Kelley breaks down some of the numbers and statistics presented by the Library Journal’s annual budget survey.
One thing that stood out in Kelley’s article was his reporting that nearly 1 in 5 of the respondents to his survey actually said they felt they were treated unfairly in relation to other government sectors. This is one of the worst statistics listed in here, I believe, as it shows the most terrible reason for libraries to suffer. While not desirable, I have to say that libraries should not be immune to budget cuts as long as the rest of the state/local government is seeing its fair share as well. Kelley also quotes Cathleen Russ from the Troy Public Library about how libraries are no longer “sacred cows,” which I agree with. However, in some ways, I think it’s healthier to always view these institutions in that light, even when the economy is good, because becoming comfortable fosters complacency. Librarians need to always be proving to their officials that when budget cuts come around, they are not an easy target. Hopefully her own library keeps this attitude as a later ballot measure actually allowed the library to remain open. I would also be curious to see a follow up of how many districts had no budget cuts in FY11, given that nearly 30% didn’t in FY10, which seems like one of the more positive numbers amongst all the bleakness.
Performing Triage on Budgets in the RED by Thomas Hennen
Following the dot-com bust in the early 2000s, Hennen examines why libraries have been going strong for generations and ways they can ensure that legacy continues in the future.
Even though the specific circumstances are somewhat dated, Hennen’s advice for libraries to be proactive is still sound. It was interesting to see how firmly he referred to libraries as “businesses” after my Youth Services class discussed how long librarians resisted that terminology, but how that change in views helped libraries become more transparent and stable about a decade ago. My favorite suggestion was the e-commerce initiatives, which libraries still don’t seem to have implemented widely. I know there are probably legal issues to overcome, but Friends groups especially should look to use web donations. My hometown library at least has an Amazon.com widget on their website that has a link to a list of items they want donated or sends a portion of any purchases patrons make through their link to the library.
Vote of Confidence by Beth Dempsey
Dempsey gives an overview of the support of library operating measures and denial of building measures during the 2010 election before giving advice to other libraries on how to get their referendums passed.
I finished this article feeling as if the advice Dempsey gave on the last page or so was solid. A consistent message among everyone speaking for the library (48) is certainly a must, which is unlikely to happen if managers are not actively seeking this goal. There is also value in engaging in a dialogue with the community about what services would be missed or what is worth funding. This raises awareness among librarians, but also makes the community think about why they appreciate the library’s services.
That said, I feel like this article was heavily overshadowed by political bias. Dempsey clearly places most of the failure rate on the tea party and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the lousy economy. My problem with this is that she ignores her own tables. The 2010 passage rate for operations (87%) is the highest in the last decade according to Table 4. Apart from 2000, when the passage rate was 92%, this is even the highest passage rate since 1995 despite there being 220 of them, significantly more than any other year ever (Gold). The building referendums did take a huge hit in only passing at a rate of 55%. However, it was only 52% in 2005, long before the economy soured or the tea party formed, and 60% in 2002. Dempsey even admits in the opening paragraph that the average amounts of the building requests more than doubled from 2009 to 2010, which would also add to the failure rate.
My main reason for even bringing this up, is that libraries are not going to win any allies by blaming and alienating a block of their voters. A majority of people on both sides of the political spectrum believe libraries are a good thing. Instead of going into elections with the negative mindset of defeating those opposed, it would be much healthier for libraries to view it as a time to win more supporters for their causes. For some it's showing fair and open access; for others, it's showing frugality and good stewardship with the funds they reluctantly give. But with very few exceptions, most voters are favorable toward keeping their library open, even if new or renovated buildings are denied.
Gold, Anne M. "Library Referenda 2004: The Good Fight." Library Journal 130.515 Mar. (2005). Web. 28 Jan. 2012.
I have also talked in several of my classes about how libraries need to function more like businesses. I thought it was interesting that every one of these articles mentioned that in some way. They are discussed the importance of marketing and showing the public how important they are to the community.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about how libraries should be seen as "sacred cows" even if in fact they are not. As librarians, we understand the importance of libraries and what they can offer to the public. If we are not the ones heralding the fantastic qualities of libraries, then who will?
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