Friday, April 16, 2010

A Library Challenge

I realize that government programs are cutting back all over the country. I just hope that other states and counties are showing more wisdom in their decisions than my own. These are our elected officials, and one would hope they were making their decisions in accordance with their voters' preferences in mind. Today, I'm challenging you to make your preferences known.

Today, when I took my daughter to story time at the library, the librarian wasn't there to start on time. All of us looked around, wondering what was going on. Miss Debbie is NEVER late. She came in about ten minutes after she usually starts, trying to look cheerful, wiping tears off her face, explaining this is the last month she will be able to have story time.

Our library district offered over ninety of their most expensive (most tenured) employees a buyout option. Only about twenty of those employees took the option (including our two most tenured local librarians), which means the library district is looking at a lot of layoffs. This isn't cutting the fat; it's more like amputating the heart. I can't imagine what our library will be without these women. Although, our other librarians are also wonderful.

On the bright side, we get to keep our library, and there's a possibility we won't lose any more librarians because we have such high circulation numbers.

If libraries are important to you, please, visit yours and take home some books.

24 comments:

  1. Yeah, I was pretty much devastated to receive Miss Debbie's letter telling us about the end of story time. And Joey brought it up in story time today and she broke down crying. She loves these kids so much, and they love her to death too.

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  2. Oh, I'm so sad for you! We go to story time every week, too. It would be horrible if it ended. I feel your pain!

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  3. I was there with Rorie today and while she was crying I was crying with her. I am saddened to know that my other children will not have her around and have the same opportunities that Brady and even Lani have had. So sad! It makes me cry to think about it!

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  4. So very sad. It's scary to see how often this is occurring all over the country. Our school district just announced they will be cutting all Phys Ed, Art, and Music programs, possibly the librarian's salary too.

    You said it perfectly: they want to cut the heart out of things and bleed life of its vitality rather than trim fat. If you ask me, the Devil has them by the throat.

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  5. I have felt similar devastation about our libraries. They are probably going to close the library down that we have been going to for years. I know there's no money, but it just seems wrong to get rid of a library. Like a giant step back in the cultural evolution of our society.

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  7. Wha...? Your library district is my library district!

    I was already planning on paying our little branch another visit tomorrow, but now I'll have to round up a posse and make sure everybody's checking out enough books.

    Oh, and government officials, if you're reading this, I've got a great idea for you: CLOSE THE LIBRARY ON SUNDAY. That should save you some money, and honestly, what other government office is open on Sunday?

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  8. That's devastating...so sorry to hear that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention - I really hope they don't cut down too much at my local library, but we'll keep checking out plenty of books if that's what it takes.

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  9. We have a Miss Vicki who my son loves. I can't imagine what the library would be like without her. We are devoted patrons of our library. Long live children librarians. Stupid government officials.

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  10. Oh my goodness, that is just awful. My heart goes out to those ladies.

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  11. Oh gosh that's awful.. I'm so sorry to hear it!! But it helps so much to have people like you spreading the word about what's going on. Now, more than ever, we need to support our libraries. I can't imagine the world without them.

    Thanks for this post.

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  12. Jackee, yes, they are forcing experienced teachers into retirement, just like they are forcing the experienced librarians. I realize these teachers and librarians cost more, but they are worth it! And they better not touch the library and music programs at our elementary school.

    And we see the government creating jobs that don't matter, like our local septic tank inspector. Or giving the upper school administrator $20K salary increases, when they've just made teachers take a pay cut. But I shouldn't even start on government spending.

    Hillari, I'm with you. Libraries are important.

    Krista, our library is closed on Sunday. And, yes, make that trip.

    Maya! Why aren't I following your blog? I bet you've been posting poetry all month that I've been missing.

    Jesse, devoted library patrons are the people who keep our libraries open for everyone. Thank you.

    Yes, B.J., it is.

    Tahereh, thanks for your comment. And congratulations on signing with such a cool agent.

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  13. Cutting back on staff is not the way for a Government to get the economy rolling again.
    The tragedy is this sort of cut will do nothing.
    Nothing but tear the heart out of communities.

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  14. Oh! That's so sad. Our library has cut back on hours, but that's it so far. I love storytime. I can't imagine our week without it!

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  15. I am afraid that libraries will soon be mothballed due to the internet -- just like music stores {Sam Goody's} and DVD rental outlets {Blockbuster & Hollywood video}.

    The government has always been short-sighted. Penny wise and dollar foolish. Quality does not compute. The bottom line {cost} does.

    The government in cost-cutting is fragmenting further the local communities, isolating them away from a communal spirit. Economics is crowding people into spiritless cities and isolating them into blocks of people huddled over computer keyboards or looking blankly at cheap-to-make reality TV programs.

    My prayers are with Miss Vicki, who must be feeling cast aside and adrift, and your daughter who must be confused at the "wisdom" of the adults running her city and state.

    Have a better week, Roland

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  16. That is dreadful. We visit our library about twice a week and I don't know what I'd do without it. Does anyone know what "numbers" the government looks at when determining cut-backs? Library cards? Checked out books? Residents in the town? ...? I'd love to know so I could try to help somehow.

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  17. This is so sad. Our library is small and part of the bank/council/post office. A local lady comes in on Mondays to do story-time. She is part of a group of volunteers who donate their time to helping out in the library. We are lucky to have these ladies.

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  18. Al, I agree.

    Thanks, Roland, but I hope you're wrong. I can't see myself or my children in the kind of future you've predicted.

    Faith, our library district has the librarians count the number of people who actually visit the library, and they look at the number of items being checked out. Visiting your library and checking out anything helps.

    Niki, we're going to set up a volunteer system for story time. Debbie said she'd leave all of her stuff for us to use.

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  19. This is like cutting music programs in our schools. It's madness. While the football teams get it all. It bothers me that our country is so nonsupportive of the arts.

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  20. This is such a shame. First the indy bookstores and now the libraries.

    Thanks for stopping by, Myrna, and commenting. Love your blog.

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  21. Oh, no!!! That is such a shame. Libraries should be the LAST thing cut. Ugh. I wonder how many other things could have gone first before the librarians...

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  22. Such a cryin' shame. We'll be there tomorrow getting our weekly LOAD up!

    Myrna...you are the BEST!

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  23. Well, hello again! I gave you an award today over on my blog.

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  24. Just went to our library last week and another trip is in the works :)

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