I attended the meeting about whether to move the Chapel Hill Public Library to University Mall. The town's presentation was persuasive. The library is more than a public venture; together with the schools, it performs a critical educational function.

Despite the MBA-type presentation, what was left unsaid was the innovative (and untested) angle to leverage library patrons into shoppers and thus rejuvenate University Mall. What could be better than exchanging books, and getting milk, eggs and toiletries in one quick trip, without any left turns?

Seriously, I make two points, and submit a possible solution:

1. Safety. I visit the library about four times a week, and for six years. On most days, the spacious parking lot is less than half full; the exception being weekend afternoons.

Making the left turn onto Estes at the exit takes a few more seconds during rush hour. Chapel Hill drivers are polite and generous to exiting library traffic. And this not the only left turn in Chapel Hill.

Children represent about a quarter of visitors during weekdays, and about a third on weekends.

I see them walking to the car carrying about a dozen books. They follow their parents, or the "assigned Library Mom" to the car. On many an occasion I have seen young kids standing behind an adjoining SUV waiting for Mom to fish out the car keys from her purse. And then the SUV decides to back out.

Library patrons are well aware of this concern and drive carefully. Mall shoppers may be different.

If relocation to the mall is decided, then a dedicated and fenced parking lot is required. The walkway from the parking lot exit to Dillard's should be controlled with SCHOOL signs and a traffic light. Designating the entire mall parking lot as a SCHOOL ZONE may be prudent.

2. A new and unwelcome demographic. Chapel Hill is America's most livable city, and for good reason. There is only one drawback; there is no central, easily accessible hangout for teens.

But rest assured, our Town Council may be on its way to remedying this deficiency.

The new library in the mall would be an ideal hangout; beer is available, and the pizza is the best in town.

"Dad, I am going to the library," will have an entirely different meaning.

Most cities and towns are strapped for revenues and should be commended for exploring innovative solutions.

However, most proposals are based on attractive economic assumptions, without attention to unintended consequences.

We have to ask ourselves: are we setting the right example? And is this example consistent with the tradition of Chapel Hill?

The solution

The library expansion plan is best prioritized into phases.

Phase 1 could be allotted the $6 million that is in the budget.

Phase 2, for the remaining costs, could be fashioned into a referendum to be included in the next election cycle. If Phase 2 is not approved, then we will have to live within our means, as most of us do anyway.

Masterly inactivity may be better than prescribing the wrong medicine.

And if we are lax here, it is futile to complain about predictable outcomes and unintended consequences.