Knox County 2010 Primary: Candidate Questionnaire

1. How do you view the importance of Library services? What services are important to you?

Jeff Ownby: “I feel the Library services are vital to the communities. There are many families that do not have computers, that are vital to the children of that families education. The libraries are important for research papers for school, or just to study or read.”
Duane Bias: “I view our library system as a vital public service to support a lifetime of learning for our citizens. For me personally, its a place to escape for a few hours. A quiet place with books is the best service for me.”
Finbarr Saunders: “As I mentioned in my response in 2008, I feel the public library is an important and enduring institution and that we should make every effort to provide our community with a library system that sets a new Knox County standard as a resource for its citizens. It is imperative that our library adapt to the demands of our information age. Our library system is so much more than a lending institution. The McClung Collection, for example, is part of our community's cultural memory.”
Don Daugherty: “I believe that our public library system is a necessary and fundamental part of our community, without which lives of countless individuals in our community would suffer immeasurably. It not only provides a means of continuing education for everyone, but it is also a center for information, for research, for knowledge, and for fun and entertainment. It can serve, and often does serve, as a center for family activities and as a place to quench the thirst for knowledge in children and adults alike. Of course, I am partial to book-borrowing, but the reference services are almost equally important. Still, I recognize how critical some of the services are that I have never used, such as the books for the homebound, the blind, deaf, and handicapped libraries, and public access to computers for folks who lack their own computers. I have also used the meeting rooms for group meetings.”
Richard Briggs: “I consider the Public Library system as an essential public service like the public education system or the sheriff's office. The availability of books, computers, and employment information are vital to a vibrant community.”
R. Larry Smith: “I think our Library Services are extremely important. Reading is something that every community should promote and our libraries do a great job of offering programs that promote learning and reading. The services offered such as having computers are vital to those that use this service. The libraries are for everyone not just any socioeconomic group. They also offer programming for children and older adults. These services would be greatly missed by our neighborhoods if the services had to be discontinued or if cut backs occur.”
Ed Shouse: “I view the Library as an integral part of the services provided by county government. It is the only access to computers for many of our citizens. To me personally, the most important is the audio-visual section; I have a documentary checked out almost continuously. My 12 year old son and I visit for research and to complete book reports for his 6th grade classes.”
Mike Brown: “I still think they are an inportant part of our learning experience in that using the research section for instance, teaches us how to find our own answers and to think for ourselves. Even reading is improved by practice and through reading we have a window to the world. The two most important to me are a good research section and a good history section”
Mike Hammond: "My Family and I have used the Knox County Library system since the 1970s. We utilize books, the activities for children, checked out videos and various books and research materials. Before we had a computer, the library was our source for the internet."

2. Given the current fiscal problems for Knox County, what suggestions do you have to assure the Library’s continued ability to provide essential educational and cultural services?

