Local Efforts
New York City Librarians Plan Zombie Walk
Oct 23rd
Join us on October 30th for our Librarian Zombie Walk to City Hall!!!.
So it’s time for mid year budget adjustments. What’s that you say? I thought we were done until next year! Nope. The mid year budget adjustment will result in a further cut of 5.4%. These new cuts will result in even less service hours and more layoffs.
Our library budgets have already been cut to the bone, and these further reductions in funding will just degrade library service further. We’ve already lost Saturday Service in most of the city. It’s likely these cuts will be the end of what we have left. So those working parents taking their kids to the library on the weekend? Tough, not open. Can’t return your books during the week because you work 60 hours just to live? Tough, closed on the weekend.
Des Plaines Library Could Close in December
Oct 15th
Facing a $600,000 shortfall, the Des Plaines Illinois library could close in early December if it doesn’t get the money needed to tide it over until the end of the year.
The library board has asked the city council for up to a $1.5 million loan, which has yet to be voted on. The library is waiting for nearly $3 million from Cook County tax receipts.
“They have to come in front of the city council and justify why they want this loan . . . [and] justify to the city council that they are making the necessary cuts so they won’t have to come to us for loans in the future,” Mayor Marty Moylan said.
He said the library needs to return to its core mission of making “basic reading material available.” Moylan said he has heard comments in the community that the library shouldn’t, for example, be in the business of loaning out CDs and movies for free.
How Libraries Are Managing…A Few Ideas
Oct 13th
Libraries across the country are struggling to remain relevant and productive in an increasingly digital society. Stanford University has decreased their engineering library by 85 percent, with the majority of books now available to students online. The D.C. Public Library offers downloadable versions of books, audiobooks, music, and videos via OverDrive. And the New York Public Library recently ran a promotion rewarding loyal patrons who check in using Foursquare — the first person to reach 25 check-ins was rewarded with NYPL schwag.
Other libraries have simply struggled to stay afloat following drastic budget cuts. In March, the Charlotte Mecklenberg Library Board of Trustees voted to close 12 branches and lay off nearly 150 employees. Eventually a compromise was reached to keep the branches open, but hours of operation and staff salaries were slashed. In Jersey City, N.J., three branches that were slated to close last week have managed to hold on a bit longer, though they’re basically on life support.
A handful of ailing libraries nationwide have even turned to private firms like Library Systems & Services to help with running their operations — a hugely controversial move among library loyalists.
Here in the Lowcountry (SC) hours have been chopped and nearly 20 percent of the staff positions are vacant thanks to a budget shortfall totaling over $700,000. Charleston City Paper
Turkey Shoot to Save the Louviers Library
Sep 16th
The community of Louviers, CO is determined to keep their library open. Check it out. Here’s to communities who $upport their library!
The Louviers Library & Village Clubhouse
Public Libraries Dare to be Different
Sep 3rd
I there any doubt in your mind that public libraries:
- Change lives.
- Mean business.
- Build community.
- Are a smart investment.
There’s plenty of proof here.
In the News: Libraries are a Necessity, Not Nice to Have
Aug 19th
Philadelphia, PA: Measuring libraries’ impact. “We all know that libraries are nice to have. But as it turns out, we need to have them…”
Seattle, WA: Libraries provide no-cost learning tools.
Long Beach, CA: Why Long Beach Public Libraries Matter.
Libraries Mean Business- A Story & Data Too
Aug 12th
I’ve got a new post up on my blog about the economic benefits of public libraries.
Volunteers Sought to Help Extend Library Hours
Aug 4th
Here’s great coverage of the ongoing situation at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Volunteers are needed and being trained to help do things like pull holds, check in materials, shelve, and organize the collections. This frees up the limited remaining staff to continue providing the excellent customer service that the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is known for.
Library Volunteer Coordinator Chauna Wall told me that one of the hopes is that these volunteers will get a close up and personal, behind-the-scenes look at the work library staff do. These volunteers will be able to provide testimony as to the importance of libraries and will be some of the Library’s biggest advocates in upcoming elections and budget planning for next year.
Recent Comments