Case For Consolidation: This article made a case that libraries should not be funded and run county wide, but should consolidate and be run and funded by it's own larger governing body.
I found this article super confusing- anyone else? I understood his points, smaller libraries are harder to fund, and having one library system for every tiny county is so much bureaucracy- but what exactly was the alternative he was suggesting? How are we supposed to consolidate? Who consolidates with who? And what does that mean? I was amused by how the author said that librarians didn't want to loose libraries because they love bureaucracy, oh, and their jobs. Let's not down play librarian's desire to have jobs, it's not just 'cause they've got a stick up their butts and can't embrace change, it's, you know, also their passion and livelihood. Also I appreciated how the author wanted to engage us on how libraries don't serve people of color and poor people as well as they should, but I genuinely do not understand how having less libraries will make that better. I understand the critique just not the proposed solution.
Indiana Tax Cuts Hurt PLs: This article considered what Indiana's property tax cut (from 2% to 1%) would mean for Indiana libraries.
This article had a very doomsday feel to it. This article was also pretty darn sparse considering it was talking about some fairly huge changes, like South Bend cutting all summer hours! I think a big piece I see missing from a lot of doomsday-for-libraries articles are some thoughts on why. Why do we live in time where libraries do SO MUCH but are valued so little. I think larger conversations about that should happen. obviously the tea party sentiment is negatively effecting libraries getting funds, but how do we combat that? How do we change public opinion of libraries? To switch gears: I would want to read a fallow up article talking to the same library directors about what cuts they made, how they were able to subsidize their budgets, and other thoughts on adjustments post tax cuts.
Economic impact of Libraries: This very long article summarized a Kelly School extensive study of Indiana libraries impact on the economy, both how much they cost/give to their community, how much they encourage new business in their community.
How incredible was it to read that Indiana libraries give back $2.38 for every $1 they get?!?! I was stoked! I was also surprised, I've never heard a number like that before- why? I'm a second year MLS student, you'd think I would have heard this before. Thus going back to my point I made for Tax Cut Hurt- we have got to make a case for how amazing libraries are. We have an amazing fact, we give back more then twice the amount we're given, why on Earth is that some big secret? I was really stoked that two of the article's recommendations were to help libraries be able to assess their economic impact, and AGGRESSIVELY promote how much they give back financially- it's like they read my mind! We're fighting for existence here, let's fight like pros!
It is very encouraging to see that libraries give back more than they receive. It is amazing what libraries have learned to do on the very little they get. It would be heartbreaking to see communities lose libraries after all that the libraries did for the community and how important the library is to the community and its functioning.
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