Hey Folks..May I ask about your local Library

[AlamoDemoc]

for the past few months two of my local municipal-funded libraries were closed due to lack of funding. Have you notices a trend, or is it just me harping on nonsense?

[Neoma]

1. Dunno.

I have around 60 books in this house to keep me occupied.

[blondeatlast]

2. I'm a library employee of many, many years in one of the largest .

and most well-funded systems in the country.

MONEY, honey--I hate to say it, but most cities don't close libraries unless they are in SERIOUS financial trouble.

It's all about local TAX funding. Going to private donors is great and it makes people feel good, but it doesn't put the books on the shelves, I'm afraid.

Pressure your city council and mayor. Raise a stink.

If it's a BIG problem, run for city council and push that you want to open and expand the library system. Very few voters will NOT support libraries and since city council races are/*should be nonpartisan, you'll have a winning issue to begin with.

[AlamoDemoc]

4. Thank you...I will ask questions..many questions, and many more

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

3. Here in Indianapolis the whole library organization

is a big mess, they're remodeling the central library downtown http://www.imcpl.org/about/construction/index.html and currently are using the old state museum to house books. This project is behind schedule and have cost the tax payers millions, honestly I don't have a problem with it because the city is building the Indianapolis Colts a nearly Billion dollar football stadium and they sold naming rights to a freakin' motor oil company that most people have never heard of before. Back to the library, basically each location has turned into nothing more than blockbuster videos, the library spends almost as much on DVDs as they do on books which is sad, I'm guilt of renting DVDs but I was using them for a college presentation. It's not uncommon to go in a library here and see people fight over DVD rentals and not a single person is any other part of the library. I guess you can rent up to 12 DVDS for 2 days and I have seen people with that many and trying to check out more; what I want to know is who can watch 12 dvdss in 2 days time?

[Catshrink]

5. The hours have been seriously shortened

We have three libraries -- the two branches are no longer open on Sundays although the main library is. They also have shorter hours during the week and they cut the kids' summer reading program this year. Mesa AZ is in serious financial trouble.

[pitohui]

6. severe lack of funding issue here (st tammany parish, louisiana)

voters voted down more money a few months ago, the last money voted for the libraries was in 1982!

it's hopeless, people want to be stupid, when i campaigned to get people to vote "yes" for the library millage, then i was told we don't need books any more, we have the internet, in vain i pointed to all the free internet access...at the library

it really makes you wonder sometimes, why try

rich people have their own computers and internet, and they don't read, so heaven forfend that such items should fall into the hands of the less well-to-do

and it's sad, our library system is one of the few i know of where you can browse the internet without showing a library card, which means that travelers can stop in and use it too, not just locals, a really nice deal

but people are just not supportive

[AlamoDemoc]

7. We need to raise awareness of our local libraries

I vote on that pledge. I have seen two of my local library closed down without consultation...the local government has had no plan to do anything with them....one library is still standing alone in the neighborhood with gracious look of stature, of course doors are locked with chains...closed two years ago and the building still stands sings and all...and nothing was said or done ever since the closing date.

[pitohui]

9. it's frustrating

this parish has a large population of wealthy and i get the idea they don't see the use of libraries, for they can buy the one or two books they might read in a year

during the campaign, one librarian is rumored to have suggested that we should just not try to draw attention to the vote, then only the die hard library supporters would come out and vote "yes" -- if indeed she said this, i now believe that she was correct because i couldn't get one voter other than my own husband to come out and vote "yes" and i'm worried that some were actually inspired to cast "no" votes

what do you do when you have so many people who are completely self-involved buttheads?

we did have a new library in slidell, just opened, needless to say, katrina took care of that

:-(

[AlamoDemoc]

10. I gather you are in New Orleens....send me private msg and I'll send

trunk full of books if need be. Take good care, and "Keep hope Alive"

[hopein08]

8. Happened here in Erie, PA...

every six months or so the city & county councils bring up closing some branches and a huge uproar ensues. They usually just end up cutting the hours that the branches are open to appease people and cut costs. But that doesn't really work because it starts all over again at the next city budget time.

[Generic Brad]

11. I just learned mine is going to be open late one day a week

It used to be Mondays and Thursdays. But now it will just be Mondays.

On a more positive note, they will now be open Sunday afternoons.

[benny05]

12. I am not a Public Librarian

But I have been following library trends in general for years.

1) Public library administrators, especially in mid-sized places, do not understand the concept of customer relationship management. They call those who use the library "patrons." Well, there are some patrons (private donors), but by the by, the community users are customers, because like it or not, a good chunk pay property tax dollars up front.

2) In some instances, there are many who are in apartments and cannot afford to pay--or do not wish to pay for services (and they are not polled or asked if they would be willing to do so), so the burden is back to the taxpayer. If taxes are not raised, libraries cannot be sustained.

3) Public libraries are getting better at promotion, but despite the tools and workshops provided, they don't understand marketing and its costs--in terms of inventory and transactions costs--such as the library catalog and databases provided.

4) Only larger public library systems have been able to afford surveys and others to crunch numbers on the return on investment of every dollar. St. Louis PL led the way on this and found they were giving back in service an avg of $4 for every tax payer dollar

5) Regarding the public librarians who are frustrated by DVD rentals over books, I say that your competition is Blockbuster and B & N, as well as Wal-Mart. If they are coming to your library for entertainment, same as a fiction book, why not?

6) Branch libraries suffer because it is perceived that it's cheaper to centralize services instead of understanding the bank model, which is to have the branches be open longer hours and not the main building. But main library has to cater to potential business people and often, buses run more frequently downtown than by a branch.

If I were AlamoDemoc, I'd be looking at your branch banks hours in general compared to the bank downtown, and ask why branch libraries are cutting back. Also, are you willing to wait for the library to open at 11am instead of 9:00 in order to keep the library open longer? What is the inflation rate on materials, such as DVDs, books, and magazines, and most especially, the cost of the library catalog and its subscription databases.

Whew...hope this helps. I'm a big fan of public libraries. I don't use them often, but when I do, I need them!