The first draft of the state budget submitted to the Texas House on Tuesday proposes cutting state funding for local library aid and resource sharing programs essentially to zero.
The Senate and Gov. Rick Perry (R) have yet to weigh in on the two-year spending plan prepared for the House by the Legislative Budget Board, but librarians across the state were not expecting them to move the needle much past zero for the major programs, and the proposal has left them stunned.
"We knew it was going to be a tough battle-it always is-but this is something just completely shocking," Maribel Castro, the president of the Texas Library Association (TLA), told Library Journal. "We anticipated we'd lose some leverage, but to come out and basically eliminate the three areas that make up the infrastructure for libraries in the state of Texas-I will not deny there were tears in my eyes," she said.
"A wholesale slaughter" The proposed budget would eliminate:
• direct aid grants to public libraries statewide by reducing the Loan Star Libraries program's funding from $16.2 million in FY10/11 to $100,000 in FY12/13;
• all state funding for TexShare, a collaboration established in the early 1980s among public and academic libraries administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that provides access at a reduced price to online resources, from $9.5 million to $600,000. This also would eliminate the K-12 database program for Texas public schools and their libraries.
"This is categorically different," Castro said. "We've had lean years but this is a complete elimination. It's just absolutely nutty here; we've been getting phone calls left and right about it."
The proposal would also eliminate the state law library and put at risk about $8 million in Institute of Museum and Library Services funds, which are the sole funding source for the state's regional library systems and interlibrary loan (ILL), because Texas would fall below the "maintenance of effort" threshold that is a requirement for the federal money.
"It's a wholesale slaughter," Peggy Rudd, the state librarian, told LJ. "I've worked in three states, and I have never seen a starting point like this for budget negotiations."
"I talked yesterday to Stacey Aldrich [California's state librarian], and in our conversation the pieces of the puzzle are different, but the picture all ends up the same result: devastation."
California governor Jerry Brown (D) has proposed eliminating all state funding for public libraries in his budget plan.
Rudd was particularly distressed by the potential impact on the Loan Star program.
"One of the things that I was proudest of and hoped to leave as a legacy was the Loan Star program for direct aid, which only started in 2002," she said. "We worked for years on this and finally got it and now it's being zeroed out and it will be gone. And it's not just the money; it actually directs us to close down the program."
Rural libraries would be hit hard The ripple effect on federal money particularly concerns Susan Mann, the director of the Hillsboro Public Library (a rural library) and the vice chair of TLA's legislative committee.
"I've never seen it this bad before, and I've been doing this over 25 years," she said. "It would affect regional ILL dramatically, and that's very, very traumatic to our small rural libraries."
Over 400 of Texas's 561 public libraries are classified as rural, said state librarian Rudd, and they also rely heavily on the training programs offered through the regional systems, she said.
"Many of the rural libraries are headed by directors who don't have an MLS," she said, "and in order to ensure that local citizens are getting the best library service, we have to help those staffs to be the best they can be."
The total amount of state money would go from $39.5 million in FY10/11 to $11.65 million in FY12/13, but almost all that money would be devoted solely to divisions in the state library responsible for archiving state and local records, reference, and the talking book program.
TLA will hold its Library Legislative Day on February 16 and is also planning a major rally at the state capitol in April during its annual conference. In the meantime, Castro said TLA's executive board is preparing a letter. "We are going to hit every single newspaper in the state with this letter," she said.
"I totally believe that this is not the time to get lost in helplessness and despair; [we need] a renewed sense of commitment to not losing what we've got," she said. "I want more than anything for people to know that even though things are looking abysmal, we are not going down without a fight. We are extremely motivated and we are going to hit the pavement."
Reader Comments (43)
You can read this article in the library 6 weeks from now.
Posted by mike on January 21, 2011 04:58:27PM
You are losing a majority of your funding and your main
concern is that directors without masters degrees will no
longer receive training?? MISPLACED PRIORITIES. Get over
your masters degreed self. This is disgusting, and yet
representative of the narrowmindedness of librarianship
these days. I am quite sure that these non-MLS directors,
assuming they still have libraries to run, will cope just as
well as those with masters degrees. Libraries exist to
serve the needs of their patrons, and I think your concerns
about whether you can effectively serve the needs of your
customers should take priority at this point, the concept of
internal customer service not withstanding.
