[Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

[Rawles-Heiser, Carolyn]

Actually on the West Coast at least, most public library staff ARE
unionized.   The staff who may or may not be hired back by LSSI will not
be, of course.   
Based on public comments I have read in their newspaper, many people in
Jackson County believe that all public employees, including library
staff, were overpaid with extravagant benefits.   Not that that was
true, but people thought that.   Jackson County is an unusual situation
as they did not pay for their library in property taxes but instead
relied on a subsidy from the federal government from timber operations.

In Jackson County, reopening the libraries will mean much fewer staff
(one librarian instead of many, for example) and greatly reduced hours
of operation.   They will not get the same level of service as they
received before so it will be interesting to see how the public reacts
when they realize their library is only going to be open 20 hours a
week. 
Carolyn

Carolyn Rawles-Heiser
Library Director
Corvallis--Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR  97330

 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of James Casey
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 6:45 AM
To: Joe Schallan; Publib Publib Discussion
Subject: RE: [Publib] AP story on library outsourcing

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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