[Publib] sacred cows

[Robert Balliot]

I think Margaret's bookmobile solution is timely and green.  Don't modern
on-line catalogs circumvent the need to carry
tons of books to people so they can physically browse and select a few?  If
UPS , FEDEX the US Mail are
already going to the neighborhood what is lost?  The point of the
bookmobiles has been outreach and the ability to
bring a small, relevant part of the collections to remote users.  Can we do
that with modern catalogs and delivering
just what they want?  I realize that not 'everyone' has online access, but
it on-line catalogs are certainly moving
towards universal availability via hand-held media.

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com



On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 11:48 AM, Margaret Neill <mneill at las-cruces.org>wrote:

>  We’ve done some trimming in our budget, the most significant of which was
> getting rid of the bookmobile. As it spent more time at the mechanic’s than
> on the road, we initially thought people wouldn’t miss it much, but we were
> wrong. There was a drive by some locals to keep it going, even though they
> could offer no way to pay for it. We replaced it with a books by mail
> service that actually gets more use than the bookmobile ever did, and with a
> few small reading rooms in some of the outlying areas of the county. The
> pro-bookmobile people sort of drifted away after that.
>
>
>
> Margaret M. Neill
>
> Library Manager, Technical Services and Systems
>
> Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
>
> 200 E. Picacho Ave.
>
> Las Cruces, NM 88001
>
> (575) 528-4043
>
> (575) 528-4030 FAX
>
> mneill at las-cruces.org
>
> http://library.las-cruces.org
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:
> publib-bounces at webjunction.org] *On Behalf Of *Rachelle Miller
> *Sent:* Friday, June 19, 2009 9:07 AM
> *To:* publib at webjunction.org
> *Subject:* [Publib] sacred cows
>
>
>
> Due to a significant loss in revenue this year and dire predictions for
> next year, we are now taking an extremely close look at all of our services
> to see what we can do without. (We’ve already renegotiated service
> contracts, reduced hours, reduced payroll, travel, supplies, the materials
> budget etc.). This includes looking at sacred cows. Some libraries are now
> doing away with paper notices for overdue items and for holds. We’re
> seriously contemplating doing away with paper notifications and using only
> email for notices but want to make sure we know all of the ramifications
> ahead of time.
>
> For those who’ve done this or are in the process, have you noticed an
> increase in phone calls? Have you had more items returned late? Have you had
> more reserve materials not picked up in time?
>
> If you use email and phone calls, how much additional staff time does it
> take for the calls and how many calls do you make a day?
>
> Is there anything else I should know?
>
> This will not be a popular decision so I’m planning to approach it as not
> only a cost-saving measure, but as a “green” measure. Any other thoughts on
> ways to gain acceptance?
>
> Also, are there any other “sacred cows” libraries have either changed or
> gotten rid of to save money?
>
> FYI, we are a small to medium-sized county district library with a main
> library, two branches (one is a local history library), and a bookmobile.
> Our budget was almost $1.8 million and is now around $1.5 million a year.
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
>
>
>
>
>
> Rachelle Miller
>
> Director
>
> *Troy-Miami** County** Public Library*
>
> 419 W. Main St.
>
> Troy, Ohio 45373
>
> 937.339.0502 ext. 16
>
>
>
>
>
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> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
>
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