no local autonomy." The Traverse des Sioux system functions through a voluntary basis and all members determine whether they want to belong or not, he said. "There has been a lot of confusion over the years because there are two regional library systems, but there is a difference in the relationship and the organization of the two," Reilly said. "Funding of the system is based on population, so there may be a funding issue if the former MVRL members don't remain."
|