[Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

Fri Oct 5 13:04:12 EDT 2007

Jim said:

In situations I have noted where LSSI is retained, it seems that
governing boards feel that better management is required or they have
been "burned" after hiring incompetent or dysfunctional directors
through a regular hiring process.  The Boards want to "get it right"
when it comes to library management rather than to simply shrink
expenditures. 

My response:

I think what you are saying is often true but that is not the situation in Jackson County.  They were a very well run library system.  Their funding levels were lower than other libraries of their size and yet they provided some of the best library service in the state.  

The Jackson County case has so many levels that I don't think anyone can up with one reason for why they are in this current situation.  However we do know that none of the reasons had anything to do with library management.

The main issue is the loss of Federal forest money.  The county did not prepare for the loss in the way some other counties in Oregon have.  My county is going to feel the affect a bit in infrastructure, particularly roads, but they have been preparing.  When people retired their positions were not filled, etc.  In Jackson County the County Commissioners decided to cut funding to the libraries and probably some other county service when they lost the Federal funds.  Now that they have one year of funding they are putting it back into the library at a reduced rate.  One year of Federal funding is being used to keep the libraries partially open for 2 1/2 years.  

Since LSSI is a private company we do not know what staff will be paid.  We do know that library staff will no longer have a union contract.  The hours the libraries will be open are very limited so I would doubt that many of the staff are being hired on a full time basis.  At this moment it is unknown how many will be librarians and how many will be support staff.

I just wanted to emphasis that in this instance LSSI coming in is NOT a response to poor management of the library but related to many other county, not library, issues.

--
Diedre Conkling

  Lincoln County Library District
  P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
  Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
  http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
  Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
  Home:  diedrec at charter.net

---- James Casey <jcasey at oaklawnlibrary.org> wrote: 

=============
Joe:

While saving money is always high on the agenda of hard pressed local
governments, exactly how much savings would be realized by the total
outsourcing of a public library?  In the larger scheme of things,
probably not a whole lot.  Public libraries already operate in a cost
effective manner and require only a tiny fraction of the funding
required by most other public entities.  Our own Oak Lawn Public Library
is among the better funded public libraries in South Suburban Chicago.
Our budget is about $4.5 million and salaries/benefits to staff are
pretty decent.  Starting salary for a new MLS is $38,305 in 2007.  About
90% of our total revenue comes from local property taxes.  Yet, the OLPL
accounts for a mere 3.5% of the total property tax bill --- about 3.5%
of the property taxes collected.  The public schools, on the other hand,
draw some 60% of the property tax bill, have average teacher salaries at
the $75,000 range with many earning over $100,000 and administrators
earning $150,000 to $250,000 per year.  In the final analysis, public
libraries don't represent a particularly pricey portion of the tax
dollars expended.  We are not unionized (for the most part) and not
particularly extravagant.  A total "shake out" of the public library in
a given community probably wouldn't save the average tax payer more than
$50-$100 per year (the cost of subscribing to the local news paper) and
would represent a smallish contribution toward the rectification of a
budgetary crisis.  

And, let's face it, Libraries provide the general public with service 7
days per week during the school year and have evening and weekend
service that most publicly funded entities wouldn't even consider.
Taxpayers are upset with public employees who are perceived to be lazy,
expensive and don't deliver good service.  Libraries render far better
service and generally have a far better profile among taxpayers than
other public entities.  In a survey done through our Library Newsletter
in 2004-05 (going to 22,000 households), over 83% of the respondents
rated our service good to excellent.  Public libraries invariably give
the taxpayers good value for the relatively modest sum of tax dollars we
expend.  

In situations I have noted where LSSI is retained, it seems that
governing boards feel that better management is required or they have
been "burned" after hiring incompetent or dysfunctional directors
through a regular hiring process.  The Boards want to "get it right"
when it comes to library management rather than to simply shrink
expenditures.  

James B. Casey --- My own views
Director, Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member

-----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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