And that is my frog in the Children's LIbrary - must be the reason it got votes (joking).
posted by starling02 at 06:51 P.M. EST on Tue Nov 28, 2006 #
nice.
posted by pink_slip at 10:04 P.M. EST on Tue Nov 28, 2006 #
So Toledo now has a Top 10 Library System, Zoo, and Art Musuem.
And we're #1 in movie ticket prices!
Carty sure is one miracle worker!
But seriously, with such great resources, why does everyone put Toledo down so much?
posted by Jason at 10:54 P.M. EST on Tue Nov 28, 2006 #
The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library system being ranked in the top 10 is not new. I'm glad this posting was made, since this latest news shows that the libary is continuing with the success it achieved years ago. And part of this recent success can be credited to the voters who passed the library levy back in November 2003. Remember when the library was closed on Sundays? The 2003 levy allowed for the library to be open again on Sundays.
I just assumed that Toledoans knew we had a top-notch library system. What will be the next great obvious revelation that our metroparks are pretty nice?
Here's a November 11, 2003 Toledo Talk posting titled Toledo library still in the Top-10. From the corresponding 2003 Blade story:
"The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library has kept its place among the top-10 ranked libraries among cities of similar size, marking the fourth consecutive year it has been recognized by the national rating index."
If my math is correct, that would mean our library system has been highly rated since 2000.
More from that 2003 Blade story:
"Northwest Ohio’s largest library system dropped a spot from eighth [in 2002] and seventh [in 2001]."
"That may be because Toledo-Lucas County Public Libraries were closed for 228 days in 2001 because of construction and the loss of Sunday hours, Director Clyde Scoles said. "When they look at libraries across the nation, they look at hours of service," Mr. Scoles said. "With us being closed on Sundays, that might have put a dent in the rankings." "
"On Nov. 4 [2003], voters approved a 1-mill operating levy for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, which will last four years and generate about $7.8 million in revenue for more books, better computer facilities, and the resumption of Sunday library hours."
I guess a library renewal levy could be on the ballot next November. If a levy does appear next year, then the public needs to be informed that the library system has been highly rated for years, which means the levy should be passed.
posted by jr at 11:30 P.M. EST on Tue Nov 28, 2006 #
I'm a big fan of our public library system, not only have they been amazing to work with when it came to setting everything for me when I was doing the live blogging of the Lucas County Commissioner's debates both times but I use their online research resources from my home on an almost daily basis.
Then adding the huge amounts of information that I have obtained especially from the Downtown Library as well as some of the local branches, I think our public Library system is one of our area's greatest assets.
posted by psyche777 at 12:00 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
Jason said: “But seriously, with such great resources, why does everyone put Toledo down so much?”
Duh! "No jobs!" You can't eat books -- too chewy -- and if you burned any of them for heat this winter the TLCPL would probably bring you up on charges. Equally so, the penalties for killing, cleaning, cooking and eating any of the animals in that fine zoo are even more severe. Need I mention that paintings do poorly in the stewpot?
At the risk of repeating myself, a friend of mine said to me just the other day that although Toledo has some top-rated institutions, the real problem is a lack of gainful employment for too many people in the area, and doubly so that the problem is extended by people commonly avoiding that reason when they ask "the question" you put forth above.
To counter this little problem, I propose that Toledo's new motto should be:
"It's the economy, stupid!"
... so that people stop pretending that they don't understand what Toledo's REAL problem is.
As for the library itself, I'm a "frequent flyer" there. If they actually handed out FF miles at a rate of 1 per page, I could fly to the moon for free. However, my suggestions for increasing revenue have fallen on deaf ears. The anecdotes of public involvement in their committees supports this conclusion. Like any other established institution, they just do their own thing in accordance to their own plans. The Rest Of Us are just observers and readers. Ah, well.
posted by GuestZero at 01:58 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
I too, love the library. Im a book worm, big time and they get expensive to buy all the time especially when my ADDICTION comes at 2 books a week minimum! The only thing that bothers me is my favorite authors dont write fast enough 8-)
posted by tm at 08:44 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
The only thing that bothers me is my favorite authors dont write fast enough 8-) .
