Come on here folks, does anyone really think that Suzie is taking into consideration what the people want? When was the last time you ever heard her listen to anyone outside of the dictatorship? NEVER! What make anyone think that the library is any different?
Suzie knows that there will be an audit of the Metroplex. Suzie is also aware of the fact that it was the State Police coupled with the Feds that took down the drug ring right from under the SPD's nose.
They know that they will soon be looked at through a microscope and exposed for what the they really are. And it won't be pretty!!
Sorry people...Suzie isn't doing it for 'us'!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Writing Letters to the Editors will have little if any impact. Voting those who disregard the will of the people out of office is the only form of protest that will yield results.
SCHENECTADY Library construction plans change Facility will not close July 1; county seeking new bids TATIANA ZARNOWSKI Gazette Reporter
The Schenectady County Public Library’s central branch will not close for expansion July 1 as originally planned. It also may not build all of what was considered much-needed space. Officials announced Saturday that the county will solicit additional bid requests for revised construction plans, with the hope that the alternatives will cost less than the current $7.7 million plan, tackle many of the same overdue updating priorities and close the library for considerably less than the 10 to 12 months forecast, which drew a firestorm of protest. “We wanted to get the information that we’re looking at some other options into the hands of the community,” said county Legislator Gary Hughes, DSchenectady, chairman of the county Legislature’s education and library committee. Now, construction won’t happen until the end of summer at the earliest, since officials have postponed the deadline to seek the additional bids. They had planned to review bids May 22. Friends of Schenectady County Public Library President Bernard Allanson said then he thought the Legislature pushed the original project through without public discussion. On Saturday, he was encouraged to hear offi cials were backing off. “I would say that the public has had a significant impact on the Legislature. I applaud the Legislature for listening,” he said. Hughes said the new plan was announced to address concerns from the public and county offi - cials themselves about closing the library for so long. The county Legislature is still accepting bids for the original plan, which aims to add 9,000 square feet to the fi rst floor. In addition, in the coming weeks county legislators will ask for bids for two alternate approaches. The main thrust is still to take care of overdue improvements to the 40-year-old building and its systems, such as heating, air-conditioning and other mechanicals, considered 75 percent of the original project. But rather than expand for the needed space, the additional bid requests emphasize updating existing space to use it more efficiently for programming, thus avoiding closing the library branch for the lengthy period of time believed necessary. Officials said they believe they can limit closings to a matter of weeks, which could be staggered or broken up to minimize patron disruption. Also on Saturday, the city school district announced it would open its libraries to the public for extended hours during any shutdown of the public library’s central branch. Library administrators had previously indicated that they were drawing up contingency plans to increase programs and services at the system’s nine branches and other sites downtown should the library close for a prolonged period due to the original construction plan. The first part of additional bid requests, being called Alternate A, would focus just on replacing major systems in the building — heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, removing asbestos and general upgrades to the fi rst floor. The library would be closed only a short time during this phase, officials said. Alternate B would reconfi gure the 22,600-square-foot second floor, which is currently used for library administration and storage. Library materials stored on the second floor can be consolidated to make way for use of this space for library services and programs, Hughes said. “We can have the expanded program space within the library but have it within the four walls of the building,” Hughes said. Library board members had previously indicated that they believed closing the main branch would be the best option for completing the project on time, within budget and safely. They cited concerns about being able to contain asbestos during removal and the need to reconstruct parking and sidewalks. The McChesney Room and other parts of the first floor would be upgraded under Alternate B. The previous plan would have replaced the rounded McChesney meeting space, reconfiguring the space for a cafe, performance center, a private reading room and expanded the children’s room. The two alternates are designed to be completed together in place of the original plan. “We could do a much better job of planning, and people could have access to what is obviously a very important part of the community to them,” he said. A public outcry ensued last month after officials announced plans to close the main library while renovations took place. Although more programs at the county library’s nine branches were promised, downtown library patrons were concerned about the closure’s impact on the community, particularly on children who use the library regularly. The Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library last week launched an effort to keep the county from closing the library for up to a year, noting that in addition to books, the public would be losing valuable programs and free Internet access. The friends group distributed 1,000 surveys to people attending its book sale last weekend at the central library. People returned 725, and 710 of the respondents said they did not want to see the library closed.