Posted by Holly on January 21, 2011 07:29:28PM
With as much online content available these days and with the proliferation of e-book-enabled devises, I'm wondering why we need to spend so much on libraries very few visit? What's missing from this article are the millions of dollars currently spent at high schools, colleges and universities to maintain libraries, which come out of this very same budget.
I'm a voracious reader, but I haven't been in a library since 2002, and that was to access the Internet when I was traveling -- the hotel's connection was down. I shop at Half Price Books and I can usually find my research material online.
Let's not forget that this money isn't going to buy books, but to pay salaries, administrative costs, and overhead. Maybe these librarians can tell us what should be cut from this budget in lieu of this funding.
Posted by Phil Williams on January 22, 2011 11:10:03AM
Mike: MLIS degrees prepare indiifuals to serve the public. Librarianship
requires specialized knowledge that is not just available "out there". That's
why the training is so important. Without thi training it will be difficult for
individuals to run a functioning library even with a full budget.
Holly: it is a misnomer to believe that all the information every person
equites is online. But even if we falsely assume that it is, then there us still
a significant portion of the public without A. Access to technology to get
online B. Without the computer litervy skills to know how to access
information once online and/or C. All of the above. You may buy books
and survive without a public library and that's great. But don't assume
because you don't need library services that everyone doesn't need these
services. Keyword being services. Libraries offer (at least before these
budget cuts) a wide array of resources, classes, training, and cultural
events (to name a few). And although e-readers are growing in popularity
(which libraries are salting to providing e-reader loans and free access to
e-reader books) there are still all of these other services that will be
unavailable to the public. And this will affect the not vulnerable members
of society the most - children, seniors, and lower sociology-economic
status individuals.
Posted by Katr on January 22, 2011 11:56:19AM
Katr, Mike has a very good point. As someone who has an MLIS degree and has worked in public and academic libraries, I can honestly say that setting the MLIS as a baseline to work in most libraries, much less running smaller public libraries, is excessive. The fact that the ALA and a number of MLIS programs are not owning up to the realities of the current job market and discouraging applicants, and have demanded an outrageous level of education and certification is necessary to even do basic tasks, is part of the reason why librarianship is in crisis now. Certainly it is specialized training, but when it is mandated to be a graduate-level professional degree, rather than an undergraduate, it is doing a disservice to the people who have taken more time off from the job market and incurred additional debt to accomodate the inflated requirements set by professional organizations that sell out their overworked and underpaid membership, while giving disingenuous and elitist lip service to their supposed "values".
I know several non-degreed library directors who have done amazing transformations to the libraries they managed, and have observed a number of directors with an MLIS (or above) who are incapable of running a lemonade stand.
Posted by Beth on January 23, 2011 12:40:32PM
Beth: I understand that getting a MLIS does not guarantee a successful Library Director, or that a lack of this degree
will guarantee an unsuccessful director. I will even agree
that inflated enrollment is doing a disservice to the
profession (I am in an MI (Information) program in Canada
with a graduating class of over 130 people). However, the
variety of the librarian profession (or information
professional) has created an environment where you already
need certain skills before you can learn the specialized
skills of the profession (like effective researching and
writing skills). MLIS degree I think is on par with other
professional masters: MBA, LLB (JD) etc... Any of these
degrees could conceivably be done without an undergraduate.
However, undergraduate prepares students for a graduate
degree. In a profession that is stressing new technologies,
database design, specialized research, etc... I do not know
how I would have survived learning it all WITHOUT the prior
experience of an undergraduate degree.
Posted by Katr on January 24, 2011 11:44:41AM
There is no way to place an MLIS on par with a JD (law) degree.
A JD requires, I believe, 3 years of advanced schooling. It prepares one to take a standardized examination (Bar)that, if passed, will allow a person entry into a field that has, for hundreds of years, been widely recognized as one of the traditional "professions." Law is a very specialized profession with numerous subfields (tax law, real estate law, entertainment law, family law, corporate, etc.)
An MLS requires 1-2 years of fairly generalized study. In many instances no type of advanced certification or standardized exam is required after obtaining the MLIS in order for a person to be considered a librarian. While librarianship does have various subfields (public academic, special, and school) and different areas of specialization (reference, cataloging, youth services, etc.) it is not at all unusual to see librarians move around among these subfields and areas. How often do you see a corporate lawyer switch to doing family law? You don't because the skill set is too specialized. Librarians can move around more and have more options because the skill set is more generalized.
