[Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

[Sue Kamm]

> [Original Message]
> From: Joe Schallan <jbsphx at cox.net>
> To: Publib Publib Discussion <publib at webjunction.org>
> Date: 10/5/2007 12:55:23 AM
> 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?
One issue I haven't seen addressed in this whole contracting-out business is that librarians can't seem to prove that a for-profit organization can indeed operate a library at a lower cost than the publicly-run library staff.  Librarians should prepare systems analyses showing the actual cost of selecting, acquiring, cataloging, and processing library material.  Such analyses would include overhead costs ("rent" for space, electricity and other utilities, equipment purchase and maintainance), personnel, and the price of the item.  I think if such costs were calculated on a per capita basis for the population the library serves, we would come out at least as cost-effective as a private contractor.  

When the Riverside (CA) City and County Library system split, I don't think the county supervisors ever investigated how much they would have to spend to operate the library with their people.  

Those of us who have been around a while may recall the hoo-hah generated by the Hawaii State Library (which operates public libraries in that state) when they apparently contracted out their collection development to Baker & Taylor.  

This, as that great philosopher L.P. Berra once said, is deja vu all over again.
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