Waukesha’s newly appointed library director Grant Lynch has requested to employ security staff at the library this summer.
Traditionally, the library does not employ security during this time period due to a lack of security-related incidents, but Lynch said it has become a need.
In a memo to Steve Neaman and Steve Crandell of the City of Waukesha’s Finance Committee, Lynch said the number of patron behavior and drug-use incidents has risen substantially over the past 12 months and immediate action to appropriately deal with these ongoing threats has become necessary.
"An absent security presence for summer 2012 presents a potentially dangerous situation for library staff and patrons alike, and it will be a result of maintaining the current level of security that incidents will be greatly minimized, if not entirely eliminated from daily operations," Lynch said.
The Finance Committee reviewed his request on Monday and if approved it went before the Common Council on Tuesday. It would cost $7,920 to add more security personnel for the summer. This money would not come from the library’s budget but from the city’s contingency fund, as the Waukesha Public Library did not anticipate the sharp rise in security-related incidents for the 2012 fiscal year, which has now led to a shortfall in funding.
The memo also states that the decision to hire more security was unanimously decided at a security briefing June 12 that included Ald. Joan Francoeur, Crandell, Waukesha Public Library Building & Operations Supervisor Jim LaPaz, Lynch and Waukesha Police Department Capt. Ron Tischer.
Lynch said he estimates that nearly 150,000 people will utilize the facility this summer.
Three seek District 6 seat
Three candidates have emerged for the District 6 Aldermanic position that has opened due to the recent death of Ald. Brian White. Katherine Ebel, Adam Jankowski and Marga Krumins.
The candidates will be reviewed and the Common Council will vote on a candidate at the July 5 Common Council meeting.
Museum wins Les Paul items
The Waukesha County Museum won 16 items at the Les Paul auction that auctioned off his equipment, memorabilia and personal items a couple weeks ago.
Twenty contributors pooled funds to bid on the items, which will become part of the Les Paul Experience, an exhibit dedicated to the man known as the Wizard of Waukesha, which is scheduled to open June 2013.
One of the key items acquired is a rare 1927 Gibson L5 acoustic guitar, one of only two sold at the auction. The first, valued in advance of the bidding by the auction house at $5,000 to $7,000, sold for $87,500. The museum obtained its guitar, valued at $10,000 to $15,000, for $31,250, according to the auction’s online catalog.
"Several items are priceless and are critical to 9 telling Les’ story in his hometown," said Kirsten Lee Villegas, the museum’s president and chief executive officer.
Among the contributors were Jim Lindenberg, owner of the Milwaukee Wave and Lindy Enterprises; philanthropists Anthony and Andrea Bryant; and Chad Smith, the drummer for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Lindenberg, who was instrumental in getting the word out and for raising funds, said he was honored to be a part of this project.
"The chance to secure one-of-a-kind artifacts for the museum’s Les Paul exhibit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was too important to pass up," Lindenberg said. "The Les Paul purchases will be a major boon for the Waukesha County Museum, Waukesha County and the state of Wisconsin."
The museum’s newly acquired 1927 Gibson L5 will go on exhibit in July and August as part of the museum’s current "Behind the Vaults: Treasures from the County Museum Collection" exhibit that runs through Aug. 11.
Paul, who was born in Waukesha and is buried at Prairie Home Cemetery, was a famous inventor and musician and performed at the Iridium jazz club in New York City for many decades.
Museum officials said the other 15 items are not being disclosed.
Paul’s estate sale by Julien’s Auctions of Beverly Hills benefited the New York City-based Les Paul Foundation.
The museum is still seeking donors to the fund, such as naming rights for the acquired artifacts, as well as to support future acquisitions. Anyone donating $2,500 or more will get two concert tickets and backstage passes to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the Bradley Center on Nov. 1.
The exhibit, called the Les Paul Experience, would open June 9, 2013, Les Paul’s birthday.