[Publib] Getting the word out

[James Casey]

Filthy restrooms and overflowing waste baskets?  Really!

Yes, "people will notice" if the quality and quantity of service
provided to the taxpayers diminish.  And I expect that the staff
(starting with the director) will be "given notice" that
their services are no longer required.  Others will be hired
and told to work within the budget available to provide the 
services most demanded by the taxpayers.

Essential work must continue to be done and high profile, 
Popular services must be sustained.  

Our best leverage is a satisfied clientele.  If we punish our
patrons by giving substandard service, our support will vanish.

Citizens who pay our salaries are also living with layoffs,
cuts, rising taxes and crappy working conditions.  We're not
in a position to withhold service as a protest.  Teachers,
air traffic controllers, truckers, rail workers, garbage
haulers, etc. can employ various modes of extortion.  We 
don't have such leverage to "punish" those we serve.


James B. Casey --- My own views.
Public Librarian and ALA Council Member




-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sue Kamm
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 11:34 AM
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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