[Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

[Mary Soucie]

Joe,
I think personnel is usually about 60-65% of the budget- at least that's
the case here. We are actually at less than 60%.

Here in IL we have numerous taxing bodies- someone recently told me we
have more independent school districts in IL than in any other state. 

Our community is pretty independent and I can't see them wanting to hand
the library over to a corporation or to confirm to the rules in another
community. 

As Jim Casey said, we are less than 4% of the total tax bill, as is the
park district. Our school, city and fire district are the largest
chunks, followed by the county and the community college.

I sure hate to see this happen because often when profit is the goal,
the service to staff and patrons goes down in quality. It seems like it
should be the other way around but that hasn't been my experience. 

I wish the best of luck to our colleagues in this situation.


Mary J. Soucie, MLIS
Library Director
Wilmington Public Library District
Visit the world @ your library(tm)
201 S Kankakee St
Wilmington IL 60481
(815) 476-2834
mjsoucie at wilmingtonlibrary.org
 
Wilmington Public Library District is committed to providing excellent
comprehensive service to its community.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Joe Schallan
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 2:52 AM
To: Publib Publib Discussion
Subject: [Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

An Associated Press story on library outsourcing -- with the focus on
LSSI and Jackson County, Oregon -- was one of the lead items in
tonight's Yahoo news summary:

http://tinyurl.com/2hkcwe

In other words, the story has hit the national media, not just LJ and
American Libraries.

The main expense in operating a public library isn't the furniture or
books -- it is us, the library staff.  I believe we typically account
for around 80 percent of that expense. (Perhaps some of the budgeting
wonks on the list can confirm/correct.)

If a company comes to your beleagured library, and tells you it can
re-open it, albeit with having the doors open fewer hours, and do it for
far less money than you spent previously, then you as a public official
may be highly interested in the proposal.

The company will not only save you money but make a profit for itself.
How?  But slashing the number of staff and by deeply cutting the
benefits of those who remain, who are now company, not public,
employees.
Your govenment-employee pension is gone, poof!

In short, those in charge of local government spending can realize a
much lower operating cost by directing attention to the largest
component of expenditure -- staff.

I have previously reported to Publib on a growing taxpayer rebellion
against government employees and their benefits, which now are typically
much, much better than Americans working in the private sector receive.

Would you rather be on your city's/county's benefit plan or on
Wal-Mart's?

One thing I feel confident in predicting is that as the American
economic decline continues and resistance to taxes grows, the budgets of
local governments will grow tighter and tighter.

In such an environment, how do you keep the public library open?

Are we seeing the handwriting on the wall?


--Joe Schallan
    Phoenix
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