CCR1981048PSSOLUTION #48-81
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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE JOINING OF THE
WAUKESHA COUNTY FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the City of Muskego has been requested to consider
becoming part of a county federated library system, and
WHEREAS, such a system could encourage increasing use of
presently are not served by a public library, and
library services and make them available to citizens who
WHEREAS, a federated library system could improve inter-
library communications as well as improve the services of
existing libraries, and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Muskego acknowledges
the value of a federated library system, and
WHEREAS, the Library Board of the City of Fluskego has approved
and voted in favor of the federated library system,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council of the
City of Muskego, does hereby approve the joining of the
Waukesha County Federated Library System at this time
DATED THIS 3 DAY OF nA 4 , 1981 1""
Ald. Thomas J Van Lanen
ATTEST
3/81
April 14, 1981
Gentlemen:
On the 24th day of March, 1981, your honorable body adopted Res-
olution #48-81, Authorizing the Joining of the Waukesha County
Federated Library System.
Since this is a repeat of your action on the 11th day of November,
1980, which I vetoed and which was sustained, I do not intend to
repeat the long veto message which I sent to you on November 24,
1980, however, I have attached another copy of it for your review
As we all know, the major reason the Muskego Library Board, the
Library staff and some of the citizens of Muskego are so insistant
on joining the federated system is to preserve the interlibrary
loan privileges. It is my position that neither the interlibrary
loan privilege nor the $9,000.00 which was to be given to the City
of Muskego was worth giving up total control of our local library.
In spite of the fact that we may lose interlibrary loan services
available to our citizens although it might take a little longer
those exact services are provided by the State and would be
to get the needed material. As far as the grant from the State is
concerned, we all know how fickle the State can be when it comes
to giving or taking away grants.
Following is a brief, point by point, listing my concerns and
objections which I hope you will consider in this matter:
1. The Federated Library System is ruled by a Library Board none
of which represents the City of Muskego. Rat Library Board has
a great deal of power which is spelled out in Section 43.58 thru
Section 43.62 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Those sections advise
the Federated Library Board that it is their responsibility to see
that the provisions of the State Law regarding federated library
systems is carried out. As an example of our loss of control, I
quote, one of the provisions of the State Law regarding existing
employees “NO person employed by a participating public library
at the time of the establishment of a public library system shall
lose, because of such establishment, any salary, fringe benefit
or other employment rights in existence at that time”. This also
means they can designate the kinds of books that the City of Muskego
must have, the kind of training our library personnel must be given
and the opening of the facilities of our library to anybody in the
county.
0 2. A resident living outside of the City of Muskego will have
based on a home with an equalized value of $50,000 while that same
the privilege of using our library at a cost of $5.34 per year
service will cost the taxpayer $23.00 per year on a home with an
equalized value of $50,000. I do not think this is fair to our
taxpayers.
3. Although It has been said that outside use of our library would
be minimal it has already been shown that the City of Waukesha’s
library patrons have increased at least 40% and that New Berlin’s
is increasing daily at a steady rate. There is no doubt in my mind
that joining the federated system will bring the demands for a
larger library facility much soo*rthanothewise. The Director of
the library as well as a few members of the Library Board have
that they are having difficulty finding room for the materials
needed to serve just the people of the City of Muskego.
4. The City of Muskego could not remove itself from the federated
system until after three years have passed and then by only five votes of the Common Council.
I
8 a already indicated that there is a desperate need for space and
November 24, 1980
TO: THE HONORABLE ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGO
FROM: MAYOR JEROME GOTTFRIED
.Gentlemen:
On the 11th day of November, 1980, your honorable body adopted Resolution
County Federated Library System. The.Pone of Resolution #190-80 indicates
#190-80, entitled, Resolution Approving Participation in the Waukesha
that the reason for joining the Waukesha County Federated Library System
available to citizens who presently are not served by a public library."
is to "encourage increasing use of library services and make them
Also, "to improve inter-library communications as well as the services
of existing libraries .I'
Although I believe that the veto should be used sparingly, I find it
necessary to take that course of action in order to give you another
opportunity to consider what affect the adoption of Resolution #190-80
could have on the citizens of this community.
Certainly, concern for our neighboring communities who do not have the
luxury of library services available to them is admirable. However; it
are penalized for whatever adverse affects your action would have.
is also true that the people you represent pay the bills and therefore
Let us look at what additional library services our citizens would receive
if Muskego joins the federated system.
(1) Interloan of library materials. (We already have working
relations with other libraries in the county as well as the
an,item which is not available through our library that
state. In other words, if a citizen of our community wants
material can be here in Muskego within a few days.)
(2) Reference and reference referral service from the headquarter
library in Waukesha. (That service is already available
either through our own library or through Ready Reference at
the Milwaukee Library]
Now let us look at what will be absolutely required, under law, within
the next three years in the event Muskego becomes a part of the federated
library system.
By the end of the first year of operation the following services
must be had.
(1) There must be interloan of library materials among all
(2) Reference ad.-reference referral services from the head- 0 participating libraries.
quarter library.
