The Sunnyvale Sun
Letters & Opinions
Vote for a library that Sunnyvale needs and deserves
By Jim Griffith
This November, Sunnyvale voters have the opportunity to support a critical upgrade and expansion of our Sunnyvale library. Measure B has been placed on the Nov. 6 ballot to address our community's need for a larger, more modern public library.
The Sunnyvale Public Library hasn't been expanded in over two decades. It is overcrowded, aging and unable to provide all the services our community needs. There is no space to expand the collection (forcing staff to discard old books as fast as new ones are purchased), no space for after-school or children's programs, and no space for added computers, tutoring or community meetings. The administrative area is overrun with books waiting for empty shelf space that simply doesn't exist.
Sunnyvale has grown attached to our quaint brick library, but its charm hides some serious flaws. The 47-year-old building cannot support a modern infrastructure--Internet wiring, modern plumbing, or proper heating and ventilation. Our current library does not and cannot provide the Internet access and services which students and seniors need. The building can simply no longer be patched and mended to safely support the needs of Sunnyvale's residents.
Measure B will ensure we have a library that will make Sunnyvale proud. The new library will have twice as much space for programs and collections. It will be built to the highest "green'' building standards (L.E.E.D. certified platinum and carbon neutral)--making it one of the greenest buildings in Sunnyvale and one of the greenest libraries in the state.
Equally important, Measure B provides the best opportunity to secure the permanent location of the Charles Street Gardens at its current site. The gardens operate today under a city lease which will expire in three years. Just imagine the possibility of a library where patrons can check out a book, wander right out into the gardens and read and watch the gardeners at work!
Fifty years ago, our community came together to approve a measure to build the original library. Today, under Measure B, Sunnyvale homeowners are being asked to pay just an average of $19.52 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value). For most homeowners, it will be the same as buying two books from Borders--and all costs are tax deductible. This is a very small price, and in return we get a library that will protect the environment, preserve the Charles Street Gardens, and provide our children, our students, and our seniors with needed library services.
Measure B is a smart plan. The city held some 15 public forums over 18 months, gathering input from hundreds of residents, the Charles Street Gardeners and experts in library design before finalizing Measure B. The council unanimously approved this measure and placed it on the ballot. The result was a plan that is so well-received that not a single person placed an argument against Measure B on the ballot--not even the author of the earlier criticism.
Sunnyvale residents overwhelmingly support library services, but Measure B requires a two-thirds vote, and this is no easy feat. Sunnyvale voters must stand up and be heard. Support an environmentally friendly, garden-friendly Sunnyvale library--a library our city needs and deserves.
As chairperson of the Yes on B campaign, I've made my choice. Now, it's your turn. Please vote YES on B.
Jim Griffith is chairman of the Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees.
