Don’t read too much into those e-mails from Dean Burgwell Howard-the hottest issue in Evanston isn’t what to do about the empty Busch Light cans littered along Maple Avenue.

That distinction goes to the debate over the Evanston Branch Libraries, a fight that’s raged in the City Council for more than a year as aldermen struggle to control costs amidst reduced city revenue and massive pension shortfalls. The two branch libraries – one half a mile east of Ryan Field, the other a block north of the Main St. El stop – have seen their hours cut from 44 to 33 hours per week, and their fate going forward looks grim.

Supporters of closing the branch libraries say they’re an unnecessary luxury, which serve too small a community to justify diverting resources from the main downtown facility. And they might be right. Times are tough for local governments-especially in Evanston, where foreclosure rates top 15 percent.

But maybe there’s an answer to Evanston’s library woes, one that could help take Burgie’s elevated blood pressure down a few points. Because Northwestern has nothing if not books – 1,700,000 volumes, if the library’s website is to be believed. But goodwill from the community has been far harder for the university to come by.

Here’s the ultimate chance to be a good neighbor, and soothe tense relations with North Evanston at the same time. If the branch libraries prove to be a lost cause, why can’t Northwestern step in to fill the void?

University Library is already open to the public during daytime hours, but the right to borrow materials costs an Evanston resident $50 for three months of access. I’d bet many undergrads go through college without ever checking out a book, but for permanent residents the ability to take home everything from technical books to DVDs would make a trek to campus worth their time-and help fill the void left if the branches are shuttered. Evanston could pay to print and distribute Resident WildCards for the community, then work with the town to explain and publicize the program.

It might sound too simple to open up our library completely to the public, but it’s not unprecedented. Since 2003, San Jose State has worked with the town of San Jose to run their library as a joint-use facility – even though their undergraduate enrollment is four times ours, and the library serves as the main branch for both the university and community.

I bounced the idea off Ald. Jane Grover (7th), who has supported the branches in the past but acknowledged keeping them would be an uphill climb. She noted that the branch libraries draw foot traffic to local businesses, something Northwestern facilities couldn’t offer.

But Grover also pointed out that going forward, the city would have to be creative to ensure Evanston residents are probably served by their libraries. Here’s a change to get creative. Welcoming residents to our libraries with full access won’t replace all the benefits of the branches, but with the city’s back against the economic wall it might at least ease the pain.

And the advantages go beyond controlling the damage done by budget cuts. As it is now, Evanston residents only see Northwestern students when they throw loud parties or tailgate before football games – often the times when we’re at our worst. I was one of the five students who attended a city ward meeting held in Tech last week, and I watched as anger toward partying Northwestern students dominated the discussion.

There are legitimate reasons why parties have put such a stress on town-gown relations, and drawn so much attention from residents. But I’d guess that most NU undergrads spend far more time at the library than they do swilling jungle juice out of Solo cups at an off-campus house.

Drawing Evanston residents into the libraries would give them a look at Northwestern students at their most productive, stressed-out, creative and high-achieving. Properly promoted, it would showcase the better parts of the undergrad population, and at the same time send a message that the university wants to help Evanston out even on issues that don’t immediately concern us.

And it would make for a headline that won’t leave Dean Howard pulling out whatever hair he has left. After the 15 minutes of national fame our partying has already earned us, making the news by being a good neighbor would come as a welcome change.

Mike Carson is a Weinberg senior. He can be reached at [email protected]