Posted by SpongeBob Librarypants on January 24, 2011 12:09:14PM
Holly, I don't know about where YOU are, but both the
university library and the public library in our town is VERY
widely utilized. Online research material is a great start
but there is so much questionable material online, you MUST
verify it. It is verifiable at a library.
Posted by Melanie on January 24, 2011 12:06:04PM
It is a shame some state services are being cut, but public libraries (and to a lesser degree academic ones) need to take this as an opportunity to look hard at what services are truly needed then build staff to support them. Quite frankly you do not need to pay someone at lot of money to provide almost all library services; certainly not someone who has an MLS or related degree. Most bright people with an undergraduate degree can do just about anything a master's degree person can do, and for a lot less money. Information gathering is distinctly different than academic/pure research, and should be reflected in the qualifications posed by the public library, and the pay and benefits. Just because some people have warm and fuzzy memories about Mrs. X helping them with their homework doesn't mean Mrs. X needs to be paid anywhere near what she probably earns. Cutting library services is not the issue here. The issue is balancing what skills are really needed by library staff and pay them accordingly. It is my guess that you do not need an undergraduate degree to do 95 percent of library work. Those that do require anything with a four-year or MLS degree should be reserved for managing the system on an enterprise level. And, the majority of services can easily be handled by a large team of part time employees, not full time librarians.
Concerning the notion that you need a Masters degree to offer specilized services to patrons; are you kidding? Really? Most public libraries, if any of them, require ANY specialized subject expertise. The few such requirements in an academic institution may be appreciated, but to be fair, that degree of specilalization is typically not reflected in the resources offered by the school's library.
BTW, the statement about "my guess' is really not a guess. I have an MLS and have over 16 years as a librarian/research analyst in multiple library-like environments, including five years at a large urban public library and three years at a brick-and-mortar academic library. I know better.
Posted by Pat M on January 24, 2011 01:28:03PM
I concur with Melanie on this one.
Our library has seen nothing but an increase in usage
through the last four years in Houston. Each month we are
being used more than the previous month.
Sometimes you need to step out of your own shoes and look at
it from another angle. Maybe you do not see the point in
going to the library. A lot of people do not see the point
in going to a sports event when you can watch it on TV. A
lot of people do not understand the point of going to Best
Buy when you can buy from Amazon. You are not the only
person though, and yours is not the only opinion and point
of view.
The library today is busier than it has ever been. We are
also at lower staff levels than we have ever been.
I am not one of these that say we need to spend money on the
library if the money is not there. If they need to cut this
much from the budget to make it work, then so be it. But,
make no mistake, the library is just as vital to the
communities now as it has always been.
Posted by Houstonlibrarian on January 24, 2011 03:11:55PM
I'd love to see a combination of ideas for funding our libraries in conjunction
with sensible cuts. Everyone knows the money needs to come from somewhere
and I feel as though we are in a current political culture of cutting funding
without an examination of how to raise funds through taxation (for example). It
feels awfully exclusionary out there right now. I live without extra money after
the bills are paid and would still be willing to pay a bit more to fund our public
and school libraries. Am I alone on this? There needs to be a more balanced
approach to saving money while preserving our libraries.
Posted by Chris on January 25, 2011 05:42:31PM
Well said Katr!!
Posted by Carlos on January 25, 2011 05:05:12PM
Some clarification for those of you who believe that the cuts are targeted to salaries for librarians: Lone Star money is used by most libraries for materials-which include books, audios, videos, ebooks, eaudios, evideos, etc. , so those who cannot afford to go to Half-Price books can borrow the materials they want and need. My library also uses a small amount to hire summer help so the hundreds of extra patrons do not have to stand in a long line waiting to check out their children's items. TexShare funds are used to purchase at lower prices, databases for use by our patrons either in the library or from their own electronic devices. These databases include titles such as Handbook of Texas, Sanborn Maps, World History, Medline, Science Magazine, HealthSource Consumer edition, as well as automotvie repair, resume writing, numerous encyclopedias, newspapers and magazines, etc., RELIABLE sources of information. The Regional Systems offer training and assistance, particularly to rural libraries, often staffed by a few, some with little or no library or technological experience at all. We need to understand weeding and building the collections that our patrons want and need. We need to know how to repair books that are falling apart, that patrons are waiting to read. We need to understand technology to add records to our catalogs so patrons can find the information they want. Most libraries offer public computers to the Have Nots and to travellers whose hotel connection is too slow. We are expected to know how to troubleshoot these and the printers. We need to keep up with technology as well as the latest bestseller--currently available in at least a half dozen formats!! Libraries are busier than ever. (I've worked in a variety for over 35 years) Libraries exist to serve everyone especially the have nots. And sadly that gap is not getting any smaller.
