[Publib] Stimulus Two

[James Casey]

Sue:

I tried to push for stimulus funding for Librarian salaries and training with our State Library Association and on Council, but "shovel ready" and capital improvement meant "bricks and mortar".  Broadband is the only area where (and it is a big one) where libraries should have a realistic chance of seeing improvements via this stimulus package.   I do expect libraries to benefit mightily with FCC appointments, Supreme Court appointments, legislation, and focusing more attention/funding on domestic issues and less on the destruction and rebuilding of other countries.    James B. Casey ---- my own views.

From: James Casey
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:44 PM
To: ALA Council List
Subject: Stimulus Money for Libraries = Construction Only?

If hundreds of millions of dollars from the stimulus package being readied in Washington are being directed at libraries, shouldn't some of those dollars go to librarians or for the training of librarians?

I understand that the focus in planning for ways to use the stimulus dollars we expect may be forthcoming from Washington is on "shovel-ready" projects that can be quickly put into place.  Unfortunately, most of the biggest infrastructure deficiencies faced by Libraries are intellectual and professional rather than of "bricks and mortar".   We probably all know of situations where library construction projects dominated by architects and contractors have ended in failure due to the lack of any input from Librarians.  While "form should follow function" in building projects, it can't if there are no Librarians around who can represent the voice of function.

Perhaps hundreds of public libraries in Illinois and thousands across the country have probably NEVER had the services of an MLS Librarian in any capacity (even director).  If the stimulus package dollars could augment or match local dollars - or even assume the total expense - of providing for the services of professional librarians in some of the low budget public libraries even if only for a year or two, I believe that many millions of taxpayers could benefit and the Libraries be  brought up to a new level of service potential.   There should also be funding to offer full and partial scholarship for the training of professional librarians who would, as a consequence of the support, serve in such less desirable directorship positions.

James B. Casey -
  Councilor-at-Large





From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sue Kamm
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:37 AM
To: Backwage at aol.com; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Stimulus Two

The problem is that the funds libraries REALLY need seem to be available only on the local level.  I refer to salaries and benefits.

Buildings are only one part of a library.  Materials, online resources (not necessarily the Internet), furniture and equipment (someting that seems to be overlooked when building projects are sold to the public), and staff - both professional and support - make up the other elemens.

The ALA/APA should have been advocating to have salaries and benefits for library workers included in the stimulus package.  As a member of the ALA/APA Council, I should have thought of that.


Your friendly neighborhood CyberGoddess and ALA Councilor-at-Large,
Sue Kamm
Los Angeles/Inglewood, CA
email:  suekamm AT mindspring DOT com
blog: http://suekamm.blogspot.com
"It's time for Dodger baseball!"
--Vin Scully
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