Library Journal’s John N. Berry III throws down the gauntlet:
They have turned us against ourselves. In communities and on campuses all over America, they have convinced some of us that resources—the money—is so scarce that there is not enough to support libraries. They talk about “tax burdens” while they allow the wealthy to avoid paying a fair share …
It is not “leadership” to follow meekly a board or mayor and accept unacceptable budget reductions. A leader’s duty is to try to convince those who govern that it is their job to support the library, not to keep the lid on costs to make a provost or city manager look good.
How to prompt a Mayor.
One of our board members criticized Boston Public Library president Bernie Margolis for asking our Mayor Tom Menino for greater funding at a official dinner during their after dinner speechmaking done in good humor. On the other hand that is what we should expect of our leadership in making the unabashed call for support being increased and speaking out.
Herbert White
Herb White talked about this decades ago, when he said that librarians should always cut services first when budgets are cut. Instead, library directors have been “enablers” to politicians, so when they cut library budgets, they always accomdated the politicians by cutting staff and behind the scenes work so there would be no fallout from their poor decisions. The end result, of course, is there comes a day when the library closes. And the pharoah politicians are then astonished that lbrary directors can no longer make bricks without straw.
Those library directors who cut services first are often able to see the cuts restored. Those who were meek and refused to tweak the noses of politicians are slowly sliced and diced.
One politician recently wanted to cut all library hours to save tax money, and I suggested we close the library branch in his district instead. We haven’t heard much from him since, as he now attackes easier game.
Those libraries who cut journal subscriptions in order to have electronic journal access to fewer titles in a declining budget should not be surprised when library staff are cut and more techs are hired instead. Electronic access to journals should be the first thing to cut. No one will rail against cutting a few cataloging positions. But remove desktop access to professors, and the money will come along with the complaints.