Week 4 Readings

Bottoming Out

Michael Kelley

This article looked at the declining budgets allotted to library services, the danger of privatization, and the possible adaptations libraries need to do to remain relevant.

I could clearly see the effect of budget cuts on my own library in Des Moines, Iowa.  Although I was hired after the damage had been done, my own position as a substitute was a direct response to the loss of several jobs.  It was far cheaper to hire me and have me sub on the busiest days, paid less because of my lack of master’s degree, than to keep the several librarians they had before.    Staff were also forced to take furlough days and reduce hours at all of the libraries.  The smaller branches in the poorer parts of town were the most drastically effective.  In lieu of closing one branch, two libraries shared a single staff-set and were open on alternate days.  This led to confusion for both staff and patrons.

My own view for the future of libraries is optimistic.  As the generational change sweeps the buildings, I think that the tactics and technology will both change.  To my mind, marketing will be a major role in our survival.  Not only do we need to remind users we are open and offer services they need/want for free, but we also need to bring the waning funding of libraries to light.  I don’t think many people are even aware they are in trouble.

Kelley’s article quotes librarians who believe that the political conservatives  and radical right wing voters are a danger to libraries. I don’t necessarily think that this is true, but I can see how privatization would damage the quality of library service, just as the monopoly on book sales has damaged the selection availability with the rise of Barnes and Noble.  It would be a frightening future, if all our resources were provided through one vendor.

I do think that service quality is already declining in some ways because of the cross training of library staff  and the increasing use of volunteers.  As my library stated in an interview with the city newspaper.  When you use volunteers to perform the same tasks your librarian would have performed, you lose confidentiality, professional search skills, ability to discern authoritative resources, and much more. The possible exception is when the volunteers are library students themselves, as at MCPL.

PERFORMING TRIAGE ON BUDGETS IN THE R*E*D

Hennen, Jr.

This article was far more hopeful than Kelley’s.  It provided solutions to the failing library budgets that seemed reasonable and easy to implement for the most part.  Rather than just saying “stay relevant” and “utilize new technology”, as so many articles do, it promotes community action.

I think my favorite “tool” was the suggestion of pooling resources and coming together as more of a whole than splintered parts.  Libraries, as an overall institution, need people to speak for them and manage overall issues better.  I think (as I mentioned previously), marketing will be a big help with that.

I also agreed with the idea of allowing web donations, though there were aspects of that and impact fees that went over my head.  Some of the ideas presented here would require more business savvy minds than mine to comprehend.

Vote of Confidence

Dempsey, B

This article discussed how taxpayers trust and value libraries.  I found this somewhat at odds with the lowering funding, but perhaps that means it is mostly political/governmental issues our libraries face as opposed to user dissatisfaction.

I liked that Dempsey emphasizes the importance of backing up user trust in libraries.  It is important that they be able to trust us and our use of their money as beneficial to them and/or their communities.  Dempsey points out that this trust is affirmed because our values are shown through tangible output, such as programming and technical services.  Communication is also viewed as important to user trust of libraries.  Our response to their changing needs and values is just as vital as adhering to our own.

This is not the first article we’ve read to refer to the “friends of the library” and how instrumental they are in our success.  Not only do they manage donations, sales, and voicing library needs, but they also come up with new ways of collaborating with the community.