Statewide Efforts
Pending Library Cuts in Cattaraugus County, NY
Nov 15th
Excerpted from the Olean Public Library Blog:
Cattaraugus County Administrator Jack Searles released a budget last week that includes 20% cuts across the board for all contract agencies. For your local library, this could be devastating.
$17, 105 in county aid would be lost to the libraries in Cattaraugus County. However, this is not the only cut that would occur. This cut would be more than 5% of the library’s local funding, which would result in a loss of 25% of State Aid. In total, this would mean a loss of approximately $270,000.
In the past two years, State Aid to the library system has already been cut by $250,000. The current amount of County funding has been the same since 2005. One of the consequences of these cuts was the elimination of the bookmobile. As a result of the current proposal several programs could be cut including weekly delivery of books requested from other libraries, the interlibrary loan service that allows patron to access books outside of the CCLS system, and service to the County’s nine nursing homes and senior centers.
Economic times are difficult, but in times like these more and more people are turning to the public library for help. People visit the library each day to fill out job applications, look for potential employment, update their skills, and more. The library lends out books, DVDs, and video games which saves people money. Is this the time to cut funding, when the library’s services are in high demand?
What you can do to help:
- Call or write your legislator and ask him or her to restore library funding. (The names, addresses, and phone numbers of the District 10 Legislators appears at the bottom of this page as well as a link to information on the other Cattaraugus County legislators.)
- Sign the petition available at the library.
- Attend the Legislature’s public hearing on the budget on Tuesday, November 23rd at 3pm in the Legislature’s Chambers (Cattaraugus County Center, 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY).
- Sign up to speak at the budget hearing on the 23rd.
- Pass this information on to your friends and family. The library could use the support.
The library can’t do this without your help! Thank you for all you have done over the years for the library and all that you continue to do.
**Thanks to Carol Kowalik for sharing this information.**
Colorado Defeats Anti-Public Service Measures
Nov 3rd
Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 went down last night. They would have laid waste to public service across Colorado, resulting in at least 70,000 lost jobs, plummeting property values and thoroughly-stifled local business. At my own library, we would have lost 58% of our revenue, and been forced to close half our branches and reduce hours at the remaining libraries. Of the 332 staff members, at least 172 of us would have lost our jobs. But that didn’t happen. The public voted for public service. And today we’re all breathing big gasping sighs of relief.
So what’s next?! Here’s my blog post over at Bad3Bad4Libraries, the blog we set up to help library lovers fight the three initiatives on their own time and dime.
The news is good in Colorado today, but libraries across the nation are in trouble and we’ve all got to work together to create a vibrant future for libraries. After all, can you picture a future without libraries? I don’t want to.
Please keep following SaveLibraries.org and check out LibraryRenewal.org while you’re it. If you feel the call in your heart, consider blogging here at SaveLibraries.org. We could use your help. Let us know; we look forward to talking with you.
California’s School Librarians
Oct 19th
From the OC Register: In California, as we plod through this not-so-great recession, there are two kinds of education-related cost cuts in play – the sexy kind and the not-so-sexy kind.
Any reduction in spending that might crank up the number of kids in a third-grade classroom, for example, is easy for parents and other tax payers to understand. Same for cuts that wipe out arts classes or PE or, the latest craze, several school days a year.
Teacher Librarian Marie Slim dresses the part of “rock star” during her “Read Like a Rock Star” 2009 book fair at Troy High School to raise funds for new books.
All those cuts, popular or not, attract attention and debate. In short, they’re sexy.
But farther down on the radar is another kind of cost cutting – the one that wipes out the often stereotyped resource known as the school librarian.
We all know the images of the school librarian. She shushes. She shelves. She sits, quietly, behind a desk. Dewey Decimal anyone?
Not sexy.
But head into Orange County’s school libraries and you’ll discover what [this OC Register reporter] found: passionate, dedicated, tech-savvy teacher librarians.
My Elevator Speech
Oct 14th
So you meet someone new, and they say, “What do you do?”
I could start by saying, “I’m a public librarian.” But let’s be honest, that simple statement could be tainted by the myriad of perceptions and preconceptions the other person uses to color their own reality (and after all, we know there are a host of stereotypes out there about librarians). First impressions last, and I want to shape and frame this one-time opportunity.
So here’s my ten-second elevator speech:
“I help people change their lives, connect with their community, and boost their local economy, while enjoying the present and preparing for the future. I do this without a charge, because you have already paid for my services.”
Chances are, they will say, “Wow. Tell me more.”
And that’s my golden chance to tell them all about the wonders of public libraries, which can be summed up (and expanded upon) with four simple messages:
1. Libraries change lives.
2. Libraries build community.
3. Libraries mean business.
4. Libraries are a smart investment.
See also:
http://bhagcolorado.blogspot.com/
OCLC’s From Awareness to Funding
#savelibraries
#CObhag
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
Reprieve for Some Denver Libraries
Oct 12th
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced Monday that he has agreed to amend his proposed budget to restore some library and recreation center hours originally targeted for cuts.
His decision follows a request that he restore those hours and look for budget cuts elsewhere.
To come up with the money, the mayor will have Denver Public Schools put up $600,000 to help shoulder the burden of putting police officers in city schools.
In his original budget proposal, the city was going to pay the entire $1.5 million cost of putting the officers in city schools.
Eric Brown, the mayor’s spokesman, said the school district has agreed to accept the $600,000 cost.
The additional money will allow the city to:
• Restore 16 hours at the library branches of Woodbury, Montbello, Bear Valley and University Hills.
• Cancel proposed staggered closures at recreation centers throughout the city.
• Restore 20.5 hours at nine recreation centers to current levels.
Read more: Hickenlooper restores library, rec-center hours in proposed budget – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16314520#ixzz129fzpZCy
Caught on Tape: Public Library Director Super Summit
Sep 25th
http://vimeo.com/15269616
Yesterday, six public library directors answered surprise questions about the future of libraries on-the-fly and off-the-cuff in Castle Rock, CO.
Featuring: Shirley Amore (Denver Public Library), Kari Baumann (Elbert County Library District), Jamie LaRue (Douglas County Libraries), Eloise May (Arapahoe Library District), Bob Pasicznyuk (Cedar Rapids Public Library, IA), and Marcellus Turner (Jefferson County Public Library).
Presented by the Douglas County Libraries New Professionals Committee.
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