City Council last week gave preliminary approval to a plan that would strengthen and improve the Carnegie libraries at no cost to Pittsburgh. But two councilmen and the city controller have launched an 11th-hour bid to put off action. Council should do nothing of the sort.
Members voted 6-2 on Wednesday to approve formal lease agreements for the libraries, which are operated by the Carnegie Library system inside buildings owned by the city. Council should keep the improvement program on track and give its final approval today.
The three lease agreements would give the Carnegie Library control of the buildings and even let the system purchase them for $100 each. If the proposed renovation of a particular library was not cost-effective, for instance, the Carnegie Library would be able to sell it and use the proceeds to build a new library or acquire another building to be used for a new library in the same community. In fact, Carnegie Library Director Herb Elish has pledged repeatedly that none of the 18 city neighborhoods with branches today would be left without a library.
The Carnegie Library wants the leases for two reasons. First, as the library system pursues an $85 million capital improvement program over the next decade, it needs to demonstrate to potential benefactors that it has control over the buildings -- otherwise they might be reluctant to donate money for new bricks and mortar. Second, the sale of some of those buildings may be necessary to support the construction of a new library when that is the best alternative.
Although council gave overwhelming support last week to the lease agreements, Councilmen Jim Ferlo and Bob O'Connor, joined by city Controller Tom Flaherty, have called for a halt to the voting and demanded a public hearing instead.
That is bad advice. Neighborhoods where the libraries exist are aware of the renovation plans, and council, as the public's representative governing body, is duly empowered to act. Besides, the lease agreements require that any sale of a library building first pass muster with the mayor and that the city be given first crack at buying any of the buildings put up for sale.
Despite the last-minute ambush, there's no good reason to delay capital improvements that are long overdue. If the goal is better libraries for city residents, council can and should keep the program on track by approving it today.
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