A funny thing happened after a few members of the Oak Park Community went downtown and visited the Library Commission Meeting (as reported in the November issue of the Oak Park News) wanting to get our Oak Park Branch put on the list of new libraries to be built and to express the need for some revitalization and maintenance of the present structure. All of a sudden, the carpet was cleaned, security mirrors and a camera, were ordered, received, and await installation. Seven new tables (no chairs), two new book troughs and two study chairs for the teen space were ordered. Funny? No, not really. It?’s a crying shame that people have to take time out of their busy lives to point out to the powers to be, how bad the shape of their community structures are. But wait, that is not all that needs to be done. Louvered windows need to by worked on so that they can be easily opened to allow the breeze to cross ventilate the building. It only takes a little routine oiling and lever repair to do it. Another thing that needs to be fixed is the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) system.
When the weather is hot, the building is hot. When it?’s cold, the building is cold. This is exactly the opposite from the way it should work. The city has been trying to get it right for months, but I guess they do not have the technical knowledge. All that they can say is that ?‘it is broke and it needs to get a new one?’. How long must this go on? Until the Library freezes over? Is the new one even ordered? These and many other questions must be answered.
How can we as a community keep the pressure on the Library Commission and the City Fathers (and Mothers) to get what we need and deserve for our Library? The Oak Park Library, in the past, has received strong support and input from the Community. One of the ideas that have been expressed is an interest in forming a focus group to address the current issues that the Library is facing. If you want some idea of what these issues can be, see for yourself, take a ride to the Library in Mission Valley, drive up to the Library in Rancho Bernardo or if you don?’t want to go that far, drive down to Euclid and Market Streets and go into the Malcolm X Library. I believe that you will find out that there are many specific things that we are missing at our Oak Park Branch Library.
After looking over the situation, I am sure you will agree with me that our Library is on the short end of the stick. If you do, and are willing to volunteer to help form a committee of strong willed and strong minded Oak Park residents who can further the cause of our Library, send an email with your name and phone number to oakparkcc@hotmail.com or mail a letter with same info to Editor Oak Park News, PO Box 152066 San Diego, CA. 92195-2066. Someone will return your message.
This Community deserves better.
By Ted Leimbach
When the weather is hot, the building is hot. When it?’s cold, the building is cold. This is exactly the opposite from the way it should work. The city has been trying to get it right for months, but I guess they do not have the technical knowledge. All that they can say is that ?‘it is broke and it needs to get a new one?’. How long must this go on? Until the Library freezes over? Is the new one even ordered? These and many other questions must be answered.
How can we as a community keep the pressure on the Library Commission and the City Fathers (and Mothers) to get what we need and deserve for our Library? The Oak Park Library, in the past, has received strong support and input from the Community. One of the ideas that have been expressed is an interest in forming a focus group to address the current issues that the Library is facing. If you want some idea of what these issues can be, see for yourself, take a ride to the Library in Mission Valley, drive up to the Library in Rancho Bernardo or if you don?’t want to go that far, drive down to Euclid and Market Streets and go into the Malcolm X Library. I believe that you will find out that there are many specific things that we are missing at our Oak Park Branch Library.
After looking over the situation, I am sure you will agree with me that our Library is on the short end of the stick. If you do, and are willing to volunteer to help form a committee of strong willed and strong minded Oak Park residents who can further the cause of our Library, send an email with your name and phone number to oakparkcc@hotmail.com or mail a letter with same info to Editor Oak Park News, PO Box 152066 San Diego, CA. 92195-2066. Someone will return your message.
This Community deserves better.
By Ted Leimbach
