state of libraries

I am currently a student at Southern Oregon University and for the last several months have been watching a very interesting and depressing drama unfold. Jackson County, as of April 7th, 2007 closed all 15 of it's libraries due to lack of funding. The only libraries available within a 50 mile radius is the University library, and other school libraries - which are not open to public use.

Today we have a vote, in favor of a levy that will fund the libraries. Unfortunately there is required a 50 percent voter turn out and a majority beyond that.

This has been a ongoing fight for at least 5 months. To me it seems rather obvious, that we need to keep the libraries open and if it requires a 9$ raise per month in property tax - then so be it. Granted, I am a student and do not have property... but if it required a donation of 25 cents per book per lending period I would pay it. Or a county wide tax, I would pay that. NYC has city wide taxes. I know there is a solution, but with as many "Say Yes To Libraries" signs as there are posted all over town, I find that many people don't want to pay even a minimum for that service, or they simply don't care.

I would have thought that this would have been an important enough issue to make a national headline at the least. 60Minutes might have used their time better by looking into this rather than the Hi-Tech Realty Market.

I have not seen anybody but local papers following the story closely, and so I wondered if this was happening elsewhere in the country and are we just not hearing about it?

Oregonian

Libraries are always on the low end of priorities for funding. Just like schools, libraries are one of those institutions that every one is for but no one wants to pay for. Also just like educators, librarians get zero respect for their profession. I know this because I have been and I am both. Being a school librarian is the absolute bottom of the barrel. Every one disrespects you and your profession. I actually had the mother of one of my children’s friends laugh and sarcastically say about my masters degree… “Wow. A Masters of Library Science that will really pay off.”

I have had many people argue that libraries are now obsolete because we have the internet. But the internet is not a reliable source. And research has become a lost art, all the students here think wikipedia will tell them everything they need to know and look at me like I've got 3 heads when I tell them to use Nexus Lexus or Academic Search Premiere or (god forbid) the uni library.

I don't know. It's just ridiculous. And frustrating.

Unfortunately we all understand the problems....but somehow our message is not getting across. Our new highschool will open with onlyl fiction books. All research will be done through online internet and database resources. There is nothing wrong with this EXCEPT that kids are not prepared. They do not understand how to search for and evaluate information - especially online information where the potential for fraud is so high. It is so difficult to get administrators and classroom teachers to understand and support information literacy iniatives.

I am a school librarian and have had parents say to my face " I can"t believe your job requires a masters degree " THey have no idea what it is we do all day and that fault is ours. We must advocate or libraries will soon dissappear and google and wikipedia will run the information.......

Sorry, this thread hits a sore spot with me!

I am a school librarian that is retiring next month in large part because of all the issues you raise. I will never forget the budget that was defeated several years ago that would have raised the equivalent $$ of a six pack of beer (per year per household). And it is more than insulting that teachers (co-workers) are stunned that I have a degree in both elementary education and library science.

I tell people that "you get what you pay for" is more accurate now than ever with the internet. But when teachers accept anything students write and fail to require substantial and multiple sources then don't complain that they don't know anything. Everyone that allows the library to close and the Internet to be the coin of the realm deserves what they get.

Sadly, the only coverage I have seen of the Oregon situation has been in LibraryJournal, and that's a professional journal more than the kind of thing your average reporter looks at.

I was going for my MLIS, but I've been told by SO MANY people (mostly librarians and library directors!) that getting an MLIS is a waste of time b/c in a couple of years, the job itself will be obsolete. They want "customer service representatives" and not librarians.

I think one of the problems modern libraries face is that people have no idea what libraries can do for them. I think libraries need to advertise their services hard-core, and be more public. Our library hardly ever advertises anything outside its main branch, and people have NO IDEA that you can get DVD's and CD's there! I've met people who are surprised that we carry graphic novels and romance novels. They expect us to be all about research and literary high-mindedness, so a lot of the middle-class,-working-parents- with-no-time don't even try us except when their child has a project due.

I can't believe what is happening in Oregon, and I think its tragic. I don't understand the lack of uproar either, but I think its up to folks in the street to start writing the New York Times and even Regis & Kelly if it comes down to it. Apparently, the Oregon State Government and Jackson County haven't told anyone, so maybe its time the people started making a huge fuss.

Infuriated,
-CD

I'm a student member of ALA and receive the weekly "American Libraries" online newsletter. There have been plenty of stories of libraries and/or librarians in tight situations.
The other thing that parents don't know is that school librarians must receive state certification in addition to the MLS. Perhaps even teachers forget that too.
I work in a large public library and it's wonderful to see people coming in for books and materials. Wish we had enough funds too!

I too am horrified and shocked that it hasn't gotten 1/10th the coverage that Salinas got when their public library was threatened with closure. It's a little like gas prices - once they've gone over three bucks, the next time ... yawn.

It ruined my day when I got word the levy failed. Bummer.

