Readings Reactions Week 15

Lynn Blumenstein
Indiana Tax Cuts Hurt PLs

This article shows that since public libraries in Indiana receive about 80 percent of their funding from property taxes, the recent lowering of these taxes will hurt library funding.

As this was just a new blurb, the article doesn't really go into how libraries will be offsetting this loss of funding aside from a quick mention of grants and not filling open positions. Grants are not always very easy to get, especially for organizations that are new to writing grant proposals, as mentioned last week in class by Mr. Zoss. Libraries that are used to receiving funding from property tax probably are not very prepared to write a lot of new grant proposals.

"By raising the state sales tax, the plan ameliorates the impact of the plunge in state revenues. However, no income gained is guaranteed for libraries." If only some percentage of the sales tax had been earmarked for library funding, the extent of this funding crunch could have been lessened. It seems ridiculous that this wasn't done.

Saul Amdursky
The Case for Consolidation

This article elaborates on why local libraries need to consolidate their resources and become independent taxing districts.

I am not completely sure what being an independent taxing district means. Can libraries create a "library tax" and use that for funding as opposed to receiving funding from existing property taxes? Are libraries not already a separate government entity with separate funding? Aside from these questions, consolidation makes a good amount of sense to me. It seems like consolidation would make things simpler for libraries and patrons, while improving services at both small and large libraries. While true, it would be a bit of a pill to swallow for a former library director to become just a branch manager, and probably take a reduction in pay, this isn't my biggest worry. The big worry for me would be a loss of jobs and the possibility of branches closing that are unnecessary for the service of the overall library system.

Indiana Business Research Center
The Economic Impact of Libraries in Indiana

This study expressed that overall Indiana's libraries are a good value but need to expand their outreach to businesses.

This is yet another article that sings the praises of libraries, while still calling for an increase in services. Past articles have shown increased governmental responsibilities being shoved onto libraries without any additional funding, and this article follows up with private businesses wanting better business reference services from libraries that are already strapped for cash. I can see how hiring a business reference librarian would be at least as, if not more, useful than a genealogy expert but my first reaction is to ask where the funding for expanded business services will come from. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to create partnerships with local businesses, they can supply some funding, and the library will supply the staff and information.