I have always and will always be an ardent supporter of our public libraries. Free, public libraries are truly cornerstones of community: they are a haven for all ages and all backgrounds, an incubator for ideas, a vehicle for self-improvement, and a last line of defense against educational and economic inequality. My kids grew up using Boise’s libraries; as a young mom I relied on the library as a place for education and passing time with my children, getting books, movies, and even music for our entire family.

During COVID our community saw again the power and impact that libraries can have, and their importance in our community. When I learned the disparities between library staff and other employees at the City, we set out to correct that because they provide an invaluable service. And I encouraged our libraries to innovate when it came to continued service, meeting the needs of Boise families during COVID. The use of our libraries didn’t wane, and we’ve continued many of the services we started during COVID because Boise families loved them so much.

In both my time on City Council and as Boise’s mayor for the past three and half years, I have prioritized access, program delivery, and most recently planning for the future so that every Boisean is able to enjoy access to a library, and importantly the programs that they want and need from their library.

The role of our community libraries is to: provide the public with equal access to information of all types without prejudice, serve as a public forum for exchange of ideas and thoughts, provide a platform for exploring new technologies, and provide technology and assistance for the public seeking online information, help, govt assistance, etc. Community libraries serve as a community repository for self education, discovery, and sharing stories. And last, but not least, they serve as a recreational and entertainment resource.

One can master a language, learn how to code, apply for jobs, prepare tax returns, apply for Medicare, take courses, communicate with people across the world, borrow materials from around the world, and support informed decisions with just a library card.

What do you feel the role of a library is in a community, and how will you help the library achieve that role if elected?

Libraries represent a hub of the community, second only to the marketplaces we go to for food. They are a place to meet, talk, and discuss ideas where the knowledge to answer our questions is readily available at hand and where we can access the information of the ages. They are the front line of our First Amendment Rights, defending Freedom of Speech, The Press, and the Rights of Freedom of/from Religion. They provide an eternal source for continuing education to those without the resources to pay for higher learning.

How can our libraries better serve our community in the future?

Continue to do what they have always done, be there for those who want to learn and for those who seek to challenge the status quo. Creating opportunities for those who seek to better themselves and their communities.

Where do you think the city should build a new library and why?

 The first area I would look is the far edge of West Boise. The northwest corner of the city is without close library coverage and the area is growing immensely. Even the consortium libraries are far away from this section of the city.  I would leave the specific citing of the facility to the Library Board, Director, and neighborhoods.

The next area I would look is to the far Southeast towards Columbia Village. This area is pretty far from Bown Crossing, isn’t served by any libraries in the consortium and is poised for considerable growth. I also envision a strong partnership with Micron Technology in the area.

How would you help us in our efforts to build a library in West Boise?

As residents, my wife and I signed and supported the petition to bring a branch library to West Boise. As Mayor, I will immediately prioritize this initiative and work to achieve this goal. Our current administration has ignored the issues of branch libraries for over three years now and that’s unacceptable.

Where do you think the city should build a new library and why?

Cloverdale and McMillian – Near Centennial High School allowing for an after school gathering location with internet access and educational resources for the students and their families.

Five Mile and Overland – There are already existing buildings there for rent that would make for easy conversion to a library, close to communities and on a major transit corridor for access. Using the same model as the Hillcrest library, it can be created without a bond or election to fund.

How would you help us in our efforts to build a library in West Boise?

Incorporate space for libraries in the “Upzoned Multi-Use” areas and negotiate for library space in areas where buildings already exist.

My family lives equidistant from the Hillcrest, Cole, and Ada County at Victory/Five Mile libraries. Visiting these libraries, which we do often, takes a dedicated trip to visit another part of the city. We’re told there isn’t money in the budget for a closer library. But that’s a fallacy that assumes the budget is already set and libraries are somehow an additional ask. An honest zero-based budget would allocate money ahead of other, lower priorities that manage to receive city funding.

When my own kids were little, Boise’s downtown library was an essential part of their childhoods, our weekly routine, and our connection to the community. They’ve grown along with our city, but the need for physical libraries endures! I remember a time when people were saying physical libraries weren’t important, because of digital materials. And I always disagreed with that. Books will endure. And libraries are so much more. From access to all kinds of technology (like computers, virtual reality, and 3D printers) to enrichment (like storytimes, Lego clubs, and adult education) to supportive services (like Internet access, social workers, and pro bono legal aid), our modern libraries are so much more than books.

And it’s exciting to see the use of programs that the library offers such as readings in parks and other community events continue to grow – demonstrating again the role that our libraries play in Boise.

Yes, even more so in the digital age! Not every Boisean has Internet access at home. Idaho ranks very low in connectivity. Public libraries are the place where internet access is free and available for anything a citizen needs it for. Increasingly in today’s world, certain functions are only available online. Government resources, job opportunities, filing for Medicare and other government benefits, online learning are only available through digital access.

No citizen could afford the juried and authoritative databases the library offers for research, government publications, etc. The public library collects these with experts creating the databases and expert librarians organizing the data. Wikipedia doesn’t cut the information edge. The library is the resource with the greatest digital access. Plus, the combined efforts of the state databases and World Cat databases give users access to the entire world of information.

Do you believe easy access to a physical library is important, even in this digital age and why?

Absolutely. We are going through a period of economic upheaval and resident displacement because of rising inflation and housing costs. Many of the services the public needs to create services for self and others are best offered through places like libraries, designed to help people self educate, self help, and self rescue.

The office building storefront solutions are excellent choices and have worked well for Boise’s system.  Long term renewable leases with first refusal rights have served us well.  I would even ask for a later option to purchase as a condominium. Leases can be expensive, but one needs to calculate the cost of new construction compared with a twenty-50 year lease.  In the case of Hillcrest and Collister it was much cheaper to lease than to build for a long period of time. That’s not always the case, but it could be.

I would avoid a joint school/public library scenario.  The missions are entirely different. For example, everyone is welcome in a public library. For security reasons, public schools don’t always want to welcome individuals into the school.  Also, collections scopes are very different.

There are alternatives to building a new location for the West Boise library that may be more affordable and offer a faster solution. They include but are not limited to leasing space in an existing office building, storefront, or under-utilized elementary school (in cooperation with West Ada School District). What are your thoughts on this approach?

Absolutely, I have already mentioned it as a possibility. The old Hastings video/bookstore at Five Mile and Overland being a perfect example of a place used to having books in it. We have no shortage of empty commercial space while we wait for the opportunities of the “Upzone” to be realized.
That said, I am not interested in placing a public library in a school, especially an elementary school. The risk to the children, considering the number of people with impulse control issues that do make regular use of the libraries during times of difficulty, is not worth it.