I agree! And I love that they carry movies, too.
posted by MaggieThurber at 09:01 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
In early civilizations the library was the best indicator of how advanced a city was.
TAKE THAT BYZANTIUM!
posted by MikeyA at 03:29 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
2 books a week minimum!
tm, how do you find the time?!?!
posted by wholesaler1972 at 03:49 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
2 books a week minimum!
tm, how do you find the time?!?!
Beleive it or not, when im at home i read. non-stop. Thats all. The tv that the hubby is watching is just background noise to me. 8-)
posted by tm at 03:59 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
And, beginning in 2007, the economy & jobs will be worse & less - complements of the overly strict, overbroad, do-gooder live in a bubble, smoking ban (this is the cue to let out a huge 'GROAN, she's at it again.') Toledo's going down the toilet - for a lot of reasons - too slow to get anything done, wishy-washy, and corrupt politicians. I realize that speaks for more than just Toledo. But outside of new inventions, etc. it's hard for me to think of 3 really good things that have improved in Toledo, OR Ohio in the last 20 years.
posted by starling02 at 04:35 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
In 2007, over $1 trillion in ARMs will adjust, increasing many monthly payments by a significant fraction, and in too many cases a very large fraction. THAT will be very bad. But in 2008, it will be much worse. The economic indicators I've seen strongly suggest that today's downturn from mortgage fiascos will result in a much stronger general downturn in the economy by late 2007. This has happened each and every time in the past from such housing speculation, so why should it be any different this time?
Those who are honest about it are admitting we're facing a "strong recession" in 2008. The current foreclosure rates of about 8% in the subprime mortgage market will likely double. This will affect Toledo as much as any place, but more, since we had too many poor people "buying" homes in the first place. (Cue Westhaven.) We're going to see a lot more dilapidated and frankly abandoned properties in the greater Toledo area.
The flippers and other economic cheerleaders will never admit this, however. Their scam relied upon a constant increase in confidence, hence the term "con".
posted by GuestZero at 05:45 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
I'm just getting very discouraged, bummed at any kind of re-birth of Toledo, or Ohio. Downtown was finally starting to sprout wings - and they shot them down again with this new ban. Today, my daughter was filling out that 'what's the best in Toledo' thing in City Paper, and there was a question "What is the best reason to go downtown?". For years, there wasn't for us. Then, downtown started to come to life - we'd go to the restaurants at the docks. Now, with the ban - I told her, nothing. I've talked to so many people in the restaurant & bar business who said the tips & business went to hell with the last ban - it will bury it now. I"ve heard a few people say they want to go bowling with the kids - that was their reason to vote for this ban. geez. All bowling alleys have a bar I think - why not just require smoking be done in the damned bar? The last ban was bad enough - this new ban is overbroad, too strong, and it is the nail in Toledo & Ohio's coffin. The people who voted for this ban dont't go to these bars, bingo halls, va & pool halls, strip clubs, etc. any freaking way. I keep asking the smoke haters here the same damned questions - name 3 restaurants & 3 bars that you wanted to go to, but could not (since the last ban) because the smoking room was insufficient. Not one has responded. In all fairness, they wouldnt go to the bars anyway. I'm just trying to get this picture in my head of stukker going to Platinums, hang out with pole dancers, get a sleazy lap dance or three (in the special room) - hey, NOW he can go and not have to worry about the dangers of shs. But he's probably too bubble-boy and germ phobic to stick his dollar into the G-string.
posted by starling02 at 06:38 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
wasn't this a "kudos to the library" thread? quite a turn.
posted by wholesaler1972 at 11:11 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 29, 2006 #
Kudos to the library!
posted by drago at 12:01 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 30, 2006 #
Apples and oranges. The library system is awesome.
And yeah - we need jobs. Really badly. We need work.
Want to bring a blue collar city to its' knees? Move the jobs away.
posted by katie82640 at 09:22 P.M. EST on Mon Dec 04, 2006 #
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