OK so we need a formula and fast to save the children in the projects from losing computer access, the community from losing a newly created multimillion dollar community center, and preserve millions of dollars in artifacts related to the African American history in East Tennessee. Plus we cannot raise taxes... I got a serious formula that can do that and I am not being sarcastic. Lets do this!
First go here
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/16/beck-center-supporters-shocked-proposed-92-cut-cou/
Or here
http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=946429398001
OK, first step is we roughly follow Larry Smith's idea. We transfer the historical documents and the artifacts to the East Tennessee Historical Society and the historical society library
http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/22710_Local_History_and_Genealogy that is run by Knox County. But here is where my formula gets creative.
Right now in the historical library part of Knox County they have a seldom used computer lab. Plus they have scores of other computers allowed to be used for use for strictly genealogy research throughout the library.
My idea would be to take the computer lab and transfer it to the Beck Center's Library. At the same time we would take the Beck Center Library which is about the same size room as the computer lab and move the Beck Library contents to the computer lab room.
This does so much good. First it places the books in one accessible location that has mass transit access. Next it allows the historical specialists at the library to properly index and display historical books. Also this makes it easier for people searching their family and Tennessee history to do everything in one place. Plus this allows the preservation of material because the library is climate controlled.
Now, the Beck centers library space would be taken over by the library but here is the beautiful part. It would be really cost efficient. With no books to put on shelves and restack, no returns or taking out books you could simply and logistically have one librarian on duty to oversee the computer lab. Right now you got about 6 computers in the Beck Library. With my formula you would then have about 30!
Remember
Remember their are nine housing projects within a half mile radius and everyday between 50-100 children use the computer and create a waiting list. They are limited to 30 minutes usage cause the demand is so crushing! With my formula we would address that scenario and not have to build one inch of new space. Everything is pretty much already their.
So, lets recap. So far without building any new buildings or creating any new major expenses we created a new system of utilization that helps our community.
The county Library system recently hired new part-time librarians. The way my formula would work is the new hires now remember you are only needing a couple librarians to run the program at Beck. We would transfer some of the newly expanded hours to the Beck Center Library which would be fully owned and operated by the Knox Library system. This would alleviate a huge burden on the Beck cultural center.
Next, this is where the formula becomes really creative. The Beck Center would give it's artifacts to the East Tennessee Historical Center on PERMANENT LOAN with a "sliding rotation transfer policy." This is really cool. What would happen is this. The county would take over the archival system and the storage and move the artifacts to the historical center. I think Beck's only has like one archive speciaiist. By moving it to the historical center certified teams of archive specialists would be able to properly archive and display artifacts.
However, the beauty of my formula is that the Beck's center could reacquire historical artifacts as they progressed to levels of certain financial fundraising goals. So example, if they receive certain preset financial stability goals they could rotate certain artifacts back into their building.
This does a number of things. One, it allows the Beck Center to grow at it's own pace without major financial fundraising pressure. Two, by donating artifacts on 'permanent to semi-permanent loan' the center never loses its collection or identity. Three as the Center grows it allows for the collection to properly grow and creates an ability to properly display artifacts. Four it allows items that would currently now be stored in archive to be vibrantly displayed for people from all over to see.
A major benefit of this is a major cost to the Beck center right now is climate controlled storage. This cost would be eliminated.
Now we come to the community center. This aspect would be 100% owned operated and controlled by the current Beck Center. With the new center upkeep would be manageable for a nonprofit fundraising based community organization. This would keep a sense of community pride and fellowship.
In conclusion, this is only a rough draft of an idea I just thought of. However, key elements of compromise would enable the community to address the computer shortage, address the financial strains, serve the community, further effectively and creatively use current county resources, and provide a positive community environment with limited to zero tax based impact on the community. I submit this formula simply as a discussion point. I truly believe this could work.
Please note. The statements listed immediately above are the sole opinion of the noted writer of the above document.The information should be construed as an open opinion and information contained in this document represents facts to the best of the writers knowledge and should not be viewed as permanent certified fact but that as the way the information is interpreted by the opinion of the author. Blogs are generated using speech-recognition technology. Therefore, this blog cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.
