Madison Branch Necessary?

[Bryan Schwegler]

So I thought I'd just throw this out there for discussion here.

Given when the main library construction is complete we will effectively double its size, given the smaller population of Lakewood, and given the city's compact size, is there really a need for the Madison branch any longer after the main construction is completed?

I'm not so sure I think there is. The main branch is in a central location in the city, probably no more than 2 miles at most from 90% of residents. And given the increased size, it seems the library budget could gain alot of efficiency from offloading a possibly unneeded branch.

That site could then be repurposed for a different school or city use, or perhaps even sold for private development.

Again, these are just thoughts, but I'd be curious as to what other Observers might think.

[ryan costa]

The Madison Branch can be converted to a voluntary deputies station. Citizens can volunteer to become part of lakewood's deputy reserves. They can carry around stun guns and clubs to patrol the eastern borderlands, offering security and corrective counseling to caricatures of the American urban culture.

Megaphones can be employed to admonish young people to pull up their pants, stand up straight, and to cease using the N-word and best curse words in public. Clubs can be used to smash the car stereos and stereos of people playing shitty music too loudly.

Most of the volunteers should be over 50. They've got enough weight to apply restraining wrestling moves. And are old enough to remember when teachers, police, and shop owners used corporal punishment much more informally and immediately.

[Jim DeVito]

[Mark Crnolatas]

In my opinion, the kids and adults that live in the southern half of Lakewood, who walk to the Madison Branch might take issue that the main library is "central", much like Madison Park. The most exciting addition to the Madison "necessity stores" is the Walgreens on Madison and Warren. We missed having a 2 or 3 minute drive or a walk to get Rx's or what have you when Revco closed.

I remember going to Madison Branch there while attending Roosevelt Elementary, and didn't know there was a "main" library, since my parents also used Madison Branch, until I grew a little older.

I would hate to see another "walkable" city asset be eliminated.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

[Kenneth Warren]

Bryan:

Your question about the Madison Branch is one that comes up each time the library board appoints a Citizens Committee to study operations and make recommendations.

At those times the cost, value and use of the Madison Branch come under considerable scrutiny by citizens.

Back in the late eighties, a Citizen Committee prompted improvements for Madison Branch and an extension of hours.

Despite falling population, use of Madison Branch has grown over the decades, in part as a result of acting on those recommendations.

Based on current use, I believe the Madison Branch is still a valuable Madison neighborhood amenity.

It is the 21st century and Madison Branch is changing with the times, with an expanding role in bridging the divide, while creating a positive platform for good community relations and social uplift.

Nonetheless, I would expect that in 2010 another citizens committee will be appointed and that the impact of the expanded Main Library, with two years of operations, in relation to Madison Branch, demographic changes and the community’s financial capacity will be scrutinized again.

One key area to evaluate once Main Library brings the expanded Technology Center on-line with 80 stations will be utilization of computers at Madison Branch, which now has 30.

Madison Branch has always had a strong demand for children’s services, with children’s amounting to roughly 50% of its transactions. There is a strong connection between the neighborhood after school crowd and Madison Branch.

Over the past seven years, however, the adult side of Madison Branch transactions has been increasing, primarily with AV materials.

There is more to Madison Branch and its relationship Main Library and the total basket of services provided than meets the eye. I would point out that Lakewood Public Library provides through a system-wide approach that includes Main Library and Madison Branch staff a significant outreach service to schools and pre-schools in Lakewood.

If my memory serves me, from the last time the Citizens Committee requested the information in 2000, I believe the cost for Madison Branch was approximately one quarter of one mill per $100,000 of valuation.

I am home right now and do not have much detail on hand.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

[Bryan Schwegler]

In my opinion, the kids and adults that live in the southern half of Lakewood, who walk to the Madison Branch might take issue that the main library is "central", much like Madison Park. The most exciting addition to the Madison "necessity stores" is the Walgreens on Madison and Warren. We missed having a 2 or 3 minute drive or a walk to get Rx's or what have you when Revco closed.

I remember going to Madison Branch there while attending Roosevelt Elementary, and didn't know there was a "main" library, since my parents also used Madison Branch, until I grew a little older.

I would hate to see another "walkable" city asset be eliminated.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Oh I agree...but I just wonder if in this time of "tightening the belt" and shrinking revenues if the justification can truly be made that it's "necessary" or is it really more a "nice to have".

[Bryan Schwegler]

Bryan:

Your question about the Madison Branch is one that comes up each time the library board appoints a Citizens Committee to study operations and make recommendations.
…

Thank you Ken for your very detailed response. It truly does put things a little more in perspective, especially those things that aren't readily apparent.

[Mike Deneen]

As someone that uses the Madison branch on occasion, I can certainly verify that the place is crowded.

Children seem to be especially frequent visitors. They can't just hop in the car and drive over to the main branch. Given the fact that the Madison Branch is in a relatively lower income area, I think it plays a vitally important role for children. As a kid growing up in Cleveland, I always had the library as a place to go after school. It helped me stay out of trouble, and helped develop in me an appreciation for reading and learning.

I agree with Mark that southern Lakewood needs love, too....and I am glad to see Walgreen's here.

[Colleen Wing]

One of the reasons the Madison Branch has so many children using it this summer during the day is because all the library classes are offered there because of the reconstruction of the Main Branch.

I love the Madison Branch for the kids because my 2 year old barely speaks outside our house but seems to find his voice inside the quiet of the library. Loud and proud. It isn't as disruptive there so I would hate to see it go.

[Linda Summers]

My children would miss a lot if there wasn't a Madison Branch. They have wonderful children's librarians and they are recognized by my children since the librarian visited their school (Roosevelt) regularly and the students from Roosevelt go to the library on a walking field trip which wouldn't be possible at the Main Library. I'm sure the students at Harrison would miss it too.

I also like the fact that we can walk or ride a bike and not fight the congestion that the main library has. It's always busy even before the summer construction crowd.

[Michael Fleenor]

I agree that the Madison Branch is a nice addition to the fine facility we have at Main. It is simpler, smaller, and my son likes that we can walk there, often in conjunction with a trip to the park or to Miss Tracey's art classes at Bela Dubby. It would be a shame to close it.

What I would like to see, maybe a few years down the road, is that we raise funds to do an appropriate rehab there and restore some of the lost beauty that Main is recapturing--opening the clerestory windows, replacing the Colonial Revival windows it had, installing more decorative lighting. It is an important building, designed by Walker & Weeks, a prestigious early 20th Century firm that also designed the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland (1923), Public Auditorium (1922), The Cleveland Public Library--Main Branch (1925), and Severence Hall (1931).

[dl meckes]

I didn't know anything about its history - only that it's a really interesting and beautiful structure.

Thanks, Michael!

[Rick Uldricks]

When I first moved to Lakewood 13 years ago, the Madison Branch reminded me of the Miller Park Branch in Upper Arlington which has recently been expanded and remodeled. http://www.ualibrary.org/millerhrsdir.html

I think the Madison branch and the park are important assets that are worth keeping and worth keeping nice.