Canary, some thoughts on “Frenemies” (Aug. 23).
So let me get this straight, a nonprofit, the Friends of the Santa Maria Library, created to support a public entity, the Santa Maria Public Library, with a limited budget wants no oversight, a free space to conduct business, and use the credentials of the public entity to reach its goals? And further, a public entity with a limited budget wants to oversee the management of the nonprofit group of volunteers by immediately charging them for use of a space on public property and possibly direct the nature of how they conduct business, all under the name of the public entity?
These two entities could reach a reasonable agreement that could include: (1) rent based on revenue using a sliding scale each year, (2) library representation on the nonprofit board with veto power (after all, this is for the library, not the sole preservation of the nonprofit), (3) stronger recognition of the nonprofit’s efforts by increasing its stakeholders’ interest in its relationship with the library and the public.
The “Friends” needs to be more friendly and sign an MOU (Memo of Understanding) like any group/company that does business with, or acts in the best of interest of, a public entity supported by taxpayer funds. I’m not a lawyer, but I know enough that an MOU is vital to protecting the interests of both parties. An MOU can also eliminate any confusion created by any situation left unaddressed.
The library needs to get past its administrative self and recognize that the currency in a group of volunteers is both hard-earned, easily lost, and should never be taken for granted.
I mean, how bad did things have to be that the used bookstore that probably generated some revenue was scratched in lieu of, what I can only imagine is kin to, a book bin with shelves on an honor system? The current situation was most likely created by the very absence of an MOU, where egos and opinions took hold, over reason and process.
Heck, I’ll sign an MOU with the library after creating a support group called “Bibliotechs,” that’s both catchy and more representative of the integrated culture in which we all live.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 6, 2018.
