San Francisco Committee Rejects Deal
between Library and Friends
A city finance committee refused August 2 to approve a deal between the San Francisco Public Library and its Friends group. The proposed five-year memorandum, overwhelmingly approved by the library commission in February, would have allowed the Friends to rent space in the main library for $2 a year, let the group access the library’s user database for fundraising, and changed city law to allow the city librarian to spend up to $25,000 from donations without board approval. In exchange, the Friends would raise at least $200,000 a year for the library, the San Francisco Chronicle reported August 3.
Citing concerns about the lack of public oversight and the wisdom of renting library space when it desperately needs more room for books, the city returned the proposal to the library commission for further review.
Acting SFPL Librarian Susan Hildreth said she supports the memorandum as it stands but will try to address the committee’s concerns in a revised contract. “I’m more than willing to go back to the table and reach consensus,” she said.
Posted August 7, 2000.
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