[Publib] Getting the word out

[Donna W. Howell]

Unfortunately when we have to cut services and people do notice, they don't
get angry with the people who fund us.  They get mad at the poor overworked
person behind the desk!  They will complain and moan and yell at the library
workers and no matter how much you try to explain, they will invariably tell
you, "well, you could do better if you wanted to ..." Been there, done that!


Donna W. Howell, Director
Mountain Regional Library System
698 Miller Street, PO Box 159
Young Harris, GA  30582
(706) 379-3732
howelld at mountainregionallibrary.org
www.mountainregionallibrary.org

"We make a Living by what we get, we make a Life by what we give." -- Sir
Winston Churchill




-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Sue Kamm
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 12:34 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Getting the word out


It's time to stop being nice and provide adequate service with
less-than-adequate staff numbers and materials budgets.

If the library is closed once a week (excluding Sunday), people will notice.
If the library must reduce  or eliminate value-added services (such as
Internet access), people will notice.  If there are fewer staff available to
work public desks, and services such as telephone reference are eliminated,
people will notice.  If children's programs, such as class visits in the
library or storyhours because the children's librarian must spend all
his/her time on the desk, people will notice.  If new materials are not
cataloged, processed, and placed on shelves quickly, people will notice.  If
materials returned from circulation are not re-shelved promptly, people will
notice.  If custodial service is reduced,  trash cans are not emptied, and
restrooms cleaned every day, people will notice.  

I don't know whether there are statistics on the number of library workers
who leave their jobs because they are being asked to perform two other
people's jobs plus their own.  The stress caused by this work situation can
lead to other illness, particularly heart disease and ulcers.  If a
jurisdiction's workers' compensation costs go up, administrators should
notice.


Your friendly CyberGoddess and Councilor-at-large,
Sue Kamm
Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA
Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000
email:  suekamm [at] mindspring.com
When you absolutely, positively HAVE to know, ASK A LIBRARIAN!
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