Posted by Linda on January 25, 2011 07:43:27PM
Holly and Phil misinterpret the emphasis of the LJ article or offer incorrect
facts. The emphasis was not on non-MLS directors losing training
opportunities although that is one unfortunate consequence of these cuts.
It is a reality that training is an important need in any kind of organization.
Phil believes that libraries are not as well used as in the past. Incorrect.
Library circulation numbers have been growing in recent years. A
revolution in new formats just means that libraries evolve to meet the
changed needs.
Tight budgets are an opportunity to retrench, examine, and emerge with a
better idea of what priorities should be and what oportunities might be
being missed. These proposed cuts will hurt and will particularly impact
the small and rural library. The TexShare cuts will eliminate high quality
database offerings that are often superior to what a google search will get
you. The Loan Star program cuts will eliminate a significant revenue
source that may pay for many of the new materials added to a library's
collection. It may pay for some new or replacement computers. There is a
world of ways that libraries use these funds for the most basic of services
or for imaginitive new services. Interlibrary loan services transform a small
library that can struggle to provide resources for the wide-ranging interess
of its patrons into a portal to most any item that they might wish to read,
watch, or listen to. This might be the most painful cut of all.
The state of Texas is faced with some difficult choices and in this
budgetary process the hope is that legislators will be persuaded of the
continuing value of library services so that any necessary cuts will be
better considered.
Posted by Steve Benson on January 25, 2011 07:47:19PM
Horrible! I am a person who REFUSES TO BUY BOOKS. I am an avid reader and would NEVER buy a book I can get on loan from the library. I don't like my house to have piles of books in it either! I love my local library and think they are so needed for job hunters with no computer access, free programs for children during the summer, and for promoting literacy in the community! There are obviously so many other things libraries do for the community that I don't have room to list. But, there are many of us who find a great need in library services
Posted by DontmesswithTexas on January 26, 2011 08:24:39AM
I would like to address the larger point of the article: the funding cuts to library services across Texas.
Libraries are part of the solution when a community is struggling economically. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries support lifelong learning.
Libraries help bridge the divide between those who have access to information and those who do not. Families making less than $15,000 annually are two to three times more likely to rely on library computers than those earning more than $75,000.
Libraries don’t just offer the hardware, but also offer the expertise of librarians in helping teach people how to use the Internet and find the information they need quickly. While Google can give you 50,000 responses to your inquiry, your librarian can help you find the one answer you need.
The Texshare program, specifically, has enabled public, academic & K-12 libraries - through the power of centralized negotiation - to provide low-cost access to a broad range of information: supporting students educating themselves at all levels; reliable, in-depth health information for Texans striving to learn more about a diagnosis; business news & data for small business people trying to maintain and build their businesses in the face of this economic downturn. All of this is threatened under the proposed budget. You cannot read many important journals free "on the Internet" (without a personal subscription), but you can through your local public (or academic) library, including: Bond Buyer, American Banker, Global Refining & Fuels Today, Automotic Industries, and many others.
Posted by Kerry on January 26, 2011 08:22:55AM
I work in one of those rural libraries. A slash of Loan Star funding will cut our materials budget by 20%--a budget which goes to purchase books, audio books, dvds, music, and soon e-books. Lack of financial support for ILL will mean if we are to continue this service we would have to start charging our patrons. Our community is designated as a retirement community with many of our patrons on fixed incomes. Families with children come to the library for free activities because their budgets are also very lean. While only one of us holds an MLS, all of us have found the training to be very helpful to our day to day operations because we need help meeting the needs of our patrons and the training gives us insights and ideas.
I understand the need to trim the budget but not on this scale.
