Close City Libraries; Alternatives Exist

In the September 22nd Omaha World Herald there was a paid advertisement with the title, Close City Libraries; Alternatives Exist. You can see a picture of the ad here – jpg or pdf.

The website mentioned in the ad is here: ideas4omaha.com

September 22, 2009 by Uncategorized 8

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8 Responses

  1. StephenK says:
    September 22, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Well, their WHOIS record is fictional
    Their record data in WHOIS is quite fictional as their contact number is directory assistance. Traceroute for me stops at a 1&1 server after passing through Global Crossing on their backhaul. The domain name was registered in February and the registry information is reportedly last updated as of July 3rd. Their registrar is GoDaddy and based on their name servers they use 1&1 for hosting.

    As for the ad’s talking points, I am bothered. There is not duplication of services necessarily. There are different service populations that have separate needs. While joint use facilities are out there, just changing unaffiliated users of school & academic libraries into affiliated users would probably cost more through paradigm changes than their propounded potential savings would be.
    ________________________
    Stephen Michael Kellat, MSLS
    PGP KeyID: DC5A625B

    Reply
  2. Walt says:
    September 23, 2009 at 12:03 am

    Libertarian clowns with money
    That’s a subjective four-word description after perusing their remarkably wordy site. Another, even shorter version: IGMJ–“I’ve got mine, Jack.” Screw everybody else, and particularly screw any sense of community or the overall good.

    I’d like to think the mayor and citizens of Omaha know better. I suspect they do.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    September 23, 2009 at 2:38 am

    adults using public school libraries?
    You are going to have adults who are not teachers, staff, or parents, allowed into school libraries to check out books that are there for the students to check out? I don’t think so.
    And isn’t the selection of books in school libraries limited by what the school board allows? Unlike what is stocked in public libraries?
    They also seem to overlook the other services public libraries provide, including internet access, community programs, etc.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    September 23, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    school libraries are closing…
    My friend who teaches high school told me about her principal who closed down the school library because, said the principal, the kids could always use the public library across the street if they needed to.

    Reply
  5. Bibliofuture says:
    September 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    Joint Building
    Omaha has a new library in town that is a school/library/community center. Here is a pdf about it. The library has swinging bookshelves in it that close during the day to wall off the elementary area where the kids are. At night when school is not in session this is opened. The school area has several security features to keep people out of the school area during the day.

    Here is a news story from the local TV station that has a video that shows the moving bookshelves. Look in the upper right hand corner of the page for the video box.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    September 23, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    School libraries for public use
    Schools would have to leave their libraries open during non-school times including summer vacation. Try convincing the teacher’s union to negotiate a cost-effective staffing and open hours agreement.

    It seems to me that the ad is proposing a money savings by taking existing public library funding and transferring it to the schools, thus saving money on facilities. I’d guess that most school libraries couldn’t easily absorb (in terms of space or money or staffing requirements) the unique portions of public library services (books, reference, digital formats, meeting space, public computers etc.) they’d have to take on in order to serve both the school and public constituencies.

    Interesting idea, certainly worthy of exploraton (and it HAS been explored before), but not well-thought out.

    BTW: I know a lot of registered democrats, republicans and apolitical types who think the same way the ad’s authors do. It’s not just a libertarian thing.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    September 24, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    They are kidding, right?
    Surely you do not believe that all schools still have libraries! Schools, just like all public services in this country have been cut to the bone. You don’t have kids in public school, right? So, why should you care?

    And, no, elementary schools, if they have a library at all, have books for children K-5; middle schools, if they are lucky enough to still have a library, have books for 6th-9th grade, high schools-well get the picture? Colleges have books for education & research, that is unless they have some dean that thinks that, “The day of the library is over.” Sure they have the online databases, but do you have any idea what a subscription to these databases cost? You think tuition is high now-go only online!

    Never gone to a English literacy class at the library, have you? Didn’t need to so who cares, not me! You have an Internet connection at home don’t you? 40% of Americans just don’t. Not that you care, right? Why should you? You already know how to use a computer to stay connected in today’s world, right? Who needs those idiot computer classes at the public library? You can apply for a job online if you are laid off, right? (Majority of employers now require an online application.) So, why should you care about closing that “outdated” public library? Who cares?

    Glad to hear that SOMEONE has the money to buy books!

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says:
    September 30, 2009 at 3:59 am

    School Libraries
    Regarding school libraries as an alternative. I interviewed a school librarian in Beverly Hills , California. She only worked part time at two different campuses. She was the ONLY librarian between these two campuses. Furthermore, she stated that much of her collection was from the 1970s…not very useful for people at all. If these are the contemporary conditions in a rich city like Beverly Hills, I wonder what it’s like in Omaha.

    School libraries are going to be closed on the weekends and later during the week as well.

    Of course I am preaching to the choir here, but this is just frustrating…

    Reply

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