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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: January 27, 2007 Coalition to host library discussion By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland Coalition, a group of community leaders, is hoping to attract 200 people to the Historic Ashland Armory on Monday night at 7 p.m., for a brainstorming session on saving the libraries. Jackson County libraries are slated to close on April 6, due to budget cuts. The Ashland Coalition was formed right before election season, from the Ashland Chamber of Commerce's Appreciative Inquiry Summit. When the coalition wondered what would be their first topic for community discussion, the library issue was an obvious choice. "The question was what issue can we bring people together on," said Ashland City Councilor Russ Silbiger, a member of the coalition. "Clearly that question got answered when [Jackson] County announced the closure of the libraries." Dennis Slattery, a business professor at Southern Oregon University and one of the founders of the Ashland Coalition, said, "We picked the library because it is near and dear to a lot of people's hearts." The meeting, which the public is encouraged to attend, will feature several experts on the library issue. Jackson County Commissioner Dave Gilmour will speak on behalf of the county. Former Ashland mayor Cathy Shaw will discuss the issue from the state legislatures point of view. Ronnie Budge, the director of the libraries, will talk about finances. Ashland City Administrator Martha Bennett will address what the city is doing in lieu of a county-wide solution. And someone from Congressman Greg Walden's office has been invited to discuss how Walden is working to solve the problem in Washington D.C. The invited speakers will be limited to five minutes for their presentations because the group wants the crux of the meeting to be about people working together on solutions. "The model for the panelists is leadership through listening," said Holly East, the Executive Director of Peace House who will moderate the event. She said after panelists present the facts, the meeting will break up into smaller groups to try to develop some new solutions. "We hope to get 10 to 15 excellent propositions to save the library," East said. "We're not looking for what is wrong, but for what is possible." Slattery said the intent of the meeting is to get the people of Ashland involved in finding a solution the library dilemma. "We need plenty of participation to make it work," he said. "The idea is for the people of this great community to put forth some ideas and find something that might resonate. Slattery said the coalition will host meetings on other topics in the future. "We're trying to bring the appreciative inquiry process to the community," he said. "A lot of times we tackle these issues in the city council arena. We'll see if the collective wisdom of the citizens isn't valuable as well." Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x. 226 or [email protected] Current Comments: Once again, the fix is in! In the finest Soviet tradition, the powers that be have made it clear that no dissent from the "party line" will be tolerated. Oh sure, its an "open" community forum but just make sure that no opinions that might question the organizer's support of the library are heard. Just another example of the closed minded elitist attitude that has alienated so many against the libraries and the other politically correct positions being forced down our throats. SeppiSlice - Ashland - January 28th, 9:10 AM I demand that Council require the same exacting analysis of the library as they have demanded of Mt Ashland before spending one dollar of our money on it. Let's see a detailed business plan, table of organization, environmental impact analysis and, most important, a plan for bringing this dinosaur institution into the Information Age. It may be worth saving, but at what cost and for how long? Remember AFN! nofreelunch - ashland, OR - January 28th, 10:32 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Water Filter Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us