Posted by Mary on January 26, 2011 10:37:35AM
Most of the comments on this article are completely missing the point. The proposed library funding cuts in the Texas draft budget will eliminate all access to Texshare, which will eliminate funding for the K-12 online database program. Those of you that claim that people can find information for themselves online are only partially correct. Most of the *quality* online research information costs money and schools and public libraries are providing free access to these research resources for you and your children. By eliminating this program we're doing an extreme disservice to students who will ultimately head off to college lacking the basic research skills needed to help them get through their courses.
The whole MLS prestige debate is completely misplaced on this comment thread. Lets focus instead on the elimination of the Lone Star Libraries program and the fact that this will cripple rural libraries, which, as the article states, make up over 400 of Texas' 561 public libraries. When you're living in Wimberley, Cotulla, Three Rivers, or Roma, or any other rural Texas town that doesn't have a Half Price Books or a Barnes & Noble and has spotty internet access, your public library is your source for entertainment and information.
Libraries do an amazing job at the meeting the needs of their communities with minimal staff and monetary resources. These budget cuts aren't going to force libraries to do more with less. They are going to shut them down completely. As a former librarian in the Houston area, I'm deeply saddened by this proposed budget and the complete devaluation of libraries and education in the state.
Posted by Former Houston Librarian on January 26, 2011 09:21:20AM
Unfortunately not everything can be found online via the free Internet and not everything on the free Internet is actually reliable. Also, not every book you purchase at a bookstore is necessarily scholarly or academic - something that is absolutely necessary in the academic world. Not all libraries in Texas are public and having worked in both public and academic libraries I can tell you that you're often talking apples and oranges here. Yes, some things are the same, but the approach to the resources in an academic vs. public library is very different because your customer base is very different with very different information needs.
The TexShare funding has enabled all the academic libraries in Texas, not just the state-supported institutions, get access to a large number of academic and scholarly databases, many with full-text articles, for a fraction of the cost. This in turn has enabled those same libraries to subscribe to additional databases with those savings, giving direct access to students that was unheard of in the days of print-only. This has benefited students and faculty enormously and the thought of major cuts in these databases makes me absolutely sick.
As for the comment regarding the master's degree. I think you missed the point of this article. It was talking about giving help to those people without master's degrees - in other words, learning how to efficiently running a library without benefit of direct training in library school. This included continuing education opportunities as well as initial training opportunities. In spite of what most people think, running a library does not consist solely of "checking out books". You don't necessarily need a master's degree, but you sure need the knowledge on what is commonly done in all libraries and the standards we all try to follow so that it makes it easier to share with one another. This training helps them work on their county librarian certification which I think is one of the major benefits of working in the state of Texas at a public library.
I worked at one of these rural libraries, before finishing my master's degree. It's not a walk in the park, even if you do have the training, so I have a lot of respect for those who run these libraries sans degrees. Now, should this budget be passed, they won't even have this small assistance and method of networking which allows them to do their jobs better and benefit their customer base.
Posted by Cynthia on January 26, 2011 12:26:02PM
How nice that Phil Williams can still afford to travel and buy every book he reads. Let me give you a little clue about the real world Phil. The rest of us can't afford to travel very often, and we can't afford to pay for every book we read. We can't afford to pay for internet access and every dvd we watch either. Guess where we get these for free. At our library. I don't even know anyone who owns an ebook reader, and if they did they would be using the free ebooks from the library, not buying new ones.
Posted by john grand on January 26, 2011 10:59:40AM
Most of these funds allow Texas public library systems to function, simply put. It's not a matter of cutting a service no one uses or cutting money for things that can be found freely online. If you have been to a public library recently, you would realize that it is often the only source of free computer and internet access in not only rural towns, but even in big cities. Without computer and internet access people cannot apply for jobs, locate government information and benefits they may need, and do basic things like help their children with their school work. Without TexShare, databases will be more difficult for libraries to get access to. The databases public libraries provide access to are full of content that cannot be freely found online such as complete automotive repair manuals, journal articles, newspaper archives, and so much more. Degreed librarians are vital to all of this as they are trained to provide basic and in-depth research assistance, teach courses on anything from using the library to using a computer (there are many, many people in the country that need this level of basic assistance), and provide engaging cultural programming activities for children and adults - just to name a few of the things they are trained to do.
