[Publib] Essential services (was public printing)

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings, 

Not exactly, the question was how to 'save' money by
reducing services already being offered.  The fact is
libraries and municipalities never really 'save' money.
They merely reallocate funds based on perception of
value.

Because libraries actually pay back at about 8 to 1
for every tax dollar spent, the notion that cutting
services or funding to libraries saves anything is
an economic fallacy.  It generally means that something
that does not work as well with a more effective lobby
demands more funding.

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-421-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Miriam Bobkoff
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:17 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Essential services (was public printing)


I've gotten lost in this discussion. I don't think the question is whether 
printing, xeroxing and/or faxing are or are not essential services, but 
whether we must offer them as free services-- or may we charge for them 
without violating our service mission.

Are people saying they don't charge for xeroxing, or to send a fax? We 
charge for printing and for xeroxing, but exercise our discretion to give 
people free copies or printouts when it seems appropriate. Having a coin-op 
xerox and printer doesn't make the copies or printouts people need 
non-essential.


Miriam Bobkoff                     work: mkbobkoff at santafenm.gov
Santa Fe Public Library            personal: mbobkoff at cybermesa.com
145 Washington Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 955-6832
         Icarus-the-SFPL-blog  http://santafelibrary.blogspot.com
         The library's web page   http://www.santafelibrary.org

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