Skeptical Commissioner Susan Mall on Strategic Plan - January 18, 2024

Commissioner Susan Mall:

Well, for fear of being thrown off the dais here...

Commissioner Jarie Bolander (off-mic):

I don't think we would do that. I mean it would be very frowned upon.

Commissioner Susan Mall:

It would be frowned upon. 

Commissioner Jarie Bolander:

We're respectful here. 

Commissioner Susan Mall:

Okay, well, I'm very respectful of the work that you've all done and I'm especially respectful of the work the staff has done, period. 

However I was a skeptic going in and I'm still a skeptic, just saying so. 

For my understanding, this is like twelve things too many. I don't understand why there has to be the outer circle, the under circle and then the circle in the middle. 

 
I think it's, you know, you, you covered every little thing the library does. I don't think that's necessary myself. 

I'd much rather see a more focused streamlined elevator pitch, if you will, description of what the plan for the library is 

Some of the language I'm dead set against, like the amplified joy and wonder. Sorry, but it just, it just screams at me that this is - I hate to use the word - silly but, I don't think it reflects the ...  I think people, yes, they feel joy when they're in the library of course and reading. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more joyful than reading a great book, frankly. But I think you've expressed that in other areas here. 

The thing that I'm a little disappointed in - that I'm a lot disappointed in - is the things that you use as examples I think are wonderful. The, you know, the information about navigating the neighborhood, the Innovation Hub, the Teen Mental Health Center. I wouldn't even put the Jay-Z exhibit I because that is a oneoff that we can't even replicate here.Sso I wouldn't even, I mean, of course that's fantastic. 

But, the Early Childhood Hub the new immigrant Center, I mean, yes,  these are all wonderful ideas but unless we have a different physical plant, especially right here, it's going to be very hard to implement any of these. 

I think I've mentioned on the commission that I've visited some libraries in Europe last summer where they have all these comfy chairs and I mean everything looks like a living room and you just want to you know sit down and get comfy with your neighbors and your community.

I mean you can barely find a chair to sit in in this Library um and nonetheless a comfortable chair. But I think that many of these ideas, just don't line up with the facts on the ground.  I might have more but those are my initial thoughts.