Are you aware that Schenectady’s library was named by the American Institute of Architects as one of the most outstanding and significant buildings erected in New York state in the 20th century? Current expansion plans will destroy its entire facade. Demolishing the popular McChesney Room, known for its excellent acoustics, for another performance space is indefensible and wasteful. We don’t need a suburban-style drive-through at our very urban library. A private reading room, cafe and gallery are nice amenities, but can we afford them? Recently, the library used a $45,000 (Commercial Industrial Performance Program) grant from NYSERDA to upgrade energy systems, including HVAC. Yet, plans call for replacing heating, lighting and air conditioning. According to Friends of the Library [May 6 Gazette article], the project was “pushed through without any public discussion.” There are many unanswered questions, and a thorough, open process to plan the expansion was not followed. This plan is extravagant, will destroy the award-winning architecture and requires long-term closure. The county Legislature should revisit a former proposal — a simple addition toward the police station and utilizing the second floor for public areas. Speak out at the county Legislature meeting May 13, at 7 p.m. in the County Office Building, sixth floor. GLORIA KISHTON Schenectady
From 1985 to 2007, as an administrator with the New York State Library, I was often in touch with staff in public libraries across upstate New York. To the best of my knowledge, though a great many libraries renovated and constructed additions during those 22 years, not one found it necessary to close for an extended period. On the contrary, Albany, Bethlehem, Buffalo, Canajoharie, Cobleskill and Cohoes are just the beginning of a long list of large and small libraries that — perhaps to the frustration of the contractors — managed to keep their buildings open during such work. The patrons of those libraries would not have settled for less. JANE SOMERS Delanson
This was talked about greatly at the meeting tonight. I was upset that I had to leave early, but I had some family business I had to take care of. Can anybody remind me when the County meetings show on channel 16?
As an addition to my previous comment, I say that we all take and send a small contribution to the Friends of the Library to help to pay for the update to the main library. Especially if you're somone who uses the library frequently. I realize how large a sum of money it can be to do the types of renovations that they're talking about, but I like the idea that I think it was Mr. Suhrada came up with tonight. Do the work just like any of the workings stiffs in the county would have to do it. First of all, if you're renovating in your house, you wouldn't move out for 18 months as you're redoing it. Also, you would do one piece at a time (something that Schalmont could use a lesson at) and maybe the fact that you make one change would help to save money so that it would be easier to go about another change, i.e. changing out windows for something that holds in heat better would save money on the NiMo bill, therefore, in the future giving you more money to change the heater, then using that savings to redo floors, etc. etc. etc.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Library backers urge return to 2003 plan Supporters want to rehabilitate, expand central branch BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Supporters of the public library system want the Schenectady County Legislature to start over with plans to rehabilitate and expand the central branch. Almost a dozen Friends of the Schenectady Public Library and library trustees spoke Tuesday night at the Legislature’s regular meeting, urging legislators to go back to a plan library trustees drew up in 2003. That plan would construct a $4 million addition between the central branch and the police station on Liberty Street and repair mechanical systems within the central branch. County Manager Kathleen Rooney said she wants to work with community groups to reach a consensus on a new design that works for them and is cost-effective. John Karl, a library trustee and former president of the Friends of the Schenectady Public Library, asked legislators to re-establish a building committee of library trustees, Friends and others. The committee would develop a plan to repair library systems and provide additional space without disrupting services to the public. “The philosophy has been this is a county project, not a library project. That is crazy,” Karl said. Karl served on a committee that produced the 2003 design. Library trustees went to the Legislature for funding in 2004, the Legislature dismissed the committee in 2004, rejected the plan and hired a new architect. The architect came up with a proposal to expand the central branch by 9,000 square feet and replace 40-year-old mechanical systems. That plan includes demolition of the McChesney Room and the construction of a new entrance facing the intersection of Clinton and Liberty streets. The proposal was presented to the public, but attendance was sparse. County Legislator Joseph Suhrada, RRotterdam, said the project got out of hand when the Legislature got involved. “We stuck our noses and tried to take control. It was a great case of meddling,” he said. “We made a huge mistake and should admit it.” Officials said the work would be done