Last night KTVB aired a story about our push for a library in West Boise, and subsequent lack of any branch in West Boise in the new facilities plan draft.
Library Director Dorr said in this interview:
“We don’t have the funds to put a library in every neighborhood that asks for one. I wish we could.”
I would ask viewers to consider a few questions in response:
- How many neighborhoods have asked for a library besides citizens in West Boise?
- We do have the funds to replace two existing branches and enhance the main library, but we don’t have the funds to add a branch where we are missing one today?
- When making a facilities plan, shouldn’t the library build a plan that makes Boise a city for everyone, and then work with City Council to determine if/how that plan can be funded?
- Has City Council already told the library that if they work on a facilities plan, it may not include a new branch?
Taxpayers in west Boise contribute to libraries and should have access to a library in their area when the city is planning for expansion. Our city is growing and more people are living in west Boise with the building of multi unit dwellings. The traffic concerns make traveling more burdensome for all. A library in close vicinity is an asset for our children and youth to avail the library services easily.