I don't think it is appropriate to always be discussing library funds in terms of how it doesn't affect you (particularly if you are affluent enough to own a computer). You know who it does affect? The families that can't afford to have a computer at home, but desperately need access to one for many of the reasons I cited above. The senior citizen reentering the workforce that has never used a computer in his/her life and needs instruction. The student that cannot cite Wikipedia in his/her paper, but instead needs access to scholarly articles (no, you can't find these via Google). The recent immigrant that is trying to learn English so he/she can get a job and get on their way to citizenship. The guy who came to the reference desk the other day who lost his job back in 2008 and has slowly lost his car and his house and is now having to live in the homeless shelter as he desperately seeks employment. I could go on and on here...
What happens to a country that decides that to get "back on our feet" we should cut funds to the people who most need assistance to do so. Holly, I'm sorry you don't find the public library relevant to your life, but that means very little for the millions that do.
Posted by Bonnie Brzozowski on January 26, 2011 03:10:56PM
Phil, I am glad you can afford to purchase your own books and that you have a place to keep them. How about families that can't afford to buy their own books? Or an e-reader? Or that can't afford to have a computer? Or families with young children that want to expose them to more than just books but storytime and other library programs? Come on... this isn't difficult. Libraries have stood for civilization for, well quite some time now. Just because their roll has changed and you aren't smart enough to use them, doesn't mean they are worthless.
Posted by Katelyn Patterson on January 26, 2011 04:33:03PM
One thing to add to the many thoughtful comments here regarding libraries' relevance in Texas communities: budget cuts will be wide spread. People are going to be losing jobs, benefits, health & medical services, their child care, not to mention peace of mind. If there's anything Texans need to see them through this "belt tightening," it's access to the resources that places like libraries can provide. For example, when state-funded pre-k centers lose funding to help subsidize slots, you can bet that story time & early ed development programs at the library are going to get very popular. It's a mistake to make it harder for librarians to help keep their communities afloat.
Posted by Laura P on January 26, 2011 04:48:00PM
Mr. Williams, you apparently have the luxury of having a home computr, an e-reader, and the funds to purchase books. Many people do not have that lurxury. Libraries offer so much to the community, they are lifelines in this increasingly technology dependent world for those who can not afford home computers and internet connections at home. Plus reading is such a fundamental necessity for success in life-everyone should have access to it.
Yes, much stuff is "online" but only available via databases that cost money, lots of money. Free resources that are credible (i.e. not Wikipedia or worse) are few and far beetween. There is not enough room here to discuss how narrow minded your presumption is on this issue.
Library budgets do go to buy books as well as salaries. Why begrudge librarians and their clerks and assistants the pitiful salaries they receive. Library workers are primarily college educated and have to be technology savvy yet they are paid less than fast food workers.
Come into a public library and borrow books, then you would not have to even shop at Half Price books and you can see the wide cross section of people that need our public libraries.
Posted by AK Palmer on January 26, 2011 05:08:58PM
I am the non-MLS director of one of the 400 rural libraries in Texas. In the past five years, our circulation has increased 51%, computer users have increased 122%, and our program attendance has increased 182%. Who says people don't use libraries anymore? Not only is our library rural, it is considered "economically disadvantaged". According to the US Census estimates for 2009 only 46 of the 254 Texas counties have a lower median income than our county. The most devastating of the proposed cuts for our library would be the Loan Star Libraries Grant; it makes up almost 1/2 of our materials budget. The possible elimination of our regional library systems, the TANG grant (which funds computer technical support) and interlibrary loan would also be a disaster. Not holding an MLS, I rely heavily on the system for continuing education and consulting; it's my opinion that anyone with an MLS would be insulted at the salary my county can afford to pay. We need our libraries and that takes funding! We can handle cuts, just not the slaughter that the legislature has proposed.
Posted by CF on January 26, 2011 06:08:22PM
Because I am a retired teacher, and have not had a raise in ten years, I have relied heavily on my local branch library for my reading pleasure. There is just no way I could buy books or on-line books, at the cost of them these days. I realize we are never going to get even a cost of living raise, much less enough money to live on, so please don't take away our library system, too.....