in phases to prevent minimal disruption to services. So many people were shocked two weeks ago to learn that the central branch would have to close for a year, perhaps more, to complete the work. The Friends and others immediately launched an effort to keep the library open. They collected nearly 1,000 signatures and some county legislators said they were inundated with phone calls from people protesting the closure. On Saturday, county legislators announced they would seek two alternative bids to reduce costs of the $7.7 million project and reduce the amount of time the central branch would be closed. Democrats said they were reacting to the public outcry. “It is not to cast blame but to have a project that everyone can be happy with. We are re-evaluating it and working through it,” said County Attorney Chris Gardner. Alternative “A” calls for replacing major systems in the building — heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems — removing asbestos and general upgrades to the first floor. The library would be closed only a short time during this phase. Alternative “B” would reconfi gure the 22,600-square-foot second floor, which is currently used for library administration and storage. Library materials stored on the second floor can be consolidated to make way for use of this space for library services and programs Karl said the latest proposals would leave in place the existing facade along Clinton and Liberty streets, meaning the McChesney Room would not be demolished for a cafe and new entrance. “The other thing I keep hearing is they will do the minimum in maintenance and use the money elsewhere, for other projects the county has,” he said. Fred Thompson, a member of the Friends, said the county Legislature never discussed the alternative-bid proposals with the Friends or trustees before Saturday’s announcement, calling more of the same process that brought the project to its latest crisis. “It is the same problem, a lack of transparency in how this process works,” Thompson said. Gardner said Rooney was in constant contact with trustee President Esther Swanker. Swanker concurred. Karl said the constant change of plans has upset some contributors to the library’s fundraising. The library board and Friends of the Library have raised about $2 million in private donations. The county was expected to provide $5.7 million toward the project, paid through bonds, but may reconsider its investment due to financial worries. “I have heard the people use the word fraud. We did do our fundraising on a design to push the library to the east, toward the police station,” Karl said. When the Legislature changed the design, “we went out and started supporting the new plan but ran into resistance.” He said the library raised money for a proposed art gallery and sold seats for $250 in a proposed auditorium. Some of the money was matched by GE. The alternatives do not include any of these features. Thompson said the 2003 design called for a 12,000-square-foot addition to the east side of the building. It would be connected to the central branch through a door and have its own mechanical systems. The plan also called for repairing the central branch’s mechanical systems. The work would have had minimal impact on operations. Trustees and the Friends lost control of the project once it went to the county Legislature in 2004, Karl said. “They hired a new architect and came up with a new plan to change the facade to make it more in line with the Center City concept, where the entrance would face City Hall. It would get rid of the McChesney hump, which county Legislature leaders thought was ugly.”
County Legislator Joseph Suhrada, RRotterdam, said the project got out of hand when the Legislature got involved. “We stuck our noses and tried to take control. It was a great case of meddling,” he said. “We made a huge mistake and should admit it.”
Ya just gotta love this guy for his guts!! He's about the only one left who actually speaks for the people.
Quoted Text
Trustees and the Friends lost control of the project once it went to the county Legislature in 2004, Karl said. “They hired a new architect and came up with a new plan to change the facade to make it more in line with the Center City concept, where the entrance would face City Hall. It would get rid of the McChesney hump, which county Legislature leaders thought was ugly.”
The dictatorship listens to no one!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Open part of library during renovation First published: Friday, May 16, 2008
One issue I have not seen addressed in the media with respect to the anticipated long term closure of the main branch of the Schenectady County Public Library is the fate of the library's employees once the library closes. Why not keep the library open but block off the area where the renovation is taking place? Scaling back the renovations to only include expanded meeting space, upgrades to HVAC and infrastructure, and eliminating the unwanted cafe, should provide the budget with the needed flexibility for this option.
I think everyone is on the same page with you Mr. Wilkinson.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
BTW, if you want to sign a petition to help keep the library open (or voice your opinion in either way), the store that the friends of the library has did have some sheets for people to fill out when I was there yesterday. I don't know if they have anymore today.
