There seems to be no doubt that something should be done about Albert Lea’s library, where space is so tight that people often can’t find a place to sit and you may have trouble squeezing past another person in an aisle. Statistics show that among other libraries that serve a similar population size in southern Minnesota, Albert Lea’s has the highest circulation and is open the most hours, yet has the least amount of space.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a library study, as considered by the city council Tuesday, was a good idea.

Despite its clear need for a solution, one of the last things the city needs is a project that would be heavily questioned or outright opposed by citizens. A study that limits the options to a new building on one particular site would be the first step toward just that.

Residents of Albert Lea look around and see several empty buildings, with at least one, the Vault, owned by the city, and want to know why a library can’t be put there for less money. The city may very well have reasons for ruling out places like the Vault, the old high school or the soon-to-be-vacant Wal-Mart building. But if they’re going to expect support from the city’s residents, they need to show hard proof explaining why those options don’t fly. If they can’t do that, they leave the project open to perpetual questioning. The city needs its population to be behind any library project, and that’s not going to happen unless public input and public interest are given more consideration. There are few things people dislike more about government than when it appears it has made a decision before consulting the people who are going to help pay for it.