It took the Rangeview Library District a long time to get voters to approve money to build new libraries and renovate existing facilities before the district contingency finally caved in 2006.
In Brighton, that meant adding on to the existing Brighton branch on Eighth Avenue.
To illustrate the full 360-degree turn from that ballot question, the library district began soliciting bids last week from contractors to build a brand new library on the former United Lumber site in downtown Brighton as part of a planned cultural event center.
How the district got from adding on to the library to building an entirely new library is an important story, but it’s only half the story.
The bigger story, or perhaps the bigger question, is how this library district became so shortsighted so fast.
After all, this is a group that, two years ago, was groveling at the feet of voters to approve a mill levy increase rejected by voters across Adams County numerous times.
There were threats of shortened library hours, less services and branch closures. Library representatives stopped short of shaking a can and pleading, “Please, sir, anything you can spare.”
Whether those claims were valid or if they were mere scare tactics, we’ll never know and it is irrelevant. Voters finally bit on the library’s needs.
Now many Brighton residents feel hooked. They believe they were reeled in on a promise of one thing and thrown back into water when the district decided to do something different.
In joining in a partnership with the city of Brighton and local developers, the library district has made a serious miscalculation.
Apparently all sides have decided this is a good idea. And when you really believe in something, it’s hard not to get tunnel vision.
But the library district didn’t anticipate the passion and attachment many residents feel to the library in its current spot – evident in a stream of letters that have found their way to the Brighton Blade opinion pages.
And they didn’t think voters would remember what exactly they voted for in 2006 on that ballot question. They forgot that, in tough economic times, no dollar is wasted; every one is accounted for and spent with diligence.
This plan will go forward. Last week’s RFP made it painfully obvious that Brighton’s library can and will head to downtown. There’s even a “meet the architect” meeting planned.
And Brighton residents, especially those opposed to this plan, will be faced with a “take it or leave it option.” There’s only one library in town: go to it and don’t go at all. Either way, you’ll still be paying for it.
It really doesn’t become a question of whether this is the best spot for the library, this is a question of principles: saying one thing and doing another.
The library district can hope the shimmer of a brand new facility will take away some of the hard feelings of those who feel they were duped in this whole process.
And, in time, maybe a love of the written word will overcome bitterness.
But folks around here seem to have long memories.
The best advice to the library district:
Enjoy that mill levy money. It’ll be a long time before you get another cent out of Brighton residents.
