New Town of Atherton Library Ballot Question

From: Scott Feamster
Date: July 24, 2012 4:00:56 PM PDT
To: Bill Widmer, Elizabeth Lewis, Jim Dobbie, Jerry Carlson, Kathy McKeithen
Cc: Didi Fisher, Charles Marsala, Paul Tonelli, Athertonians, Valerie Gardner
Subject: New Town of Atherton Library Ballot Question

Dear Bill, Elizabeth, Jim, Jerry, and Kathy,

Please read this email into the Town of Atherton City Council July 25, 2012, meeting record.

A proposed ballot question on the new Town of Atherton library reads, "Should the Town of Atherton construct a new library in Holbrook-Palmer Park, using funds dedicated for the Library purposes only, and not using any existing park open space for this purpose?"

To conform with best practices question methodology, the ballot question should be one simple question instead of a complex compound question, which is also incomplete and will complicate citizens's expressions of their opinions.  I recommend a ballet question that simply reads, "Should the Town of Atherton include a new library as part of a Town of Atherton master plan?"

Additionally I would greatly appreciate the Town of Atherton City Council finally responding to three (3) questions I've repeatedly asked since October 2011 about the functionality of the new Town of Atherton library.
*  Where are the comprehensive design assessments of user requirement, education, and high technology trends? 
*  How can we assure the most qualified consultants and committee members?
*  How can we increase total community usage?

In October 2011 I also suggested, "Atherton should build a world class town center with a community integrated library based on state-of-the-art technology.  Available information suggests that the proposed Atherton library and town center concepts are already obsolete.  Benchmarking state-of-the-art libraries and town centers is critical to form data-based opinions.  At  least two major needs seem unmet in current library and town center proposals.
*  Comprehensive integration:  a library integrated with the town center and with other knowledge centers.
*  Ubiquitous access:  technology providing anytime anywhere mobile global knowledge access."

For responsive and responsible Atherton government,
Scott

Scott Feamster
230 Park Lane, Atherton