"Using volunteers for the purpose of extending library operating hours is unprecedented in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's history since its founding in 1903, and within the library profession as a whole," the library said in a news release. "The library recognizes that a changing economic climate has created both challenges and opportunities. As a result, the Library reallocated some of its staff in order to place more attention on recruiting, training and managing more library volunteers."
The library has lost about 183 staffers in the past several months. It has been recruiting Circulation Assistants (14 years of age or older) to work at least two hours per week for at least six months. Their tasks include retrieving library materials, maintaining library book displays, and sorting and shelving materials.
The Matthews Library staff, which processed 138 applications, added 81 new volunteers, for a total of 90 volunteers. The Davidson Library staff, which processed 72 applications, added 29 new volunteers, for a total of 41 volunteers. Library officials expect volunteer hours to exceed goals at the end of August.
The two libraries had seen their hours cut from six days and 66 hours per week to four days and 32 hours per week. Though the original target date for the launch of extended hours was October 1, both branches will be able to add the six-hour day starting September 13.
Reader Comments (8)
They'll never get those positions back as paying jobs for library workers.
Posted by Victoria on August 30, 2010 02:19:30PM
@Victoria: glad I'm not the only pessimist here.
It's great that the people of Charlotte value their libraries
enough to volunteer, but the priorities don't seem to be there
for enough other folks to pony up to pay for service. Boo.
Posted by Katie-Rose on August 30, 2010 03:20:45PM
This is a disgrace. This is what public librarianship has come to, a capitalist model that isn't even capitalism in that the workers don't even make a pittance, but nothing at all. Nothing is going to change in the defunding of the public infrastructure until libraries bite the bullet and *just close.*
The public library where I work is overrun by right-wing thumpers recruited by the right-wing thumping manager. Like her they can barely conceal their disdain and hatred of the educated, the liberal, the non-born again, and non-white.
Meanwhile, since the library itself has become a video game arcade, homeless shelter, and day care center -- since there aren't any real librarians to maintain any sort of civil or service standard -- attract exactly the demographic our management and volunteers despise.
The public library system in the U.S. will not survive this decade.
Posted by Chalice Mitchell on August 31, 2010 05:45:39AM
Wait a minute, Chalice Mitchell. A community comes together
to work for the collective good without any profit motive,
and you complain that it is too capitalist?
If there are volunteers willing to work, I'm happy to have
more money go for books and other resources. I don't see
how having volunteers "retrieving library materials,
maintaining library book displays, and sorting and shelving
materials" really helps keep the branches open though,
unless the system was in such dire straits that the few
remaining employees who could access patron records, handle
money and provide reference service were tied up shelving
books.
In any case, the 14 year olds who volunteer will feel part
of something bigger than themselves: they helped keep the
libraries open in the midst of a huge budget crisis. They
(and there parents) will feel ownership of (and loyalty to)
the library now and as they grow up to be voters,
politicians, business leaders, etc.
I think it is a great strategy.
Posted by David on August 31, 2010 02:52:15PM
My stomach sank when I read this. It only reinforces my belief
in the necessity of unions. Where do we draw the line between
volunteers and unpaid workers?
Posted by A. Librarian on August 31, 2010 08:29:38PM
I'm afraid Chalice has a point. I have lived in Charlotte for 27 years and the current budget climate for libraries has never been so dire.The initial effort by volunteers should be applauded, but in the long term it's a dangerous model. Our local politicians are more than happy, a year out, to conclude that libraries don't need the money after all, since they have been able to operate just fine using volunteers.There needs to be consistent pressure on local government by it's citizens to provide sufficient funding for our basic Social Capital Infrastructure. And no, I didn't just advocate Socialism. This refers to basic infrastructure that, when not supported, damages our ability as a society to maintain itself at its current level, much less progress. We're seeing this with school funding as well.
Posted by Mark Reynolds on September 1, 2010 07:56:30AM
"It's great that the people of Charlotte value their
libraries enough to volunteer, but the priorities don't seem
to be there for enough other folks to pony up to pay for
service. Boo."
What you fail to understand is how dire the economy in
Charlotte is especially for local government. Charlotte's
primary industry is banking and we have major banks that
have gone under, closed shop, or left town. Unemployment is
at a record high and with that comes the fact that people
are spending less yielding less tax income for the
government. Property taxes are not being paid because people
cannot afford it or their house is in foreclosure.
Many in Charlotte were willing to pay more for libraries,
but it is up to the County Commissioners to determine how
much money goes where. Unfortunately libraries are not a
mandated service like fire and police, nor were libraries
ranked as an educational institution. Therefore libraries
were placed near the bottom of the heap with the medical
examiner.
This is why local government and elections are so important.
We need people to vote for competent, educated leaders who
value libraries.
Posted by Charlotte Citizen on September 8, 2010 01:30:46PM
While Chalice's comment may be a little over the top, she makes a good basic point - if budgets get slashed, but the doors still manage to stay open, the incentive to adequately fund the system is taken away. Unless the public really feels the pain, then it is hard to where the pressure comes from to supply better funding.
