I think my love for the library was born out of my penny-pinching ways. I remember as a child thinking "They're really going to let me take this stuff? For free?" I still get that twinge sometimes when I'm loading up my arms with books and heading toward the check-out counter. These days, we can all agree that penny-pinching isn't so much a lifestyle choice as a necessity. I read a quote recently by Chris Hoene, Director of Policy and Research at the National League of Cities. When speaking of budget cuts facing public libraries he said, "Obviously, when push comes to shove," city governments facing budget cuts "will protect city services considered more vital to the safety of the community(Bello)." Just preceding this quote, Hoene distinguishes between necessary core community services such as police and firefighters and services such as libraries and city parks. This quote stuck with me after I read it (perhaps it was the city parks comparison). Not to discount our police and firefighters, I fully believe public libraries have beomce a place of saftey for the jobless and hopeless across the country. Computer terminal usage is up. People come to the public libraries to create resumes, search for available jobs and fill out online applications. Librarians are becoming job counselors, scrambling to develop programs and pull resources related to job acquisition.
While libraries are more than their computer terminals, at this point in our economic downturn, they are becoming a lifeline. Free internet access at libraries is playing an integral part in communities across the nation. Of course, one can't forget the training and guidance necessary for patrons to effectively use computers, also provided by public libraries.
With so many people out of work in the U.S., often home internet access is one of the first services cut from the family budget("America's Libraries Report," 2008). In a 2007 study, 73 percent of public libraries reported being the only source of free internet access in their communities. In the same study, it was found that 70 of the top 100 U.S. retailers accept online applications, 71 percent more than in 2004. It's easy to see the jump from public library services to individual employment.
In Ramsey County, Minnesota, computer usage is up 38 percent. Director Susan Nemitz said that not only do patrons need computer access, they need classes and guidance from librarians. Classes are taught on simple processes such as setting up an email account and these classes are filled to capacity. Nemitz says "In society, libraries are the places that are bridging the digital divide," Nemitz said. "There's a whole sector of society who can't do this alone. Not only do they need computers, but they need assistance(Fleming)."
I feel resentful of Chris Hoene's statements as well as the shortsightedness of many politicians (but that's a topic for many other blogs) when the evidence is there--libraries are silently serving their communities in crisis. All they ask for is the resources and staffing to continue doing what they do best.
Sources:
The State of America's Libraries Report (2008). Retrieved February 25, 2009 from http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/2008statereport/publiclibraries.cfm#$468558
Bello, M. (2009, February 1). U.S. libraries on borrowed time? USA Today. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-02-01-libraries_N.htm
Fleming, J. (2009 February 24). Bad economy has libraries rising in importance while facing severe cuts. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.twincities.com/ci_11770138?source=most_emailed
Discussion Questions:
Visit the following site regarding libraries and the stimulus plan:
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1966
Some are saying additional funding for library internet access will not help if the library doors are locked. While the Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing funds for broadband access in public libraries, is it enough?
Perhaps the issue is that libraries have always "just been there" and are taken for granted. With so many public libraries being shut down, what do you expect the public's reaction to be? Will there be any?
4 comments:
I agree. Our libraries are valuable to those hurting in the current economic situation (and that is probably most of us!)
And I think that, no matter what the economic situation, libraries have a great intrinsic value to communities and individuals.
I hadn't thought about the struggling economy's effect(especially in Michigan)on computer usage at libraries. The dual edged sword of job seekers and loss of home access would be bad enough, but combine that with more people going back to school to increase their prospects and those in re-training programs and I can see that some libraries may be straining to meet the demand. While expanding broadband access is a worthy enterprise, let's hope that those libraries that simply need more public access computers have the ability to purchase them.
Does anyone remember the scene in “Sex in the City” (the movie version) where Carrie and Big are in bed and he comments that she must be the last person in New York City still checking out library books. Her reply is priceless, “I love the smell”. I stood up and cheered inside.
My mother is the ultimate genius of getting her bang for her buck out of the local library. I on the other hand currently owe around $30 for the research materials I kept too long while I was performing in the musical “Follies” by Sondheim. Thank goodness the library offers so many resources online etc. that never need returned!
One of the most important things our libraries seem to have done well so far is to embrace new idea’s and technologies without getting rid of what is already working. Yes we have online card catalogs now, but they are still organized the same way that worked when the records were stored on paper. Yes we have books online and on CD, but we haven’t done away with the paper copies. I like the idea of adding new ideas/technology, perhaps weeding out a bit of underutilized data, and then adding more. Oh, wait! That’s what we’ve always been trained to do as librarians!
We can be proud of many of our Michigan legislators for continuing to fight hard for library budgets... I understand it to be a pretty brutal battle.
But as pointed out, the evidence is right in front of everyone's nose. Our own computer usage doubled, circulation went up 10K, from 30K to 40K... Interlibrary loans has gone up 300%... these figures are amazing. I'd be getting GINORMOUS bonuses at AIG for these numbers.
Well... what more could I say?
Post a Comment