People's priorities seem to be totally out of whack. They'll obsess over whats going on in their favorite celebrities life, beleiving they have a right to know all about someone's private life, they'll go see every new movie thats released. Infact, people will get themselves completely wrapped up in pop-culture, and completely ignore the important stuff. Honestly, whats more important, that our kids can do math and read, and ejoy it, or that they've seen every new release currently in theatres? We as a society need to get back on track. Start funding public schools and libraries in a big way, and start taxing the hell out of alcohol and tobacco. Sorry for the rant, but this stuff makes me so beyond pissed I scare even myself sometimes. Oh, and any teacher or college prof that takes a paper based solely off internet sources should be fired. Sure, you can get just about anything printed, but its a lot harder to get a book thats a load of junk published, than it is to post it on the web.

I have read this whole thread and still cannot wrap my head around the idea that there are places in the US where there are no local libraries. Even the smallest communities in the mostly rural county where I live have access to public libraries. The tiny hamlet where my husband grew up has its library in a converted 19th century church. I grew up in a town where the library was not much bigger than a normal sized classroom, but there were books in it.

I just don't get it.

I remember reading about one county in Kentucky that voted down a tax of some sort to establish a library "because we don't need libraries".

***
10, If I were the administrator of your college library, I would try to discourage use of the library by the general public by not allowing access to the computer labs to people are are not students or faculty, by charging a hefty fee for the privilege of borrowing books, and by asking for people's student numbers or student/faculty ID before they answer questions. I would put a press release out saying "The purpose of the X College library is to serve the information needs of the faculty and students of X College. We do not have the resources to serve the general public as well, and in a time of decreased budgets/need to watch taxpayers' money (here I would try to mirror the language that was used to persuade people to ditch the public library system) we would not be providing proper value for the tax and tuition dollars that pay for the library of X College in attempting to do so."

I know I sound like a mean crank here, but the idea is to drive home the concept that if the public wants a library whose purpose is to serve the public, the public must pay for it themselves and not sponge off the College library. (And there are many colleges and universities that do not allow the general public access to the library.)

Hello!
I enter here, but stand near the door, shyly. I am a volunteer in a high school library, located in Eastern Ontario. There are dozens of schools, and only two MLS's. There is also one library technician, who rotates among five schools, and I only see her two days out of eight.
I was considering becoming a tech myself, but have come to realize, that there is so much computer work, that I would not be able to keep up with the instruction, or with the subsequent changes in libraries.
My profile will tell you a little about necessity of books in my life. I am very happy to be helping; I am taking a physical inventory of some 12,000 volumes, not done in 12 years. As a volunteer, I can stop and read, and even borrow! What a pleasure! In the meantime, the librarian is kept at his desk, and pecked at by a never-ending stream of students with computer problems. The machines are in an adjacent room. He cites the same difficulties that other LTers write about above. The school has nearly a thousand students, and last year lent out 2,100 books. I sit among the stacks with my Shelf List, and have not been asked to move, or been interrupted with a question in the three months since I've started!
The library here is used as a social centre, where, as today, one can hear a guitar playing in the background. The noise level is near to that of a cafeteria in my school days- early 70's.
The public library suffered a nearly total loss due to a fire on January3, 1980. Only about 3,000 books were saved, because they were in circulation over the New Year. Miraculously, the Shelf List was found as well. Donated books came from other libraries, new building around the block replaced the Carnegie Library of 1906. The story can go on, and my behind is getting sore from sitting and working all day. I am getting much pleasure out of volunteering. Libraries are desperate, especially at schools, for someone to come in, and just shelf books, or dust. The smallest help enables the librarian, if there is one, to do some of the more technical jobs.
I will part with a true incident, heard at my younger daughter's public school. I helped out there as well for a while. During the morning announcements, the principal notified the members of the Library Club, that they will have an after-school meeting in the Computer Room!
I shall visit from time to time. I wish you all the best.

It appears that China has been investing heavily in libraries in recent years.
http://tinyurl.com/2mw4kz

What a waste of Chinese taxpayer's money, huh?

Looking back at this thread I noticed that my message #10 shows anonymous... just thought I'd clear that up.

One of the arguments for shutting down the libraries here in little So Oregon is that Jackson County apparently has more libraries than Manhattan and all of the 5 boroughs. Of course they failed to mention that the public transportation system in Manhattan is far superiour to the rogue valley transit that operates only from 7am to 6pm weekdays. This is a rural areah with quite a bit of highway in between anything that passes for a town or city center.

I agree with the countless posters that say that what libraries and librarians need to do is be more vocal about the services rendered by libraries. So that people understand exactly why we DO need libraries.

The university library I think has attempted to do just that. At first I was a little naseaous at the thought of our library having MYSPACE and Facebook accounts. But as they saying goes... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.


Hannon Library

And there is also a Hannon Library podcast. We'll see how good it is.

This whole situation along with the stories Tim posted in Thingology make me rather queasy.

At Hannon I think checking out materials is free even to the public but use of the internet you pay a small fee and it's timed. Or something. You can pretty much buy an account.

