[Publib] Marathon County Devalues Librarians and Library Service

[Patty Dwyer Wanninger]

Marathon County adminstrator Mort McBain told the Libvibe Internet news 
service that all this fuss in Marathon County about library services is 
being created by the 1 or 2 people affected, and that in fact, this is 
happening all over the country and that Marathon County is using "best 
practices." He then gives an example to show that there is no need for 
libraries at all when people can just use the Internet. "If you had a 
medical question would you call the library and ask the librarian?" he 
asks, saying that he would never go to the library for medical 
information; it is much more sensible to just use the Internet and then 
call a medical person.

If Mort McBain and the director and trustees of the Marathon County 
Library go unchallenged by the library profession, public library 
service everywhere is at risk. Although it has always been the minority 
of our citizens who were smart enough to avail themselves of reference 
service when they have questions about medical issues, real estate, 
writing a business plan, etc. the fact is, by our selection of and 
access to authoritative materials, the information staff of the public 
library have not been replaced by Google.

I hope you will join me in contacting these people and explaining that 
they are not in fact practicing "best practices," unless they are 
practicing to be a park pavilion or swap meet.

Mort McBain, Marathon County Administrator
Mort McBain, Administrator  
*Phone:* 	715-261-1400  
*Fax:* 	715-261-4173  
*E-mail:* 	Contact Us <mailto:administrator at mail.co.marathon.wi.us>
*Address:* 	Marathon County Courthouse
500 Forest St.
Wausau WI 54403  

administrator at mail.co.marathon.wi.us

Marathon County Library Board

The Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees, commonly known as 
the Library Board, operates under Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  
The Board is comprised of  seven members appointed by the Marathon 
County Board of Supervisors: two members of Marathon County Board of 
Supervisor, a Superintendent of  a Marathon County school district, and 
general public representatives.

*Current Board Members:*

    * Gina Cornell (President)
    * Tim Gierl (Vice President)

	  	

    * Roger Zimmerman
    * Paul Buchberger
    * David Echmann

	  	

    * Scott Winch
    * Audrey Ascher

300 North First Street, Wausau, WI 54403

Director
The library director is Phyllis Christensen.




-- 
Patty Dwyer Wanninger
Library Director
Manitowoc Public Library
707 Quay Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
P - 920-683-4863 ext. 337
F - 920-683-4873
The views, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message are solely those of the author. The message contents have not been reviewed or approved by the City of Manitowoc.