Library district would take decisionmaking off county BY RONALD L. LAGASSE For The Sunday Gazette
Retiring as director of the Schenectady County Public Library in 2002 after 25 years of service, I chose to refrain from making judgments on the future course of the library. An announcement that the central library would close for 18 months for capital improvements made me reconsider that decision. Fortunately, that is now a moot point; library officials announced May 10 that the county may scale back construction plans and the library won’t close for more than a few weeks. Still, anyone who has a stake in the library — and that includes virtually every household in the county — needs to be concerned about the manner in which decisions affecting the library are made. Since scores of library patrons have publicly opposed the plan that would have denied residents access to the county’s most important cultural and informational center for an extended period of time, there is little more for me to add. ERODING AUTHORITY However, I wish to address a far more serious problem that bodes ill for the future of the county library, namely the continuing erosion of the policy-making power of the library board of trustees, which today has very little authority. In 2004, this board developed a very practical and cost-effective plan for renovating and expanding the central library — a plan that was summarily dismissed, even though it would have resulted in very little, if any, disruption of library services. Also, library patrons and citizens should be aware that New York’s education law specifically places under the authority of the local library board the complete responsibility for the community’s program of library service and the expenditure of all funds [Sections 6211-6227 of the Unconsolidated Laws and Sections 226 and 260 of the New York State Education Law]. This is not happening in our county. As a result of the increasing financial burdens for mandated county services, the library has seen continuing and severe budget reductions that will most likely escalate in future years. What’s to be done? Schenectady County should consider an alternative approach to library governance: specifically, the establishment of a library district in which the residents of the county directly elect the library trustees and vote on the level of funding for the library, both operating costs and capital improvements. What would be the benefits? First, the county Legislature would not need to appropriate funds for the library. Second, the citizens would determine the level of library services and funding they deem necessary to deliver these services. Are there successful library districts? We need only to look to Albany for an example of such a transition, specifically, the Albany Public Library, which moved from a municipal responsibility to a library district some years ago. The city of Albany assisted in this transition, because the city was finding it increasingly difficult to provide funds to maintain the level of the library’s services. Other libraries have similarly made the transition. NEED FOR DISCUSSION How does the county begin such a transition? A delegation of county government representatives, library trustees, the Friends of the Library, and citizens of Schenectady County should explore and discuss this option. Not only should they meet with their counterparts in the city of Albany, they should also seek advice from the New York State Education Department’s Division of Library Development, which has assisted other public libraries in changing the governance structure. If steps are not taken now, decisions on library facilities and services will continue to be made at the county level, where personnel are already burdened with so many challenging issues and a financial future that will likely be dismal for the foreseeable future. Because it is not a state-required county service, the county library will most certainly suffer further cuts in order to divert funds to mandated county services. The losers will be the people of Schenectady County, who now take the public library services for granted.
Posted on: 05/19/08 Ross Marvin, Spotlight Staff email: marvinr@spotlightnews.com
Nearly a dozen members of the Friends of the Schenectady Public Library, library trustees and members of the public spoke in front of the Schenectady County Legislature against an extended closure of the main branch of the Schenectady County Library in favor of a 2003 plan that added an addition on the eastern side of the building that preserved the library’s lauded architecture and its central programming space, the McChesney Room.
The 2003 plan would construct a $4 million addition between the central branch and the police station on Liberty Street and repair heating and ventilation systems within the building.
Public comments followed the second informational meeting on the remodeling project held this month.
On Tuesday, May 12, county officials discussed their decision earlier in the week to extend the due date for bids to be submitted on the project in an attempt to reduce costs and reduce the amount of time that the main branch would be closed during reconstruction.
Earlier this month, the county was criticized for a proposed $7.7 million project that could close the library for slightly more than a year. The proposed project would create a new entrance to the library on the corner of Clinton and Liberty streets and demolish the McChesney Room.
Several residents also complained in recent weeks that the project’s addition of a café, performance space and a new entryway was too lavish.
Legislator Joe Suhrada, R-Rotterdam, concurred.
“It’s like taking down a Norman Rockwell painting and putting up a velvet Elvis,” said Suhrada. “The process has got to go back to the stakeholders, and we have to get our big political noses out of it.”
John Karl, a library trustee and former president of Friends of the Schenectady Public Library, said he’d support a plan to extend the library to the east, a project that garnered support by the Friends, allowing them to raise nearly $2 million for the project.
Several members of the Friends said that after news of an extended closure emerged, contributors began to ask for their money back.
The 2003 proposed renovation was dismissed in 2004 by the Legislature. The Legislature then hired a new architect who designed the most recent, 9,000-square-foot expansion project.
County Manager Kathleen Rooney said the county is committed to finding a project that gets the universal support of legislators, library stakeholders and the public.
“We want to set up a process to obtain a consensus that works for the library and works for the community,” said Rooney. “If anything, this (process) has told us all how committed everyone is to the library.”
Rooney said bidders will respond to two alternate bids.
Alternate A focuses on replacing major systems in the building including heating, ventilation and air conditiong, asbestos abatement and general upgrades to the first-floor space. Library closure during these upgrades will be very limited.
Alternate B will focus on utilizing the upstairs of the current facility to house library programs, eliminating the need to change the basic footprint of the building.
Rooney said this option could lower costs and the time involved in the renovation project.
The second floor space, totaling 22,600 square feet, is now used for administrative space and book storage only.
By consolidating administrative space, additional room is freed up on the second floor for library services. Under this plan, the McChesney Room and other parts of the main floor will be upgraded rather than adding the time and expense of expanding the first floor.
Earlier this month, a press release issued by the county confirmed that the hours of the libraries at Schenectady City Schools would extend during the shutdown period. State Street’s Proctors may also donate space for library programs.
While Rooney did not give a deadline for bids, she said the project will move forward expediently.
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