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REGULAR MEETING November 26, 2018
<br /> Ms. Rosen continued, Over the past twenty-five (25) or thirty (30) years, I've seen the building
<br /> and the functions of the Main Library evolve, but some things haven't changed. Our library
<br /> leadership has always listened to the community. Deb Futa talked about their renovating of the
<br /> branches, The Family Connection did the focus groups, at that time, for each one (1) of those
<br /> branches. We wrote up what people said and turned it in. I can tell you that when you go to those
<br /> branches and you see what's there, you are seeing what those people said. It was remarkable to me
<br /> because sometimes you do focus groups and they really pay no attention. Here, it was brought to
<br /> reality. Secondly, our Library leadership has been visionary for as long as I have known the
<br /> Library. For example, it was one (1) of the first(1St) to provide internet access to its patrons. Deb
<br /> Futa and her staff continue that tradition. Being on the cutting edge requires adaptability not just
<br /> of people, but of spaces. The Community Center and the renovation will be a flexible space
<br /> designed to continue meeting our community's needs for decades to come. I also believe it will be
<br /> the center piece and crown jewel of the current City revitalization.
<br /> Rose Meissner, 225 West Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, IN, stated, I'm delighted and excited
<br /> to be standing here today because this is another step in the journey of a conversation that has been
<br /> going on for over two (2) years. To underscore something that Ann just said and one (1) of the
<br /> things I know, I've been with the Community Foundation for twenty-six (26) years and have
<br /> worked with all manner of organizations across all manner of causes and we have an eye for talent,
<br /> we have one (1) of the finest Library systems in the country. The conversation we sought out to
<br /> have over the last couple of years is the building reflecting all that we are capable of bringing to
<br /> our community. What if the building expressed all that you are doing now and can do in the future?
<br /> This would be the most remarkable partnership and the most optimistic and beautiful statement
<br /> the City could make about itself at this point in time. We've never needed a downtown branch of
<br /> the Public Library more than we need right now. I challenge anybody to name any other space in
<br /> the entire community that brings together people from every race, class and age for all of the best
<br /> reasons. Our Library does that and I hope you will support this vision and that we will all be part
<br /> of this story in the next chapter of the St. Joseph County Public Library.
<br /> Mary Jan Hedman, 130 South Main Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I'm the CEO of the St. Joseph
<br /> Valley MetroNet. I'm speaking to you this evening in support of the new Community Education
<br /> Center project. As the name implies,this is a center of the community and for education. It is also
<br /> a center for connecting. It is a center where people can connect with other people as well as people
<br /> connecting with the outside world via the internet. It may be hard for us to imagine a day without
<br /> the internet but many people in our community do not have the luxury of internet connectivity.
<br /> Today, St. Joseph County Public Library does a phenomenal job of providing computers, tablets,
<br /> free Wi-Fi, support and education for those individuals. If you're not familiar with the term, it is
<br /> called digital inclusion. The problem of the digital divide is a big problem throughout this entire
<br /> country. The St. Joseph County Public Library is doing a lot to address it right here. The
<br /> Community Education will provide not just more space but state of the art space that allows
<br /> everyone, regardless of age, education level and income level, to feel welcomed and to take
<br /> advantage of all that technology has to offer. It's more than just Facebook and YouTube. It is
<br /> learning about faraway lands and culture, learning digital art techniques, music composition, or
<br /> maybe it's learning a new language. School aged children doing homework and an older aged adult
<br /> taking an online college course. Completing job applications and renewing drivers licenses are
<br /> things that most of us take for granted. Digital inclusion is just one(1) example of the programing
<br /> that can be expanded with the new Community Education Center.
<br /> Augie Freda, 304 South Main Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I currently serve as President of the
<br /> St. Joseph County Public Library Board and I am honored to do so. In 1996, my family moved
<br /> here from Pittsburgh. My children, I am sorry to say, hated everything about moving out of
<br /> Pittsburgh and to South Bend. That was until they visited the library. It became a wonderful place
<br /> for them. To the point that now, my youngest lives in Honolulu with her husband who serves in
<br /> the US Navy, when they were here last, we brought the three(3) grandkids to the library and they
<br /> said there is nothing like this in Hawaii. How often have you heard that said about South Bend,
<br /> Indiana when we look outside and we see the snow falling? You know, our Library has been
<br /> recognized over the years in a number of ways. We received the Leighton Award from the
<br /> Community Foundation. The Santa Cruz Art Museum has chosen our library for their 'Of by, For
<br /> all' research project to engage community groups in deeper and more meaningful ways. The
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