Jeff Ownby: “I feel we could cut back on adding any more parks or upgrade to parks till we are in a better financial footing. These funds could be better used for the Library's. We also do not need to remodel the downtown Library right now, but extend the hours of the community library's. We need to have the library's opened longer for the school children as well as a safe place.”
Duane Bias: “It is going to be a difficult time for the Library system because primary County services such as classroom teachers are being reduced to make ends meet. I believe that we will have to close some less busy branches and focus on higher traffic branches.”
Finbarr Saunders: “We are so fortunate to have Larry Frank as the steward of our Knox County Library System. For the past several years, the library has essentially not had an increase in funding. Mr. Frank has done an incredible job of providing Knox County with amazingly innovative services. He has done more with less and has exhibited the kind of creative thinking we should adopt throughout the county. All departments in the county have limited resources, so we must figure out ways to work together in order to serve Knox County.”
Don Daugherty: “Funding for public libraries has been declining for decades, but Knox County's fiscal woes has exacerbated this nationwide decline in monetary support even more. At least one recent study has shown that one approach which needs to be considered is to change the "branding" of our public library from "informational" to "transformational," capable of changing and enriching people's lives. Also, perhaps the most compelling suggestion I would have is to emphasize, again and again, that our public library provides equal access to valuable information and services to every resident. Using these two approaches, combined with an aggressive private fundraising plan, might prove successful.”
Richard Briggs: “I think the library's budget and funding should be considered "educational" and "cultural" as well as recreational. Reading and self-education are as important to individual development as formal education.”
R. Larry Smith: “I believe that our fiscal problems can be somewhat resolved by cuts in other administrative areas other than our services that we directly offer to Knox County residents. I will work to assure that the library is adequately funded. We have wonderful community libraries and these should be utilized to their full capacity.”
Ed Shouse: “The Library's budget at 2 percent of Knox County's is inadequate to provide the services our citizens should have. A level of 3 to 4 percent would be more in line with other counties throughout the southeast. As the economy improves and Knox County's financial situation stabilizes, I will work to improve the level of funding to our Library system.”
Mike Brown: “Encouraging the experts in the system to monitor the most used services and focusing on them. If necessary to cut back for monetary reasons, cut back the least used programs or services.”
Mike Hammond: "I look to the library board, staff, and volunteers to make recommendations on the library and its future. Since my wife is an avid user of the system, she keeps me up to date on the library and its activities."

3. The System operates a central library (Lawson McGhee), the East Tennessee History Center, and 17 branches. Please comment on the following approaches addressing fiscal limitations.
3a. Support the existing branch system:
Jeff Ownby: “Support the current system, but not the renovation to the Central library. The East Tennessee History Center needs to be funded, we need to know our history.”
Duane Bias: “Every level of government, businesses, and individuals are concerned about their respective budgets. Here in Knox County, we will probably have to layoff some classroom teachers. Clearly, this is the last place anyone wants to see cuts made. While I believe that a public library is very much in the public interest, I do not believe that the current budget situation will be able to support the library system in its current form.”
Finbarr Saunders: “We cannot sacrifice the purchase of books to maintain branches. We need to be more innovative in order to find ways to maintain our branches, possibly through consolidation. We must be open to creative ideas.”
Don Daugherty: “I support the existing branch system, but the fact is that closing certain branches, especially branches which might have increasingly declining useage, has to be an option. Reopening such branches could always be an option, if funding improves. We could use a "mobile library" or "book mobile" to some extent to visit neighborhoods whose branches were closed, and offer incentives to residents who used the closed branch to use the central library or another existing branch.”
Richard Briggs: “We can continue to support the 17 branch system in the present budget only by reducing hours and access. We must have a community discussion on what type of library system we want to support - consolidation with better facilities and access or multiple smaller branches with limited hours. I think we need countywide public hearings and come to a consensus on the future of our county library system.”
R. Larry Smith: “I do support the existing branch system. I feel it has worked well, but we have to keep our programming updated, and we have to encourage the use of our libraries. The number of people utilizing the library directly affects the funding of the system.”
Ed Shouse: “For a county our size, we may have too many branches, but I support keeping them at current level at this time.”
Mike Brown: “Not knowing the daily usage of each of these facilities it would be hard for me to say which would need the most support. I am a firm believer in the great job the E.Tn. History Center does in having a visual history to encourage and generate interest which makes people dig deeper through books for more details on any given subject.”
Mike Hammond: "I support the existing system."

3b. Consolidate less busy branches:
Jeff Ownby: “I would be in favor of consolidating the less busy branches or opening later to assist any children that need computers or access to books for research.”
Duane Bias: “Consolidation is certainly a step in the right direction to lower operating costs. However, we have some beautiful branches such as Powell that need to be maintained. Perhaps we could consolidate to our newer (and hopefully busier) facilities to reduce overall cost.”
Don Daugherty: “Consolidating branches is preferred over closing branches, so long as the branches consolidated are sufficiently close geographically.”
R. Larry Smith: “I think we have to look at the utilization of each branch. If the number of people using the library does not justify the expenses, I think we have to look at consolidation. I would consider this a last resort effort.”
Ed Shouse: “Consider, but only after public input and review.”
Mike Brown: “If necessary, or first stagger hours in outlying branches to take advantage of the traffic patterns in each branch”
Mike Hammond: "If the economy improves, which I believe it will, there will not be a need for consolidation. However, if we have another severe downturn, I feel this is an area to be be considered."