Posted by Jerry Xan Hamilton on January 26, 2011 06:21:43PM
Wow, talk about missing the point. Libraries look toward the future, so we have moved into providing ebooks,because that is what many peopel(with money) want, and we want to serve that segment of the population. I cannot imagine not caring about serving the segment of the population who cannot afford to use an ebook. Bottom line, libraries provide materials to people who do not otherwise have access to information. Many times that means they have no other means to get their hands on books. Kids growing up without books. Adults with no access to books.That is what will be lost.
I believe the concerned expressed above about training those librarians without the benefit of a Library education is a concern about the patron being served in the best way. After working in libraries for better than 20 years I can tell you that a really well experienced lay-librarian is great. An inexperienced lay-librarian could use some help to serve his/her patrons in the best way possible.
Democracy only works when you have an informed public. Public Libraries provide free information freely.
Posted by Jeanette M. Piquet on January 26, 2011 04:29:00PM
Although electronic media is abundant, many of the patrons served by libraries, esp. small rural areas do not have access to this media. Our small library is the main (and only)source of computer connection for most of those served. They are in constant use and are always needing updating. As for ebooks, they are out of the price range of most in our county being mainly poor and elderly. Electronic media is a wonderful thing but not at all familar to those on public assistance or older. Yes, they need this skill to get a job but they don't have the skills and few are willing or able to get them. A lot of people in this country seem to forget (or not be aware of)this vast group that live on the fringes of the electronic world.
Posted by Michelle Pfeil on January 26, 2011 07:10:49PM
For the library where I work, the Lone Star Grant enables us to have a large summer reading program for children. Close to 2,000 children participated last summer. Without the Lone Star Grant we would probably have to cut back considerably.
On a daily basis we have anywhere from 400 to 800 people come through our doors depending on the time of year.
Our community uses our library for a multitude of activities and our librarians have to have a very broad set of skills. We have all ages coming in, from arm babies to the senior citizens from the local assisted living facility. We have story time twice a week for the young ones and several book clubs for adults. Libraries have an important role in helping with absolutely imperative literacy skills.
We have a 3 month waiting list for our basic computer classes. They are mostly filled with people learning basic skills to enable them to be more competitive in getting a job. Our ESL (English as a 2nd Language) classes have a huge waiting list also. Our Homework Help Center is a valuable aid to the kids who need more tutoring than they can get from school. Our GED classes are filled to capacity as well. People from our community use our library for everything from a Pokemon Club to quilting classes.
This past year we had almost a half million items borrowed from our library. So in our community, the library is an active thriving place. Budget cuts have affected us but we've been able to supplement with grant money and cutbacks in personnel. It makes me sad to read that libraries are being considered nonessential.
Posted by Sandra on January 27, 2011 12:41:52AM
So, Pat M, how many GED-level part-timers would it take to replace you? Or have yours always been those rare 'real' librarian positions that justified your salary and benefits?
Posted by Just Saying on January 27, 2011 11:48:10AM
I agree with Mike. As a non-degreed librarian who has run a non-profit library serving a population of over 25,000 people for over 20 years, I have built a new $5.6 million dollar library, written, received and managed well over $2 million dollars in grants, completed an in-house retrospective conversion of bibliographic records, completed two major automation projects, created two different consortiums and placed our library at the center of our community as THE source for information. We routinely answer reference questions for city and county officials and the local newspaper. In addition we have a state of the art regional archives and museum. Oh, but I'm "non-professional staff." The reason we need the training provided by the systems is because it addresses the needs of our area, it is done in locations close enough for most of us to attend, and it is usually a lot more practical than anything provided by the state library. Funding of the regional library systems is even more essential than databases or interlibrary loan. With training, we will continue to provide the excellent community service that rural libraries are known for.
Posted by Susan on January 27, 2011 11:48:26AM
I have been a Librarian for 20 years and do not have my MLS. the Degree is a
misguided attempt for a failing institution to try and remain current. find me a
library that is current modern and up to date. in Texas this can not be done. in
places where library systems have caught up to modern times they thrive. Texas
you show those librarians what they need GET CURRENT!!! if the system was so
freaking great they could get the money. the interlibrary loan system in Texas is
the worst in the USA. The TLA is one of the most disrespected systems as well
for their ultra conservative sensor ship. SHUT THEM DOWN
Posted by Trina on January 27, 2011 05:27:25PM
I hope all of you who value your library and understand the need for lifelong education at an affordable price will contact your Texas legislative representative and let them know how important these services are to you and your family. To the rest of you I hope you visit a library some day and get a clue!
