The City of Pullman’s motto is High Tech, Higher
Education and Highest Quality of Life. I’ve thought a lot about those
last three words: quality - of - life. According to old Mr.
Webster, the definition of quality of life is “your personal satisfaction
(or dissatisfaction)
with the cultural or intellectual
conditions
under which you live (as distinct from material comfort).”
Out of curiosity, I approached a few people around town to ask them what
elements they felt contributed to their quality of life. Their answers
included the arts, parks, snow removal in the wintertime, library programs and
books, good health care, and quality school systems. I was glad to hear
library services mentioned multiple times. One lady I spoke with summed
it up by saying, “it’s the stuff that makes life worth living.” Now
that’s something to ponder during a time when department budgets and services
are on the reduction table for the City of Pullman.
Tough decisions and turbulent times lie ahead for
Pullman’s city staff and council. In case you hadn’t heard, the city’s
General Fund is in bad shape. Bad enough shape to warrant a comprehensive
review of city services to determine where budget cuts will be made.
Through a budgeting approach called “Levels of Services and Priorities,” city
council will evaluate affected departments to determine how this year’s funding
should be re-prioritized. To assist in this process, departments
will make presentations to council in this order: Administration,
Finance, Public Works, Fire, Police, Planning, Parks, Recreation and
Library. If you have accessed Pullman’s city services, then you already
know how these departments contribute to your quality of life. Now is an
important time to share your thoughts with city council. Cuts have to be
made. Hearing how city services are valued and used by those who fund
them will provide useful information during this evaluation process.
On a related note, Neill Library has commenced its own
evaluation of library services – by way of strategic planning. An
advisory committee of fifteen members selected by the community and confirmed
by the library’s board of trustees has been hard at work with the library board
and staff to sharpen the focus of library services. Our work together has
been very productive and I am impressed by the committee’s involvement and
commitment to their community and its library.
Speaking of community involvement, on June 12th
Neill Public Library kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program. That
first day of registration library staff signed up 502 children. That’s one
sign-up for every MINUTE we were open! That is nothing short of amazing!
If you value library programs and services like the
Summer Reading Program, please consider joining us on July 19 at 7pm for an
open community forum hosted by the library in the library’s Hecht Meeting
Room. The Library Board of Trustees and staff want to hear which library
services matter most to you. Resources are limited and everything is on
the table. Knowing what services you value most will help us prioritize
the library’s funding allocation.
If you can’t make it to this meeting, consider writing
down your thoughts and leave them in our comment box located at the library’s
budget kiosk. Either way, we appreciate hearing from you.
By Joanna Bailey, Library Director
Neill Public Library
published 6/23/12 in Moscow-Pullman Daily News
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