[Publib] Stimulus Two

[James Casey]

Illinois Library Association gathered up a listing of "shovel ready" projects from libraries around the State of Illinois and have them in readiness in the event that  opportunities unfold for which we can grab some of the money.

http://www.ila.org/advocacy/construction.htm

I don't think that ALA is as much on the direct "firing line" when it comes to spending stimulus money on specific projects as are the State Libraries and State Library Associations.  I don't think that anyone is doing a particularly bad job.  ALA Washington Office has been pushing expansion of broadband to rural areas for years and it seems that we might see some progress in addressing that critical need.   It won't help our particular library, but it could help libraries across the country and improve library service immeasurably.

James B. Casey - My own views.
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member since 1996.

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Robert Balliot
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 6:01 AM
To: Backwage at aol.com
Cc: NEWLIB-L at usc.edu; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Stimulus Two

Howdy,

What role do you really think ALA should have in planning - other than to support equal access to services and collective
information resource. They are not a construction funding authority. The lead role for stimulus funds would be with
IMLS and State Library Boards and Agencies.

I  planned, raised 1.7 million in funding, and completed a small library renovation.  The entire process
took about three years.  The idea and demand for renovation had been around for about ten years before I arrived -
but it never took off.  The planning process is expensive and time consuming.  I am not sure how most libraries
could afford to create plans around the idea that there might be a federal stimulus package.

On the other hand, as subordinate government entities to Towns and Cities there is the possibility to take
advantage of alternate energy intitiatives and reduce operating costs.  Wind turbines and Solar  additions to  the
grid are great long term investments.

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com<http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/>



On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 9:29 PM, <Backwage at aol.com<mailto:Backwage at aol.com>> wrote:
When you look at the stimulus bill, or the spending as it occurs, remember that the spending for facilities, construction, renovation and the like is prioritized for projects which are, or can be ready within 120 days.

Taking a look at the list of major construction categories, we find that most of these were the sort of thing that had been planned for quite some time:  military and government facilities; local city building and road projects, and of course, highway and transportation funding.

What this means is that contractor associations, industry groups and often trade unions have put forth plans developed over time and held for just such occasions.  There is nothing "overnight" in this stimulus bill.  Almost everything goes through ordinary channels; only the amounts and time of release are in doubt until the end.  It must be emphasized that you get your money years after you begin asking and planning for it.  Library districts are familiar with this sort of thing; they know the budget cycle as well as any other agencies of government.

So, what does it say about the library as an industry, that it can't plan ahead enough to cash in when money is made available?  The most likely excuse will be that libraries are small units of individual governments, but that is ridiculous.  You will note that the stimulus bill will provide great gobs of millions in grants to local government agencies.  If libraries don't have plans, it is because they can't plan.  Mind you, there are organizations such as the League of Cities which offer guidance to municipalities in getting their share of government monies, and state business associations and other entities, too.  But there is no national library organization to do the same thing in our industry.

The library doesn't have a national advocate.  It doesn't have an organization to put together and promote plans for getting federal money.  Worse if it does, because, if it is assumed that ALA did actually work toward that end through its lobbying arm, then the results are simply terrible, practically nothing.

Tell me, while I was out, letting my ALA membership lapse, did some current or past ALA official make a valiant effort to reserve at least a few million for the library--either for structure or content?  Please disabuse me of the notion that ALA is merely an organization which works to hold two conventions a year, whose purpose is to raise enough money to staff a national office whose purpose is to hold two conventions a year.

In fact, if ALA is held to any sort of standard of accountability, the organization fails except in the area of intellectual freedom issues.  Some discussion of why is in order.

By the way, today I've received a dozen emails of support for these views from librarians who do not wish to post publicly.  More on that later.

M. McGrorty


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