…Brockton Public Library faces a… loss of eight jobs, six from layoffs in the fiscal 2009 budget currently before the City Council.
…Bridgewater Public Library awaits a June tax override vote to [fund] the restoration of the 63 hours it was open in 2005.
…Norton Public Library faces layoffs, reduced services and hours after town meeting cut the budget 35 percent.
…Rockland Public Library’s state certification is jeopardized.
…Randolph… recently regained state certification that was lost when operating hours were reduced because of budget cuts last year.
…“At the moment, we’re at least holding our own,” said Charles Michaud, director of the Turner Free Library in Randolph, which recently regained state certification that was lost when operating hours were reduced because of budget cuts last year….
“Twenty-six years into it, it’s Proposition 21/2 coming home to roost,” he said.
[Crossposted from ONE Massachusetts]
Libraries must justify their existence.
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p>Anecdote, I judge several scholarships for high school graduates. The scholarship require an essay on selected topics. 100% of all applicant used the internet, not the library.
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p>Question is, to the Trustees of the hundreds (thousand?) libraries in the state, most of which were funded by Carnegie or other philanthropists over 100 years ago as a central depository for information, what’s the purpose of the library now, and if the purpose is to support declining traffic and an aging building, maybe it’s time to close.
I’d like to see Barnes and Noble close and Amazon succeed with hard to finds only.
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p>To me, buying new books is a waste of paper and every other resource required to deliver it.
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p>Let me take a book, enjoy it and then bring it back for others to enjoy. It’s the oldest recycling program I can think of.
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p>Libraries are more than just their reference sections. They provide a way for EVERY member of society to obtain, enjoy and learn from the written word.
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p>I think we should do more to encourage their use.
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p>Not to undermine your anecdote, Gary, but how many of the students used internet access at the library for their research?
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p>No idea.
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p>So is that the future of the library, an internet hotspot for those who can’t afford highspeed in the home? Maybe.
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p>It’s a near platitude to say we should encourage the use of a Library, but the cold facts are that library traffic is declining in many of the small towns, and has been for years.
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p>And the laws are written that a Town must spend a porpostional amount of its budget on its libary, if it wishes the Libary to be part of the C/W Mars system.
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p>The Library Trustee ought to be asking what’s to be done.
And my point is that one of those options is rightfully to consider closing what is possibly a moribund and obsolete building.
If book sales remain significant, why not promote the environmental advantages of libraries? Seriously, isn’t the bookstore business just a massive waste of everything involved?
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p>Maybe they just need a little rebranding.
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p>I think their mission is still very valid. I don’t think they’re obsolete at all. I don’t think we should give up and shutter the buildings.
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p>Got data? I’ve got one data point, Brookline [a town, but not small]. Circulation has grown steadily over the past 10-15 years, with the only hiccup when branch libraries were closed for renovations.
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p>I’m not saying your wrong, but I am suggesting that each town’s libraries know exactly what their circulated loans were each year… what do the numbers actually suggest?
There’s data at Mass Board of Library Commissions.
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p>As a relevant example, look at Holbrook’s circ data per capita:
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p>2002-7.29
2003-6.33
2004-6.41
2005-6.47
2006-6.12
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p>Holbrook’s in Group 5, where average circulation is 8.82, so not only is its circulation declining, it’s also below average when comparing to its peer population centers.
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p>
but not time series data [like 2002…2006]. The link is good, but do you have a link to time series data?
But no time series. It’s town by town, year by year.
No way I’m going to meddle through that. Of course, I didn’t make a claim and then back it up with a single town’s data over five years… đŸ˜‰
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p>when you say scholarship applicants used the internet and not the library — do you mean they used short readings (magazine articles, web pages, blog posts by charley on the mta) and not books?
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p>ie, is book reading on the decline overall, or is % of all books read being from a library on the decline?
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p>are there annual surveys of book reading (separate from tabulations of book sales)?
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p>2. there’s a small closed “branch” library near my house. are there any good examples of repurposed branch libraries once shuttered?
I too support Libraries. As a matter of fact, I’m a Public Library Trustee, have been for several years, and regularly attend the MCL presentations.
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p>But first, it’s naive to assume that each and every one of all of the hundreds of libraries are worth the investment.
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p>It’s more reasonable to first assume that Libraries’ intrinsic value shape a bell curve: well utilized, poorly utilized, average.
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p>Then attempt to disprove that bell-curve hypothesis and claim, as the advocates seem to be doing in this thread, that each and every Library should be funded.
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p>How’s Holbrook doing and should the citizen vote to fund it?
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p>Look at Holbrook, the focus of this post: declining circulation, below average circulation. AND, expensive circulation: budget of $370K; population of 10K and circulation of items (53,000 books and 10000-20000 audio/video/downloads) at a taxpayer cost of $5.25 per circulated item. That’s expensive! What’s blockbuster? $2.00?
