Ward 1 Candidates	Jim Graham
Demographics
Do you have a DC Public Library Card, and if yes, for approximately how many years?	No, but I well recall how important my library card was when I was growing up. It made all the difference in the world to me, as a boy in a working class home.
What branch do you consider serves as your neighborhood library?	Mt. Pleasant
How has the DC Public Library contributed to your life as a resident of the community?	The extent to which our branch libraries work well, is the extent to which all of us benefit.
Scope
With 27 library branches, does the Library System have the right number of  facilities to effectively serve the community?   If no, approximately what number would you advocate and why?	I am not sure whether 27 is or is not the right number.
Do you feel there are communities that are currently underserved by the DC Public Library?  If yes, which ones?	Parts of the ward I represent could be well served with additional library facilities. Adams Morgan, Shaw Cardozo, Columbia Heights all come to mind.
What approaches would you support for reaching those currently underserved by the DC Public Library System?	Its well worth remembering that it was in 2004 when I managed to get $700,000 in the budget for the Mt. Pleasant Library That was before all the current attention the libraries are receiving. Indeed, it was the only increase in library capital funding for that year!  It was also in 2004, during discussion of the baseball stadium financing, that I advanced the idea of $35 million as part of the agreement. It was only when the Mayor's rep declined to make the commitment 100% certain, that I walked away from it. SO in terms of these issues, I think I was pretty much out front. Even though the funding was not agreed to, all the discussion about the needs really contributed, I think, to a fuller understanding of the needs.  IN concrete ways, I have been a library supporter. And, if re-elected,  I will continue to be so.
Does the District need a major central facility such as it now has with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library?  If yes, why?	Maybe. My reaction depends on what happens to the branches, and whether we need a brand new facility or can we improve upon what we have.
Funding
Would you support a dedicated commitment of a certain percentage of the DC Budget for literacy, libraries, and cultural programming?  If yes, approximately what percentage and why?	I am open to considering this.
The DC Public Libraries are facing approximately $480 million in deferred maintenance on facilities.  What portion of these costs should be direct appropriation from the District budget?	A great deal of it. We should be open to other sources of revenue as well.
The quoted estimate of $480 million does not include the costs to furnish and equip library facilities.  What approaches would you support for the additional funds necessary to appropriately equip library facilities?	A billion dollars is  a tall order.  But this should be a high priority.
Would you support a bond initiative for the express purpose of rebuilding the DC Public Library System’s facilities?	Yes.
Under what circumstances would you support the redevelopment of library properties by private developers?  How would you address the concerns of many residents who feel that their current stand-alone branches would be lost or overwhelmed by such redevelopment?	There may be specific branches where this makes sense. In those cases, there may be no need for these concerns. For example, this would be the last thing we would want to do at the Mt Pleasant branch. But there are other branches where there are little or no similar historic considerations.
Roles and Partnerships
How should the DC Public Libraries coordinate their support for the community with other District Agencies?	There needs to be a closer relationship with DCPS, for sure.
Many DC Public Schools have either eliminated their libraries or the professional staff responsible for library services.  How should  the DC Public Libraries coordinate their support for the community with the DC Public Schools?	It's a foolish DCPS policy to cut back on library funds in order to preserve a bloated central bureaucracy. should fight this. Why can't there be school libraries and librarians in a billion dollar budget?
It is estimated that nearly 37% of adult residents of the District of Columbia are functionally illiterate.  What approach would you support for reaching this population to address their ability to read, write, and contribute better to our community?	Expand branch library efforts.
What role do you see for the DC Public Library in preparing the District residents for emergency situations, such as a terrorist attack?	I am not sure.
What role do you see for the DC Public Library in preparing residents for jobs in an information society?	The role of technology is obviously important. But the library has also a major contribution to make in terms of the value of the book, and the reading of the book. But accessing information, that leads to jobs and job training, is of critical value.
What role do you see for the DC Public Library in working with the homeless population in the District of Columbia?	AS anyone knows from a visit to the MLK, DCPL really makes a contribution to the homeless. I can't help but feel, however, that there is a better way to do this. For example, is there another city that does this better?