The Library Development Committee (LDC), of which I am a member, and the Board of Trustees of the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor held the third of a projected twelve public forums this evening. I think of it as step three of a twelve step program to win back the public’s trust. It was a very contentious meeting. Some of the people there, who are apparently opposed to the two-building plan proposed by the Library, seemed quite angry. In the end, though, I think it was a good meeting. The room was packed to overflowing, lots of questions were asked and answered — maybe not to everyone’s satisfaction, but the dialogue that was started at the first two public forums was continued and amplified.
If they hadn’t before, the LDC and the Trustees certainly realize now that they have a way to go before they overcome the missteps that led up to the first referendum. That left a bad taste in the mouths of many residents who felt the Trustees were trying to force a badly conceived plan down the community’s throat. This time around, though, it is obvious that the Trustees and the LDC are determined to do it right. The moderators for tonight’s meeting, Fred Stelle and Alison Cornish, were models of restraint and receptivity, even in the face of what at times seemed like pointless provocation. They appeared determined to make sure that everyone in the community has a chance to have his or her say during the development of the new plan.
So, while everyone who bothers to turn out for even one meeting will be heard, that does not mean that every idea that is voiced can be accommodated in the final plan. Ultimately, the LDC and the Trustees will have to decide what makes sense, and what doesn’t; what fits, and what’s out of place; what serves the greatest good, and what is window dressing. It is my hope that by the time we have reached the last of the twelve public meetings, that virtually everyone will have found their way to the same destination. People of good faith, working together in an open-minded way, can do that. We just have to remember that not everyone will get everything they want. In fact, probably no one will get everything they want. It’s not really about what any one person or group of people want anyway. It’s about the community getting the library it deserves. Hopefully, that’s the destination at which we will all arrive together.
I thought the meeting was pretty good, but I was really glad to hear from the people who were against the two-library plan who had changed their minds. I want to know why other members of the LDC who voted against it the first time are now in favor of it. I think it would go a long way to helping the rest of us see what their thinking was and maybe change our minds too.
I think they need to have their meetings in a larger room, though, because I think more and more people will come. When is the next meeting?
I thought last night’s meeting was community outreach at its best. It was not about rejecting divergent points of view, but about hearing them. Obviously, the ultimate library will not be any specific person’s perfect building but an agglomeration of the best and broadest ideas. Getting there might not be pleasant all the time, but without taking risks and hearing criticism, no progress will ever be made. kudos to all participants!
The next forum is tentatively scheduled for December 13, 2006. The topic will be “Needs and Areas.” Exactly what will be covered, the time and location are yet to be announced. I will try to remeber to post an update here when they are. Also, you can visit http://jjlibraryadults.wordpress.com/ldc/ for a complete list of all LDC meetings.