Posted by Library Supporter on January 27, 2011 05:59:30PM
This is in reply to Holly(Jan 21/11)I am the Director(BS MGT, not MLS) of a very small town in Texas panhandle. There is poverty here-many of our patrons don't have phones, much less Internet access(except at the library)Lone Star grant to this library is $4,300 this year, and it does go for books & other needs, not salaries. Our West Texas Library System provides training and an indispensable tech who works on our PCs-we share one tech with 35 libraries. With this proposed cut we have no funds to keep the PC's working. People look for jobs and conduct business, take online courses, and learn language at our library. Libraries are needed more in hard times than in great-you don't need us, but many do.
Posted by Linda Roper on January 29, 2011 03:50:41PM
For folks saying very few people visit libraries -have they been to a library lately? Circulation and attendance is through the roof! Patrons don't have the money to fix their computers, the money to buy DVD's and books and many libraries offers a wealth of job assistance and computer applications training classes.
Posted by Patricia on January 30, 2011 01:49:35AM
Circ and attendance ARE through the roof. Sorry tons of typos -I'm new at posting!
Posted by Patricia on January 30, 2011 01:55:45AM
Phil Williams: a person defending libraries while being unable to spell, construct sentences, or even string together rational thoughts into coherent arguments.
Can you explain to me why most libraries pay MSRP or higher to vendors and brokers for each and every item in their collections despite purchasing volume that would typically come with a volume discount?
Can you explain to me how public computer access to pornographic material advances free speech, education, and civil society?
How about why many libraries are moving towards a circulation mirroring blockbuster? I'm not sure how watching Harry and the Hendersons promotes the library objective.
I guess I'm unsure of the role of librarians anymore. They don't check out books, PSAs do that. They don't shelve books, the Pages do that. They don't order circulation, the boards do that. Most I see do minor programming a few times per month and sit at their desks playing solitare until someone interrupts them.
I'm not saying that librarians aren't needed or that their education isn't valuable. I'm simply articulating that it doesn't necessarily foster the best product.
Posted by James Anderson on January 31, 2011 10:37:39AM
This is insanity.
Posted by James on January 31, 2011 02:01:46PM
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Posted by Mr.Trout Moxie on February 1, 2011 04:02:50AM
Please keep the support of our local library. In a small town like ours of 2020 population, we need to have a public, free of charge chance to be inform. PLEASE PLEASE don't stop the funding. Our town is also 30 miles away from other town.
Thanks for this opportunity
Posted by Tilda Carrasco on February 1, 2011 10:48:53AM
If anyone ever sees a librarian playing solitare and it is not their lunch hour, they should be reported.
Libraries are used primarily by those who do not have money and by students who are assigned projects/reports and are not allowed to use the Internet - some of their classmates don't have computers. I am a librarian without any degree of 30 years and run a very successful library. Recently and without warning a silent call has gone out to chop libraries. There is certainly waste in libraries as there is everywhere. However, if you look at the politics involved and the politicians (for the most part) - that is your waste of money. I'll bet there are very, very few that don't have carpet on their floors and some pretty nice furniture. Most libraries I visit have chairs I used there when I went as a child.
And those who want to cut librarian and staff salaries - how much would you cut out of YOUR salary. Think about it -oh, that's right, you're worth every penny YOU make and probably deserve more - and comp time and extra vacation time and a few more sick leave days, and snow days . . . .
Posted by DCLL on February 14, 2011 02:18:07PM
Wow Holly, you obviously did not read the article. Maybe you should visit the library more often to brush up on your literacy skills. The budget proposals cut the funding for services that citizens use such as the TexShare program and the ILL service. The fundings for these projects have nothing to do with money used to pay salaries, there is no roll-over money in these funding projects to go to promotions/raises. This means, that the librarians are working hard in congress to fight off these budget cuts for you,the library user, not themselves. I am an MLS student currently working in public library and I know for a fact that public libraries are not self-satisfying, they are not for profit, libraries are here to serve you. Also, requiring the amount of education it takes to become a librarian they work for a pittance and do so happily to offer you the best quality services and programs at no cost.
