Friends of the Seattle Public Library 2011 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

When you reflect on the Seattle Public Library system, what three things first come to mind? 1. Our libraries are the foundation of what makes Seattle great. Like art, our libraries define who we are and what we value. As a child, my mother was the finance manager at the Seattle Public Library Central Branch for over ! years. "y daily routine as a child included going to the Central Branch to wait for my mother as she ended her workday. #his e$%erience hel%ed sha%e my character as a life&long learner and made me a%%reciate how a world&class %ublic library system benefits everyone. ' gained access to worlds and theories unimaginable( fiction, science fiction, history. 't was in a library that ' became fascinated with the world of law and decided to %ursue a %rofession as an attorney. #his e$%erience should be available to every child. Our libraries %rovide the sanctuary for our %ublic to leave the hustle and bustle of life and create a system of life&long learning. )very great society must have this. 2. Our Public Library system continues to ada%t to changing technology and the changing needs of the %eo%le who use the library. Our library offers digital books, research databases and music. #hey are %laces where %eo%le go to access the 'nternet to search for *obs or conduct research %ro*ects or for something as sim%le as sending an email. 'n the realm of Social +ustice, our libraries %rovide resources to residents who may not otherwise have access. ' see our Library System as a learning organi,ation that continues to ada%t and serve the %ublic-s needs. 3. Libraries are essential for a thriving and com%etitive community. Our Central Library and the neighborhood branches are %laces where families can grow and reach their %otential. where community meetings are held and %eo%le can go to sim%ly read, reflect and dream. Our libraries must be able to hel% our community understand their %lace in the global economy and %rovide a %ortal to the world in terms of theory, current events, strategies and outcomes. 'n other words, our libraries teach us what we can achieve, and eliminates barriers or obstacles to growth.

Gi en the myriad of essential human ser ices !ro ided by the "ity of Seattle, where do you ran# funding for the Seattle Public Library? Would you !ut it in the to!, middle or bottom tier of !riorities? Because of my %ersonal u%bringing, libraries remain one of my to% %riorities. Library service is among one of the basic services %rovided by the City, along with %ublic safety, %arks and utilities. /unding strategies for the Seattle Public Library will remain on to% of my %riority list. As stated above, a strong %ublic library system is at the core of building and maintaining a strong, knowledgeable society. Access to information and resources is e$tremely im%ortant. A strong library system ties directly into

im%roved %ublic education and a reduction of crime. #he %resence of a library increases the desirability of a neighborhood. #hey %romote %eace and they validate a culture of education and livability in a city.

$he Seattle Public Library has sustained budget cuts of nearly %1& million from its annual budget since 2&&', resulting in (riday closures at 1) branches, em!loyee furloughs, lay*offs, and a decrease in the collections budget. Gi en the "ity re enue shortfalls !ro+ected for 2&11 and 2&12, what are your iews on maintaining funding for Library hours, staffing, collections, !rograms and ser ices? ' ho%e to be a strong advocate to maintaining funding for library hours, staffing, collections, %rograms and services. #he Seattle Public Library has taken hits on its budget and has been very resourceful in terms of %roviding service with fewer resources. As noted above, ' believe that the Library system is critical because it %rovides access to resources and information. ' will work tirelessly with my colleagues on the Council during this year-s budget %rocess to ensure that the library is not sub*ect to additional cuts. 'n my role as the Council-s chair of the )nergy, #echnology and Civil 0ights committee, ' have %ushed for the im%lementation of L)1 streetlights because they save money and enhance safety. #he City has already saved 23!!,!!! from the installation of only 4,!!! units. 5hen all 67,!!! are installed the City will save over 2 million a year. Some of these 8eneral /und savings could %ossibly be allocated to libraries.

,s the Library-s new strategic !lan states, .changes in how !eo!le access and use information, interact with one another, and in the resources, tools and ca!abilities needed to o!erate effecti ely in today-s society re/uire new a!!roaches to the ser ices and resources that the library !ro ides.. What is your ision for the library of the future, and how would you su!!ort SPL0s e olution o er the ne1t ) years?

' agree with Library Board President "arie "cCaffery-s comment in the strategic %lan that 9the world is changing around us. #he Library must change with it.: 5ith 77 million items circulated and more than 76 million library visits last year, it is clear that our Library system is vital to the %eo%le of Seattle. Our Library has ada%ted well to the digital age. ;owever, that does not mean that it should not continue to grow and ada%t. Seattle is a hub of technology. ' envision that our Library system will continue to evolve with technology and will continue to %rovide the resources and materials that our citi,ens need.

Over the ne$t < years, ' ho%e to see our library get back to the level of service %rovided before budget cuts. ' want to see the library-s %rint and digital collections continue to grow and the continued offering of %rograms that benefit the %ublic.

As a member of the Seattle City Council, ' have been a cham%ion of %roviding access to technology. ' will continue in this ca%acity to hel% ensure that our libraries continue to be %laces of community, learning and knowledge building.