3c. Reduce operating hours:
Jeff Ownby: “Not in favor of reducing hours, but maybe opening later to reduce the budget.”
Duane Bias: “I do not favor reduced operating hours. In my view, fewer branches with full operating hours are more beneficial to the public.”
Don Daugherty: “Reducing hours is preferable to closing or consolidating branches.”
R. Larry Smith: “I would consider reducing operating hours in a severe fiscal crunch, however I would love to see the operating hours extended so that mornings could be more utilized for those who like to get out early. I understand that this is probably not feasible during this budget cycle, but hopefully we can extend services at some point. The taxpayers are tired of paying more taxes and seeing less services offered.”
Ed Shouse: “Yes, and I think this is already being implemented.”
Mike Brown: “See 3b. I am sure each branch has it's own varied busy time. If this is not possible, use alternate days for the less used branches.”
Mike Hammond: "If there are days where hours can be reduced, I would support discussing this with the staff and board. "

3d. Consider other approaches (please specify):
Jeff Ownby: “I am open to here any Ideas that I have not listen in above answers.”
Duane Bias: “Could we reduce holdings and move more content to electronic media? Have we thought about a major fundraiser that includes a book auction? Are there active donation requests? Would Channel 12 support a telethon for our public library? I'm sure local TV personalities would help. What about grant writing? Bottom line. I don't believe that the Library system can "cost cut" its way to viability. We have to find a way to fund it.”
Finbarr Saunders: “As I have said, we need to consider downsizing and look for ways to make our current system more efficient. Sacrificing much-needed improvements to the central system in order to keep branches fully operational is self-defeating. Again, you must keep the hub healthy so the spokes can prosper.”
Ed Shouse: “I think if our Library gets in the 3-4 percent funding level (of county budget) closing branches will not be an issue.”
Mike Brown: “We rely on the main staff to monitor and work the schedules depending on the branch usage”

4. Have you read a book recently that you would recommend to others?

Jeff Ownby: “I read mostly Political books and Newspaper.”
Duane Bias: “I love the Emperor series by Conn Iggludin”
Finbarr Saunders: “Natural Histories: Stories from the Tennessee Valley by Stephen Lyn Bales of our own Ijams Nature Center and The Healing of America by T.R. Reid, a longtime correspondent of the Washington Post”
Don Daugherty: “A. Lincoln by Ronald C. White, Jr.”
Richard Briggs: “Ghost Wars by Stephen Coll. An excellent book to understand the War on Terror.”
Ed Shouse: “Nothing Like It in the World Stephen Ambrose (story of building transcontinental railroad)”
Mike Brown: “The Front by Patricia Cornwell”
Mike Hammond: "John Adams"

5. Do you use Library services, and if so, which branch(es)?

Jeff Ownby: “I have on occassion, when I do I go to the Bearden branch on Kingston pike.”
Duane Bias: “Yes, I use the services of Lawson McGhee”
Finbarr Saunders: “Yes, my wife in particular uses the West Knoxville Branch. We also call the Referece desk when Google doesn't do.”
Don Daugherty: “Yes, Lawson McGee”
Richard Briggs: “I use the main library. We make a family trip every other Sunday. I try to read three books every two weeks.”
R. Larry Smith: “My entire family uses the library.”
Ed Shouse: “Yes, several times a week; downtown; two or three times a month with my son at Bearden.”
Mike Brown: “E.Tn. History Ctr. and Pinkston Branch with grandkids”
Mike Hammond: "Yes, Cedar Bluff branch"