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PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSOLIDATION <br />RECOMMENDATION OF THE RAMSEY COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES STUDY <br />COMMISSION <br />1. The Commission is in favor of a regional library system with a <br />single taxing authority. <br />2. Total consolidation of Ramsey County and St. Paul library systems <br />(including facilities, personnel systems and other resources), and a <br />study for improved coordination with school library systems. <br />PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STAFF COMMITTEE <br />1. Computer systems shall remain unchanged through their useful life. <br />Estimated useful life of the computer systems is 5 -6 years. Both <br />computer systems are about 1 -2 years old. A merger of the systems <br />could take place by the end of the implementation phase. Once a <br />single computer system is in place, some savings may be realized in <br />maintenance of the system. <br />2. No change would occur in the classification system at the time of <br />consolidation. <br />Re- classification could occur two ways. New materials could be <br />classified under the consolidated classification system (probably <br />Library of Congress) until 1995 when all materials would be <br />re- classified under one system. This would involve a large one time <br />expenditure, but would ease transition for patrons. The other <br />approach would be to slowly classify new materials under the <br />consolidated system until most of the widely circulating materials are <br />under one classification. (This is the approach usually taken when a <br />single library changes its classification system). This process would <br />take 10 years, and would not involve a large upfront expenditure, but <br />would present record keeping problems and burden and confuse patrons. <br />Page 36 <br />