I agree with all comments above. Just returned from Temescal branch, where I ran into both Piedmont and Oakland friends. Love that I can return my book in town ... or walk to the Dimond branch to return it and browse. Love that I can request a resource from the vast collection, and it will be delivered to the branch of my choice for pickup. The resources are great and the people are friendly and helpful -- why on earth wouldn't we pay our fair share to use this worthwhile system? This is one of the best uses of my tax funds!
Being a part of the Oakland library system and paying our fair share of the fees seems like a mutually beneficial way of sharing with our greater community. The existing branch libraries are certainly sufficient - they are not too far away and offer fine resources. If we really wanted to devote more of our resources to libraries/education we could stay within the Oakland system and offer a smaller local branch that in some ways augments the current collection/services. A place to read and learn that could be a part of the Oakland system, and with the help of technology, extend to the great libraries of the world.
Stephanie Teleki - 13 years ago
We use the Oakland library all the time (for kids' books esp). A 5% increase does not seem awful. It does not seem to be cost-effective to try to build our own. The collection would be minimal and why re-invent the wheel?
Lisa Joyce - 13 years ago
I echo both Kimberly's and Tim's comments. I disagree with Mr. Grote's comment about why should we pay the library fee when we can get access for free. Too bad he didn't have that mindset when the city agreed on the taxpayers behalf to pay over 7 x the amount of the library fee to bail out the undergrounding district that serves only a small handful of Piedmont families. Belonging to the Oakland Library system makes good economic and helps keep Piedmont ers connected to our larger community.
A 5% increase isn't too much. The Oakland branches near Piedmont have been a wonderful resource for me and my son. We use Lakeside, Piedmont Avenue, Rockridge and Temescal at least once a month for either books, audio books, cds, dvds or children programs. I love running into other Piedmont parents and kids, as well as meeting parents from our neighboring city. We are lucky to be able to share the resource of a large city library, while living in a close knit, smaller community.
Tim Rood - 13 years ago
I can't imagine that setting up our own library could possibly be more cost-effective than continuing to be affiliated with Oakland's. What makes a library useful is a comprehensive inventory of books. A one-branch system for a tiny town like Piedmont would not be useful.
I agree with all comments above. Just returned from Temescal branch, where I ran into both Piedmont and Oakland friends. Love that I can return my book in town ... or walk to the Dimond branch to return it and browse. Love that I can request a resource from the vast collection, and it will be delivered to the branch of my choice for pickup. The resources are great and the people are friendly and helpful -- why on earth wouldn't we pay our fair share to use this worthwhile system? This is one of the best uses of my tax funds!
Being a part of the Oakland library system and paying our fair share of the fees seems like a mutually beneficial way of sharing with our greater community. The existing branch libraries are certainly sufficient - they are not too far away and offer fine resources. If we really wanted to devote more of our resources to libraries/education we could stay within the Oakland system and offer a smaller local branch that in some ways augments the current collection/services. A place to read and learn that could be a part of the Oakland system, and with the help of technology, extend to the great libraries of the world.
We use the Oakland library all the time (for kids' books esp). A 5% increase does not seem awful. It does not seem to be cost-effective to try to build our own. The collection would be minimal and why re-invent the wheel?
I echo both Kimberly's and Tim's comments. I disagree with Mr. Grote's comment about why should we pay the library fee when we can get access for free. Too bad he didn't have that mindset when the city agreed on the taxpayers behalf to pay over 7 x the amount of the library fee to bail out the undergrounding district that serves only a small handful of Piedmont families. Belonging to the Oakland Library system makes good economic and helps keep Piedmont ers connected to our larger community.
A 5% increase isn't too much. The Oakland branches near Piedmont have been a wonderful resource for me and my son. We use Lakeside, Piedmont Avenue, Rockridge and Temescal at least once a month for either books, audio books, cds, dvds or children programs. I love running into other Piedmont parents and kids, as well as meeting parents from our neighboring city. We are lucky to be able to share the resource of a large city library, while living in a close knit, smaller community.
I can't imagine that setting up our own library could possibly be more cost-effective than continuing to be affiliated with Oakland's. What makes a library useful is a comprehensive inventory of books. A one-branch system for a tiny town like Piedmont would not be useful.