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p>To my anecdotal evidence. The Scholarship essay question is a very narrow question that we come up with that can be well researched at the local library in the Historical section, but there’s very little research available on the web. i.e. history of some local industry.
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p>All the essays–100%–accessed the limited web information, and none had any ‘new’ information that was very available in the library.
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p>I’m aware of closed libraries: Saugus, Northbridge, Hampden, Medway, but don’t know what’s become of the buildings. And, I know of none that have reopened.
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p>Think about it. If you are a wealthy philantropist today with money burning through your pocket, would you seek to endow a library-less town with a library, like the Carnegies of olde on the premise that you’re creating a repository of knowledge or would you seek some other use of the money?
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p>It’s possible or even probable that the money of a small town can expand its repository of knowledge more efficiently elsewhere.
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p>
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p>It appears that across the State, in all libraries regardless of size, that circulation of books is flat to slightly up, while digital, audio and video, circulation is dramatically up over the past 5 years. Makes sense.
To further your provocative question on libraries…
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p>What about SCHOOL libraries?
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p>My sense is that many have very low circulation. During the school day, low use of books themselves. Fairly low borrowing levels. Does anyone study this? Cost per book “actually read by a kid” seems high.
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p>* * *
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p>Our high school has few students who own many books. Many arrive to high school saying they don’t like to read; others kind of like to read, but are disorganized and accumulate library fines.
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p>A surprisingly number say they have NEVER read a pleasure reading book on their own, and during middle school, that they rarely read the assigned books (“You can do okay on tests just by listening in class to the teacher”).
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p>We take them to the bookstore and have them buy pleasure readying books they like (we pay, via donors). Often 8 to 10 books per year.
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p>They read em, trade em, give them to siblings, etc.
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p>
Why 2 1/2? It sounded right in 1980. Clearly that has not been the best choice. Prop 3 would have worked better. Social security payments are indexed to the cost of living. Why do towns have to turn to a divisive override of a very dumb number? Let’s be smarter about property tax.
Consumer Price Index, commonly held up as the standard measurement of inflation (SS COLAs use a variation on it). There are others that could be used. All of which typically yield numbers around 3-4%. Holding towns to far less than inflation is a recipe for disaster, and I think we’re almost done baking…
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p>Total tax levy can’t rise by more than 2.5% but when adding in state aid, most towns budget and increase spending in the 3.5 to 4.0% range.
which I don’t think is right.
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p>In fact, Prop 2.5 limits the total increase on all pre-existing property to 2.5%. Towns are often able to grow faster because of new development*, which isn’t counted in the 2.5 number for its first year.
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p>
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p> * Any construction adding to assessed value, including new buildings, additions, and renovations.
State aid for last five DOR
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p>2008-$4.782 million-5% increase
2007-$4.554 million-8.3% increase
2006-$4.206 million-decrease
2005-$4.324 million-2.6% increase
2004-$4.214
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p>Not even considering the fees and other income sources like town run utlities between “fiscal 1981 and fiscal 2006, the aggregate property tax levy grew from $3.347 billion to $9.983 billion, a compound annual growth rate of 4.47%”. source: commonwealth of massachusetts information statement published by comptroller general, May 9, 2007.
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p>The current money crisis isn’t the revenue side. It’s the spending.
Certainly the internet has changed the world of reference, and the library-as-repository-of-all-knowledge model is now no longer true. But libraries have enormous value:
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p>* as bookstores for those who choose not to buy
* as community centers for young and old
* as meeting places
* as places to get reference from real live human beings with expertise
* as places to learn and explore
* as museums and experiential centers
* as stages for listening to books and hearing spoken the written word
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p>Not only does it behoove the libraries and municipalities to adapt, but I think the certifying authorities must adapt as well. I do not know if the Mass Board of Library Commissioners has changed any requirements for certification (from hours of operation to per capita expenditure on books, etc) but that too must be done. This threat of decertification based on an outdated model should not held at the throats of the town meeting voters or override voters.
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p>Back in the 1970’s busing was chosen as a solution to desegregation. Magnet schools–specialized institutions of learning–were ignored as an alternative. A generation later, they appeared after the huge demographic changes that busing wrought. Perhaps libraries and their organizations could consider “magnet libraries?” One town could focus on a collection of visual arts, another on agriculture and ecology, one on life sciences, a neighboring town on vocational collections. Interlibrary loans still work… libraries can customize and focus parts of their collections–and perhaps even reinvigorate and reinvent themselves…
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p>If the old model no longer works, do we just shutter them in favor of the new technology? Or do we work to reinvent them to keep them useful for all of their purposes and to serve their communities and constituencies?
