Residents Testify for Renaming Library after Late Sen. Milton Marks
By Andrew Trexler
San Francisco community members representing the Richmond District testified on a proposal to rename the Richmond Branch Library in honor of the late Sen. Milton Marks at Town Hall Meeting held at the Richmond Community Center. The meeting was hosted by SF Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, District 1 supervisor.
Following the strict codes of the SF Public Library Commission Policy Manual, the name would retain the geographic location in the title. The name would read Richmond Branch/Milton Marks Library if it were to be approved by the SF Library Commission.
About 40 people spoke in favor of the name change. One participant expressed dissent, citing people's confusion trying to find the library as the main reason not to rename it.
The speakers were a diverse group, including the late senator's wife Carolene Marks, Walter Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Labor Council, local merchants, residents and those who knew or worked with Marks.
The speakers all struck upon recurring themes when citing reasons for renaming the library in Marks' honor, including his accessibility.
"He was the only politician I knew of who had his telephone number listed in the phone book," said Allenda Simpson, his campaign treasurer.
They also cited his tireless efforts to be a true public servant. His numerous efforts included fighting for educational funding that was desperately needed by the city's school system. They also noted how it would be a fitting tribute to rename a library in Marks' honor because he was an "exceptional" legislative leader for libraries and loved books.
At the meeting, City Librarian Susan Hildreth and Library Commission President Charles Higueras explained the procedure for nominating a name change before policy-making and advisory boards. They also stressed to those present that they should contact their local legislators and the SF Library Commission, which meets at the Main Library Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., to decide the fate of the issue.
After hearing testimony over the merits of renaming the Richmond Branch Library, Hildreth and Higueras went over the current plans for the branch's upcoming renovation.
The plans include adding 4,000 square feet of floor space, updating the structure to meet seismic codes, adding new technology and making the facility accessible to the disabled.
The meeting then addressed the federal USA Patriot Act that was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The discussion took a very serious tone when Hildreth detailed the possible federal charges facing a librarian who refuses to hand over information to the federal government.
McGoldrick spoke passionately about the issue, vowing to fight to protect the civil liberties of the public. McGoldrick assured those in attendance that the federal Department of Justice would pursue information only on those individuals who were already under investigation.