Granted, a large percentage of the people who come to our library from the public probably voted for the levy anyway. They're already, in effect, being punished for their peers actions, I would kind of feel bad for punishing them more.

Unfortunately, tax money is not infinite. But it seems as though the calls on the public purse are. Libraries must compete with schools, police and fire departments, road repairs and mass transit, public hospitals and many other things for a limited number of dollars.

For taxpayers, the cost of living is going up (filled up your car lately?) and wages are stagnant.

So when voters are faced with bond issues, the priority tends to be public safety (police,fire). It's easy to say, "it's only 9$ per month", but that's $118 a year, and if the schools and the road department and the fire department and the police and the county hospital get the same, that's over $700.

Add to that the fact that property taxes are often resented because the burden falls, by definition, on property owners, and you see why bond referenda, for any reason, are not easy to pass.

#15
I was a member of the Manhattan public library system decades ago and population density has a lot to do with the number of libraries needed and size. I had two branches within walking distance (for a healthy 30 year old who regularly walked from the 80s to midtown to work) of my residence as well as at least four Czechoslovakian restaurants, six grocery stores, two post offices, a Woolworth's AND a Lamston's (ahh, I'm dating myself). I daresay your area wouldn't need all those Czech restaurants.
The point is, the point is, no area, especially rural, can be compared to Manhattan! What the heck are they playing at? Manhattan might as well say, "Oh, Last Chance, KS only has three branches in their entire county area and they are at least 20 miles away from each other. Why should Manhattan have more than one library branch? Let's close these useless things down and cut them up into condos!"
Okay, okay - so I'm preachin' to the choir. Sorry.

twenty miles away? oh you city people! My county is ten thousand square miles, we have three main libraries and six very very small "branches" (limited hours and staff). Within walking distance? - only for the very hardy!

While I was reading in this week's "American Libraries Direct" online newsletter, I saw a news story were a few towns the Boston, MA area that had cut library services or closed the library all together. It certainly will hurt!

Non-librarian here....
What impact does the presence of the big bookstores and online sales have on libraries? I buy books now almost exclusively. (I'm every librarian's nightmare with overdue books.) However, I vote for every library bond and was a huge user as a kid. I'd fight like a dog if they tried to close our local library.

After staying away from my local library for many years (15 ???) I visited the newly renovated site a few years back and remember just standing in the catalog area and feeling a surge of power. Just knowing anything I wanted to know was right there in that building or accessible from that building was huge. Not the same as the Internet. There, and you could touch it, pick it up, and browse throught it! And there was someone to help you!

Now public school libraries are another issue...

Wondering about school libraries being another issue? I live in a small town in Iowa and am the director of the public library. 3 yrs ago we combined our public library with the schools. To say it has been interesting would be putting it mildly, but I must confess I think that it may be what keeps the public library alive in this small town.

I must confess to being an interloper, that is, not a librarian, but want to report some good news from Salinas, CA, which as you probably all remember had a "library meltdown" due to city budget cuts but if you don't ...

BACKGROUND: The State of California tried to solve its budget crisis on the backs of the cities. Salinas cut and cut across the board until there was pretty much nothing left but public safety (police, fire, basic maintenance) and the library system, and when sales tax measures didn't pass in 2005, the library was scheduled to close. Private donations kept it open 17 hours a week, and the local Friends group rallied the community, which had thought the city was bluffing about not having the money to keep the system running. So the hometown of John Steinbeck was going to have no libraries. We were pretty embarrassed!

A 1/4 cent sales tax WAS passed in 2006, and today the Salinas Public Library is back to 71 hours per week, is nearly finished hiring and well on its way to not just full recovery but reinvention and expansion. Our new library director, Elizabeth Martinez, was the ALA Exec Director for three years, has run the Orange County and LA city systems, has a resume a yard long - done it all and now wants to make Salinas an example of what can be achievedwhen a community understands what a library really means to the people and city it serves.

The key success factors for the tax measure: 1) it was a sales tax, not a parcel tax. Something about property taxes makes people froth. 2) there was a "sunset" clause of 10 years. Any extension will have to go back to the voters. 3) a citizens' oversight committee was formed (I am a member). This committee was charged with reviewing all the funding requests for the tax money, which is tracked as a separate account, and making recommendations to the City Council. We held 6 public meetings to hear how people thought the money should be spent (there still wouldn't be enough to restore all the cuts the city had to make) and help us with those allocations. We heard "police and libraries" primarily. The library got all the money it asked for in its annual budget, about $4 million, including funds for strategic planning. Spending is reviewed quarterly. The Council has taken our recommendations without making changes.

All in all, a win for the library people.

21--bookstores probably impact a bit, but not as much as you'd think. i'm a librarian and i too tend to buy books rather than borrow because, frankly, after the fines it's often more economical (although i don't get fined anymore, job perk!). but most people do not have that much cash burning a hole in their pockets. buying books is a luxury, i think those of us who are obsessed with reading don't see it that way, for us books are as essential as food (or maybe that's just me). but anyways, there are lots of people who love reading but can't justify buying books in their budget. libraries are there for those people.