On April 11, 2008 a Blue Ribbon Library/Museum Task Force met to discuss the future of two community resources. City Council approved the establishment of this Task Force (see members below) which is hosted by the Mayor Ron Loveridge and Ward One Councilmember Mike Gardner to make recommendations on the future of the downtown Library and Metropolitan Museum with the next 90 days.
The Task Force is staffed by the city's Library and Museum Directors, with the help of an outside consultant (Jeffrey Scherer, CEO and Founding Principal; Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd) hired by the City.
The Task Force will look at best ways to meet future service and space needs of the Downtown Library and Metropolitan Museum looking forward 40 years to 2050. They should draw on the “best practices” and research of the Library and Museum Directors to make recommendations about:
Relocating the Library and/or Museum
Determine what facilities might be shared between the Library and Museum
Is the library of the future the same as today's model?
The City Manager will identify funding choices and constraints
Four other task force meetings are scheduled -- for April 23, May 19, and June 6 and 7, all at City Hall.
Task Force Members
Chair: Charlie Field (Retired Superior Court Judge)
Vice Chair: Larry Geraty (Retired President of La Sierra University)
Kathy Allavie (RUSD School Board)
Dave Bristow (Past Chair, Museum Board)
Molly Carpenter (Immediate Past President of Riverside Library Foundation)
Video of the 04/11 Meeting