Libraries aren’t just places for research and reading, they are crucial public spaces to hold forums, community meetings, and any number of events. Anyone concerned with collective action (which is presumably 90% of the people on BMG) should be concerned about keeping our libraries vibrant and viable. As everyone starts Bowling Alone, we have fewer and fewer community spaces where people can meet, achieve common goals, and build social capital.
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p>Also, RE Randolph’s library. Many residents believe that the town held the library hostage by cutting hours and threatening to close the doors entirely in order to put through a Prop 2 1/2 override. While the override (which eventually passed) was necessary, many residents distrusted the town government’s spending (with very, very good reason) so had repeatedly knocked down previous overrides. I have no idea whether there is truth to that, but the perception exists and sounds plausible.
Parents may well use libraries more than non parents, and students of certain ages more than college students.
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p>Many of those I represent use their libraries for their sole internet access, as well. Wonder what the breakdown is for library usage by age and income?
First Comment gary if you are a Library trustee think about resigning, the job of a trustee, for any entity, is to advocate for the entity they represent. You may think by raising the question your doing your job and I don’t have a problem with your raising the questions for debate but, you defending your position far to deliberately to say you have no agenda in your question and lets face it the health and well being of the Library you represent is just not found in it.
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p>Now as far as Libraries go lets first lose the elitist in the group or maybe fire them up but a Public Free Library in a community provides services to those that have no choice to go else where, “they provide equal opportunity” to all Children, all Students, all Adults, all Small businesses, all Large Corps, and all Senior citizens, in other words everyone is treated equal. They provide trained and educated staff that can help a patron focus in on an issue or article or answer to their questions far faster then a Google search. Do you believe everything you read on the internet if you do you may be wrong up to 40% of the time just cruise through Wikepedia.
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p>Libraries are far more then buildings with books they are community space where members of all age groups come together for programs and shared interests The Public Library is far more then just a warehouse they are a place of life long learning they are the first place many child heard their favorite story read or picked up a book to learn to read with Mom and Dad at the kitchen table. How about seniors who cannot afford a subscription to the local Newspaper but can read it at the Library and stay connected to the community.
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p>It has always been my belief that government in our towns, cities, State, and Country has one product one function and only one real service and that is provides opportunity for its people and business.
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p>The Free Public Library meets that criteria 100% and with a down turn in our economy we will see more and more turn to the library to help fill the void left by the lack of buying power. Where else can you go to use a word processor to type out that resume or email it to a perspective employer or print it out for .10 a page. We need Public Libraries more now then ever before.
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p>I have yet to see a B&N that answered a reference question or a Fire Department that would let me use their computer and printer for anything. Or a Town hall that printed out or handed out the news of the week about meetings or new regulations or who was born or who died in town this week. They have functions that provide opportunity in other ways but none can do the job of your Public Library. None! So instead of questioning how do libraries need to change how about this how can we better serve the members of our communities and provide them with more hours and services so they have a better opportunity to succeed un life. Try that and move forward I think we will all do a better job advocating for our Free Public Libraries.
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p>As Usual Just my Opinions
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p>Just as a detail, I have no affiliation with the Holbrook Library whatsoever and probably couldn’t find Holbrook on a map.
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p>And to further interupt your rant, would you aagree that a library with a circulation of
0should close?<
p>How about a library with an item circulation of .16 per year per resident — should that continue to be funded?
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p>Seriously, I can boviate all day about how libraries are the repository of knowledge, the equalizer of all classes, creed and colour beneath a building which is a shiny cathedral on a tall hill of knowledge casting a beacon of light which is learning to all who would gaze on it.
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p>But, if no one goes, or not enough, should you fund it.
I will chime in as both the town Democratic committee chair and library trustee. I believe that, among other things, the backbone of the progressive/liberal tradition over the last hundred years or so is the trilogy of public schools, public libraries, and public spaces. All three are vital to creating an engaged and enlightened citizenry. Massachusetts pioneered in all three areas.
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p>Libraries are about more than borrowing books. They offer information in multiple formats and media; from the internet to CD’s/DVD’s/ to Books/Magazines/Newspapers. They provide a public space for all; in some towns it’s the only true public space. They provide important meeting room space.
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p>We had double digit growth in patronage and circulation for many years after our renovation/expansion 10 years ago. We continue to rank among the busiest libraries in the state and are an economic benefit to the downtown; drawing in people from other towns lacking the same library resources. The library enjoys a high level of support from the town. Some even argue that our video collection helped put the small local Blockbuster out of business. (Personally I think poor management and Netflix did more, but we do have a good video collection)
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p>That said, like every other business, the internet is changing libraries. As more information goes digital, and is then available through the internet, the old library model needs to change. We are seeing a leveling off of adult circulation and a slow drop in young people patronage. Partly because a couple of neighboring towns have resurrected their libraries; mostly because kids and technology are changing. Even my own kids, who grew up in the library, use it less.
