When the new Central Library opened in downtown Minneapolis last year, I thought I would be a frequent visitor. But when the place is closed on Sundays and Mondays and open only until 6:00 on most other nights, it can be difficult to fit trips to the library into my schedule. A merger between the city and county library systems was supposed to extend operating hours (as well as ensure that some branch libraries marked for closure remain open), but merger talks appear to have stalled over labor issues. To complicate matters further, less than a week remains for the Legislature to give its required approval of the merger.
The Central Library is too beautiful a facility to lie dormant for two whole days a week. I sympathize with the workers who are concerned about lost wages after a merger, but it would be a shame if this issue scuttled a real opportunity to provide better library service to the city’s residents.
