Mayor and the SLMA agree in principle to the City Taking over the Central Library and its Nine Branches

Charlie Ryan, chairman of the City Council Library Study Committee just announced that the SLMA, and the Mayor have agreed in principle on the City taking over the Central Library and the nine branches. Charlie is "confident that the remaining issues can be worked out between now and when the July budget is submitted to the City Council."

One of the main issues to be negotiated is ownership of the libraries; will the city buy the libraries for a nominal fee or lease them from the SLMA. Also, to be worked out is the final wording of the Proposed Ordinance. Charlie says that the mayor has some "understandable technical issues" with the ordinance as it now stands and would have to veto it, if it were to be voted on and passed by the city council as written.

The budget for the Museums is also an issue that must be dealt with. The Mayor made clear at the announcement that he is going to seek home rule legislation to permit the city to contract with the SLMA for running the museums. Apparently, they can do so for under three years, but need home rule legislation for it to go beyond this period. Out of the current budget of 7.5 million, approximately 1.6-1.8 million is allocated to the museums

The Mayor, who "is on board" on this issue, is also concerned about the use of volunteers in the library system. Will there be enough of them and an adequate structure for their efficient and long term use. In the next month, the Library Study Committee will be focusing on this issue to come up with a plan for their use, budgets for running the Central Library and the branches. The next meeting of the Library Study Committee is this Wednesday at 7pm at the Pine Point Community center

Over the next four weeks, the Mayor, David Starr and Don D'amour from the SLMA will work with Charlie Ryan on the final ordinance wording and the other outstanding issues.

Still to be dealt with is the sale of the Mason Square Library. Charlie said, "it is still a jump ball." The Mayor is committed to having a Library in Mason Square, but the deal for its sale is too far along for the sale to be stopped and the Mayor is unwilling to go to court to try and stop it. Representative Ben Swan and Charlie Ryan have an appointment this Tuesday with Henry Thomas, head of the local chapter of the Urban League to discuss the possibility of housing the library in the building he is purchasing.

No formal date has been set for completion of the negotiation other than "before the July 1st budget is submitted."

The Ordinance will not be taken up at this Monday's City Council Meeting. People should not turn out for the meeting on the 19th.