By the end of the second year the following services must be had:
(1) Complete library services as provided by the headquarter
library (Waukesha) or the resource library (Muskego), if
system on the same terms as the service is available to different from the headquarter library, to any resident of the
residents of the headquarter community.
8 a
(2) Service agreements with all adjacent library systems.
By the end of the third year:
(1) There must be in-service training for library personnel within
(2) Rapid and regular delivery and communication systems.
(3) The honoring of valid borrowers' cards at all public libraries
the system.
in the system by all public libraries in the system.
November 24, 1980
Page 2.
Another requirement is -that by the end of the second year of its operati
the system must develop formal agreements with other types of libraries
in the system in the area providing for appropriate sharing of library
resources to benefit the clientele of all libraries.. Incidentally,
Whitefish Bay, who is a part of the Milwaukee County Federated Librar@
System, will spend nearly $85,000.00 in 1980 on additional agreements
with local libraries and Milwaukee County.
If one looks at the difference in costs for non-resident vs. a residen
of Muskego to use our library, it becomes very clear that the taxpayers 4
of Huskego will be subsidizing library services for non-residents. A'
resident of the City of Muskego, if he has a home with an equalized valu
of $50,000 00, pays $23.00 per year in taxes for the maintenance of our
library. A non-resident in Waukesha County who owns a home with an
equalized value of $50,000.00 will pay $5.34 per year for the privilege
of using our library service.
It has been said that because the City of Muskego is in the southeast
corner of the county, the number of non-residents who would be intereste
population of the Town of Vernon, which has no library, is '5.176 and
in using our library will be small. However, if you consider that the
that there a.re approximately 3,000 residents in the City of New Betlin
who would fipd it much more convenient to use Muskego's library rather
than their own, the inpact on our library could be devestating. Conside
.ing the fact that our Librarian, Grant Frederickson, wrote on October
1980, "Moreover, a separate facility is needed for Muskego now. The
system will have no impact upon our desperate need for space " It shou li d
be clear that if just a small number of the potential 8,OCiU-ksers would
take advantage of our facility, the capabilities of that facility would
be overtaxed requiring additional costly facilities.
What affect joining the federated library system would have on Muskego's
library 'budget is uncertain, however, a-cording to Mr. ~1 Zimemann of
the Bureau of Public and Cooperative Library Services, state aids
cannot be used to replace local funds.
Section 43.24(2), WiS. Statutes, specifically provides that financial
support through taxes for a local library which is a member of the
system cannot be less than the average of the previous three years.
In other words, if for whatever reason we would want to reduce the
library budget substantially we cannot do so as long as we are a member
of the Waukesha County Federated Library System.
It has been pointed out that in the event, .the Common council does not
feel that the city should continue as a member of the Wakesha County.
Federated Library System, it can withdraw after three years. However,
withdrawal from the system requires a 2/3 vote of the council, which
in our case is five votes. As you well know, that is not always easy
tp obtain.
.,, .
Finally, Ch. 43.19(2) (b) of the Vis. Statutes, provides that the
Federated Public Library Systepl Board shall have all the powers of a
library board given under Sec. 43.58 to 43.62 of the Statutes which wo
be system-wide. In other words, the development or expansion of the
county federated system will be in the hands of a board, the majority
of which are not part of an elective proCeSS, and their actions are n
subject to review by any of the local governments who- are part of the .. rl
system.
November 24, 1980
PaKe 3. ,
0 As I reviewed this matter in preparation of my veto nessage, it became
increasingly clear that for Muskego to join the county federa'ted
opportunity to enjoy the services of our library would be a serious
library system in order to give non-resident people of the county the
conclusion for the following reasons:
injustice to the taxpayers of our community. I have come to this
(1) The extra service to residents of the City of Muskego is
(2) Non-residents who have no library service would be using our
minimal.
library at many times less the cost than our taxpayers are
paying.
services of our library would put such a strain on our facil-
ities and on our budget that the net result would be the rteed
for an additional facility and higher expenditures for library
service.
(4) Once a city is a member of the federated system, it is very
difficult to withdraw.
(5) The state aids we would get are dependent upon the whims of
the state legislators - they could be reduced or taken away
at any time.
(6) The city would lose most of the revenue we now receive from
non-resident library users.
(7) As a member of the Waukesha County Federated Library System,
Muskego could become a part of a potentially burgeoning
bureaucracy forced to meet the following requirements set fort
planning with the division (State) in developing and maintain- in Sec. 43.24(2)(g): "Each system shall engage in continuous
ingthe administrative code rules for personnel and services
and on .developing the library materials collection to meet
the service needs. Such planning shall also include methods
of providing service to the isolated, disadvantaged and ,
handicapped residents, and of furthering cooperative activ-
ities among all types of libraries in the system area.
It is for the above reasons that I have vetoed your action on Resolutic
#190-80 and I respectfully request that you sustain that veto.
(3) The nearly 8,000 additional people who might want to use the
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