For the first time in a very long time a new public space is being  created in Piedmont. Piedmont residents are invited to join the conversation about the best use of the unique, centrally located, public space in the east wing of 801 Magnolia, the former Christian Science Building.  (Comment below.)

While the west wing of 801 Magnolia has been leased to the Piedmont Center for the Arts, another large space exists in the east wing of the property.  The Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Committee recently recommended that public input be solicited on the use of this rare, new public space.  Councilman Garret Keating wrote to PCA on June 8, raising the idea of a small library or reading room in the unleased east wing.  Keating asked, “Is there a Friends of Piedmont Library out there that could take this on?”  (Read full Keating comment.)

Residents recognize the lack of an attractive, comfortable public space in Piedmont.  At the same time, several senior programs are concerned their use of the Veterans Hall space will be terminated.   Creating “A Piedmont Place” in the east wing of 801 Magnolia could provide much needed small meeting space for local groups, offer a gathering place for residents, and accommodate varied interests of the Piedmont community.

The east wing space could open up the opportunity for residents to engage in literary forums, lectures, writing groups, book reviews and author readings, drop-in chess games, book groups, a book exchange, plus provide access to one or more online libraries.  Daily newspapers and donated magazines for perusing, “new favorite books” recommendations, and more could be available.  Residents could volunteer their talents, skills and time to provide some of the services that Piedmont, having no public library of its own, currently lacks. > Click to read more…

Oakland citizens supporting library services and librarians have organized to protest the proposed closing of 15 libraries and the planned reduction of hours at the remaining 4 libraries. Their organization, Save Oakland Library is gathering signatures on a petition that states, “We, the undersigned, protest any proposal to close or reduce services at any Oakland library.”  > Click to read more…

On Thursday, June 2 the Rules Committee of the Oakland City Council removed consideration of the FY 11-13 budget (including the determination of the fate of the Oakland libraries) from the City Council’s June 7 agenda.  Instead, the budget and library’s future will be on the June 21 agenda.

While a decision on the fate of Oakland library closures is being postponed by the budget process, the Oakland City Council will be considering a 5% increase in the voter approved library service parcel tax, Measure Q on  June 7.   The terms of Measure Q allow the Council to increase the tax by up to 5% each year without a vote of taxpayers.

Piedmont’s future library service relationship remains unsettled as the Oakland City Council considers drastic library reductions and the elimination of their Library Department. Even as Oakland’s library services shrink, the City has continued to demand increased library contributions from Piedmont and Emeryville.  Reports of Oakland’s demands have varied.  Reportedly, Oakland City Council member Libby Schaff proposes that Piedmont pay $497,722.22 and Emeryville pay $470,332.80  per year for Oakland library services. Piedmont City Administrator, Geoff Grote has previously reported an Oakland demand of $596,000.  The basis of the numbers has not been defined.  On a per capita basis, Piedmont’s population has diminished since the 2000 census, while Emeryville’s has increased.

Meanwhile, library systems throughout California are making tough decisions in light of anticipated State budget cuts to library funding.  Beginning July 1, 2011, the Santa Clara County Library (SCCL) District will charge an annual $80 card fee to non-residents of the SCCL District to use online services or borrow books and other materials.  > Click to read more…

Just one week after Piedmont sent a check for $350,471 to Oakland for library services (2009-10 billed in arrears), Oakland’s Mayor Jean Quan has announced a proposal to close 15 of its 19 libraries.

On Friday, April 29, Oakland Mayor, Jean Quan, called for either the closure of all City libraries except the Main Library and 3 branches or a library budget cut of $400,000, an amount almost identical to Piedmont’s payment.  

The closure proposal would affect Montclair, Piedmont Avenue, Temescal (including its tool library), as well as the Asian, Brookfield, Cezar Chavez, Dimond, Eastmont, Elmhurst, Golden Gate, Lakeview, Martin Luther King, Melrose,  and West Oakland branch libraries and the African American Museum and Library.  The funding for new books and DVDs would be severely limited.  Electronic services such as downloadable books and databases would be discontinued.  The hours for the Oakland History Room in the Main library would be reduced.

The City of Piedmont included no restrictions on Oakland’s use of its recent $350,471 contribution, e.g. requiring that the dollars result in an increase in the Oakland Library budget or that services be maintained.

No Piedmont payments for library services go into the Oakland Library budget according to the Oakland Associate Library Director Gerry Garzon.  Residents of Piedmont often identify the desire to support the Oakland Libraries as a rationale for making a library service payment to Oakland.  However, Piedmont’s “library service” payments are used as general funds, not for Oakland Libraries.  > Click to read more…

On Monday, April 18th, the Piedmont City Council reaffirmed its desire to make a contribution of $350,471 to the City of Oakland general fund for the year 2009-10 and the City Administrator issued a check payable to the City of Oakland the next day.  The monies will not increase the Oakland Library budget.  At the request of the City Council, the City Administrator Geoff Grote reviewed the library services issue.  > Click to read more…

At an April 18th Council meeting, Piedmont’s City Administrator expressed skepticism about Oakland’s vague explanation that “free” use of Emeryville’s Senior Center was the basis for the low $10 per resident cost paid by Emeryville for Oakland library services – a rate which has not been offered to Piedmont.  

It has been confirmed that non-residents must pay an annual membership fee to attend classes at Emeryville’s Senior Center.  The  discrepancy in the library services rate offered to Emeryville ($10 per resident) and the rate grudgingly accepted from Piedmont ($33 per resident) cannot be explained by “free” use of the Emeryville Senior Center by Oakland residents.  > Click to read more…

California’s State Librarian Stacey Aldrich takes the position that California public libraries may not provide free library access to all California residents under Education Codes 18960 and 18961.  While asserting her position is supported by a legal opinion, a legal opinion was not provided and the attorney writing the opinion was left unnamed.  The State Librarian’s position appears inconsistent with the purpose of State Public Library Fund grants and the current policy of library systems in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and the Bay Area to provide free access to all residents of the State of California.  This includes Oakland and City and County of San Francisco libraries in this area. > Click to read more…

Emeryville is praised for paying $100,000 to Oakland in the current year to support library services.  The payment comes mainly from the many businesses including: six banks, extensive retail businesses, multiple computer, biotech, and entertainment companies including Leapfrog, Lecg Corp, Pixar, Ziprealty inc Netopia, Chiron, Onyx pharmaceuticals, Geoworks, and others.   The Golden Gate branch of the Oakland library is convenient for use by Emeryville’s large workforce.  The residential population of Emeryville (2010 census) is 10,080, amounting to a contribution of $9.93 per Emeryville resident.

By contrast, Piedmont is a much smaller, almost entirely residential city with little business contribution to our tax base.  Piedmont’s population is 10,667 (2010 census). If Piedmont made a payment to Oakland Public library at the same per resident rate as Emeryville, it would be $105, 923.

Editor’s Note: A payment, of any amount, constituting a gift of public monies would be prohibited by state law. See prior articles.

The Chronicle Editorial of March 30, 2011 ignores a number of inconvenient truths when discussing Piedmont payments for Oakland Library services:

1.         Piedmont payments do not benefit the Oakland libraries because Oakland funnels the money into its General Fund.

No Piedmont payments to the City of Oakland go into the Oakland Library budget according to the Oakland Associate Library Director Gerry Garzon.  The Library budget will not increase if a payment is made; the Library budget will not decrease if a payment is not made.  Piedmont dollars are unable to impact on the Oakland library budget.  (Oakland Library Budget Details) > Click to read more…