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p>How can/should libraries change? Damn sure I don’t have the answer, and smarter people than me are struggling with the problem. The library commissioners are working on it, the American Library Association is working on it, Library Science Schools (most now called Library and Information Science Schools) are working on it.
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p>We could all just become a “poor man’s” Barnes and Noble/Amazon, wi-fi hotspot, or internet access resource. That need will always exist, but I am not sure that’s a long-term solution. The library science and reference need will always exist (the internet could use a healthy dose of it), but I am not sure how a local library fits into that.
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p>I don’t think there will be one answer. I think each library will evolve to best meet the needs of its town and patrons. Here’s my 2¢’s on the issue:
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p>1. Partner better with the schools and their libraries. Especially in the middle/high schools. The books and resources the kids need are in the school libraries; which we lock up shortly after the schoolday ends, and all summer.
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p>2. Rethink the space #1. We have a chance to bust out of the stuffy dusty old library model of books on shelve and dead silence. Go beyond the stuffy dusty book discussion group model. Act out Shakespeare, hell run “rewrite Shakespeare” or play writing workshops; poetry reading/writing workshops; music discussion / playing groups; whatever. Rethink the role of “physical” information storage/retrieval/delivery/discussion in a digital/24 hour news cycle world.
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p>3. Rethink the space #2. Books here, tapes there, CD/DVD/s in the basement, computers upstairs. Not. How about Art books/CD/DVD’s/Actual art/whatever here, music books/CD/DVD/whatever there, history … We have materials in multiple media, why not combine the media by subject and let me explore a subject across the media. I can read a book on jazz and pop a CD into a computer (right there) and listen to it, or plug in my iPod.
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p>4. Rethink the space #3. As information becomes digital, the physical collection will diminish. That will open up space for more uses, including non-traditional ones.
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p>5. Regionalization??????
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p>6. Partner with other town groups: senior center, community center, whatever, to better use all town resources to meet community needs.
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p>Change or die. Life isn’t any different for libraries. Others here are right, if your local library can’t change then maybe it should close. I strongly believe that libraries will be here and be important in another hundred years. They’ll just look different.
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p>
Gary I miss understood one of your earlier comments to suggest you were a trustee my apologies to you. My comments stand for other Trustees out there who have an agenda that Libraries are not a foundation service to a community. Gary your suggestion of a Library so dysfunctional that it would provide no service is to far reaching a hypothetical to justify a comment about libraries here in Massachusetts. But if you know of one I would love to know about it because it must be a dinosaur.
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p>I don’t know of a library that has not changed in Massachusetts from the branch I would stop into on my walk home from Elementary school to the one in the High School and the Main Branch down town. Gone are the shushing librarians and in their place are dynamic professionals who will stand with you on a computer and guide you through the process. Meeting rooms full of Little League registrations on the weekend. How about the Murder Mystery Theatre in the local library with local would be actors or the video tapes or cd’s or dvd’s that are in the stacks today or the books on tape. Libraries evolve cities towns all evolve some more slowly then others. I can’t think of a town that still has a horse drawn fire truck or a bucket brigade for that matter or a policeman walking a beat on Main Street and carrying a nightstick made of wood.
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p>As with all things that remain they change and Libraries do as well.
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p>The ???? about rationalization I would simply ask this to you with $4.00 a gallon gas and the public assessment that we will soon see $200.00 a barrel crude which equals $6.00 Plus a gallon Gas who is going to be able to go a city or town over to use a library how about 2 towns over it will cost more to drive b past B&N and buy the book then it will be to get to the local Library.
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p>One last comment and this is about School Libraries. The High School I attended was new at that time and had a great Library the books were new bought with I would guess the bond money back then when they built it. I was back their last year for an event and the Library has not changed most of the shelves are still half empty and finding a new book was a real stretch. Schools have a priority list and first and foremost is to educate in tight economic times things like Libraries and building maintenance are the first things cut and in our current down turn since 2002 show me how many new books hit the average school library in a Massachusetts community. School Libraries can be a partner with the Public Library maybe even a branch but not the only Library in a community because when the money gets tight and the school committee needs to make choices the teachers, the text books, and the curriculum come first and all else is expendable.
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p>It is time to stop looking at which bill we won’t pay this month or which service to sacrifice and realize that the services we have made a part of our society are all equally important. The broader question is not how much it costs but how we can raise the funds fairly that will provide the maximum opportunity for all.
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p>One last comment and fact back in 1950 the tax rates were significantly different then they are today may I suggest you look at this web site for the facts you will see corporate tax rates of 47% and excess profits tax of another 30% if we had those today at the Federal level we would one not see the deficit we currently have and their would be revenue sharing to the states Cities and towns as their was then. By the way the 50’s were one of the good decades for our economy and showed great innovation and expansion.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org…
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p>Think About It
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p>Just my opinions as Usual