Exactly six months ago, on July 16, 2008, I posted "Why Not."
It’s time for another.
All governments are short of money. Businesses are also strapped, but at least business can justify expenditures if they see a return. They can also operate more efficiently. And they can decide if they want to spend more private money to help public institutions. Maybe these ideas spur some thinking.
1. Why not co-locate all public libraries into schools? As we see in the Solano Beach branch of the San Diego library system, it’s a fabulous combination. It is multi-generational. It uses real estate more efficiently. It brings people to fewer locations. Siblings and parents can listen to a story, watch a movie, or check the online news while waiting to pick up the kids. Schools have plenty of parking and most of their facilities are unused on weekends. They still need to be chilled or heated so why not populate them?
2. Then why not sell off the free-standing library locations to generate cash for the various public entities? Isn’t the entire concept of “bricks and mortar” libraries giving way to “clicks and mortar” anyway? Will we need BUILDINGS to store and distribute books, magazines, movies, etc. forever? Won’t most go the way of the buggy whip anyway?
3. So, if we need the money now, and we have BUILDINGS now that we can dispose of, without harming our ability to store and distribute, why not sell them off and use the proceeds elsewhere?
4. Every library probably has a Gray’s Anatomy, a Blacks’ Law Dictionary and several hard copies of different encyclopedias, but do we need every one of them? Aren’t most of these also found in school libraries? Why not eliminate UNNECESSARY duplication?
5. Wouldn’t consolidation reduce the aggregate space needed and still provide excellent resources? So wouldn’t that mean less energy to heat and chill, less janitorial, less repairs and maintenance? Doesn’t that minimize enviro-impact? Why not take that approach?
6. Why not sell multi-year naming rights agreements for libraries to search engines? The YAHOO John Smith Memorial Library could still honor civic heroes. And, in return for naming rights, don’t we have the technology to use (e.g.) Yahoo search engines to the exclusion of Google? Wouldn’t that translate into advertising revenue to Yahoo allowing them to pay more for their naming rights? Or vice versa, Google instead of Yahoo.
7. Why not have all playground-parks wi-fi enabled? Then parents, nannies and babysitters could use their laptops while minding the kids. They would be more likely to linger at the playground, get more work (or social networking) done and the kids would burn off more energy.
8. If that makes sense, again, why not sell naming rights (to wi-fi operators or others) in order to get this service free to the users?
9. One bank used to have a program called something like “keep the change.” It rounded UP credit card purchases and put the change into a savings account. Why not have similar opportunities for charities? Why not for a political party? The technology is there to block political contributions above the legal limits. And, it certainly gives a good audit trail to the donor.
10. Why not follow the example of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ? Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay.
The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners. They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who'd like to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.
The best part? His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million. A couple who wrote me adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost: $78. The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day. Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals. Why not follow that example? Why not?
11. Why not follow the example of the Rancho Bernardo calculus teacher who sold advertising space on exams? Why not lionize Tom Farber rather than debate the issue? Not only did he raise new money, he did so from those who were willing. No tax increases. I would name a library after him for free since he showed such creativity. What a good example to politicians, bureaucrats, and students. (Predictably, those who never came up with this idea, (perhaps not any ideas) wanted to second-guess it! The Superintendent, one Don Phillips, “said district officials are weighing whether to set guidelines, especially for business ads,” according to CNN.
12. Why not trust Farber’s judgment on the matter? Why not? We trust him to educate our children. Why not trust him and other teachers to resist ads from drug dealers, coyotes and brothels? He first cleared the idea with parents. He encourages inspirational quotes as well as local “mom & pop” commercial ads. Why not recognize his good judgment?
13. And why not free up those district officials to do something creative and useful?
14. And, finally, why not get involved in finding solutions, rather than complaining? Why not…for all of us?
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