[Publib] Charging for Guest Use of Internet
Robert Balliot
rballiot at gmail.com
Wed Oct 21 16:18:55 EDT 2009
Library A is a successful library. You are applying the bureaucratic
notion that high use by patrons is inconvenient and must be remedied.
Use by patrons creates many opportunities for the library and for the
patrons.
Non-use removes all opportunities for both.
R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com
On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM, Steve Benson <swbenson at gmail.com> wrote:
> So please suggest a solution for a situation where Library A is simply
> being overwhemed with service demand from residents of Town B - seats
> are all full, computers have long waiting lists, newly acquired
> materials have long waiting lists, etc.
>
> How do you justify deficient service to residents paying the bill for
> library service when they are aware of inadequate library funding by
> their neighboring town? They are aware that if that other town
> provided decent library service that theirs would greatly improve.
>
> And those free roads in NY City - there has been strong consideration
> to make them fee based. The examples used stand only until congestion
> becomes an issue.
>
>
> On 10/21/09, Watson, Jamie <watson at hcplonline.info> wrote:
> > To take Robert's point to the next level....a few weeks ago I was in
> > Philadelphia. I had lunch in a local park. I don't live there or pay
> > taxes. No one asked me if I did before I sat on the bench, walked on the
> > grass,
> >
> > In New York, I took advantage of free street parking, as opposed to
> > paying for a private garage. I also walked extensively down their
> > sidewalks and drove on their roads. No one asked me to pay a toll for
> > driving up and down Broadway, but I'm sure I don't pay to keep it paved.
> >
> > We as libraries can be looked on as free resources, like parks and roads
> > and public art. Or we can be looked at as those who make everything so
> > hard, that those who MAY move into your community at some point in time
> > don't support you because they remember all the BARRIERS you set up to
> > keep them from enjoying you when they were visiting. Frankly, it's this
> > attitude that's gonna kill us.
> >
> > Jamie Watson
> > Assistant Materials Manager
> > 1221-A Brass Mill Road
> > Belcamp, MD 21017
> > Phone: 410-273-5600 x. 2276
> > Fax: 410-273-5600
> > watson at hcplonline.info
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
> > [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Robert Balliot
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:10 AM
> > To: Michael Golrick
> > Cc: publib at webjunction.org
> > Subject: Re: [Publib] Charging for Guest Use of Internet
> >
> >
> >
> > Based on this argument, native born property owners would have priority
> > access to library services. Newcomers, renters, visitors, and homeless
> > all
> > contribute less to the local economic model and would be less entitled
> > to
> > services.
> >
> > The public library movement was made possible by forward thinking
> > industrialists who recognized the value to society of providing free
> > access
> > to a collective wealth of information resources. I know of no Free
> > library
> > locally that was not endowed or created by that process. I know of no
> > local public library that was not supported by the Gates Foundation to
> > provide provide free access to computers and the Internet.
> >
> > What may be unsustainable is the bureaucracy of libraries.
> >
> > R. Balliot
> > http://oceanstatelibrarian.com <http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/>
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 9:44 AM, Michael Golrick
> > <mgolrick at slol.lib.la.us> wrote:
> >
> >
> > The fundamental issue at stake is how library service is paid
> > for.
> >
> > Some libraries have "free" in their name, but let's face it,
> > someone has
> > to pay for it. Usually it is the local property tax payer (and
> > sometimes
> > the local sales tax). The roots of the public library movement
> > are
> > primarily local, and from a time when the population was
> > generally less
> > mobile (I am thinking here of the early to mid 1800s when the
> > movement
> > started). That mind set often colors how we do things today.
> >
> > There are some places where there is significant funding for
> > local
> > public library service (Ohio comes to mind), or where state
> > funding
> > provides a subsidy (however modest) for public libraries to
> > provide
> > service to state residents (Connecticut and Wisconsin are my
> > personal
> > experiences). But even the latter require that you have a card
> > from your
> > home town library.
> >
> > Do we need to rethink our model? Probably. Should we be as
> > flexible as
> > possible? Yes. But, as someone who had to worry about where the
> > money
> > comes from, I understand the concern that a well-funded library
> > could be
> > subsidizing neighboring communities which make a conscious
> > choice to
> > *not* provide library service because neighboring communities
> > take up
> > the slack. (Look at what is happening in places like Fitchburg
> > MA.)
> >
> > Do I have the answer? No. All I can do is point to the
> > underlying,
> > fundamental issue.
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > Michael A. Golrick
> >
> > Head of Reference & Library Consultant
> > 225/342.4917 [Note new phone number]
> > State Library of Louisiana
> >
> > mailto:mgolrick at slol.lib.la.us
> > http://www.state.lib.la.us/
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Publib at webjunction.org
> > https://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>
>
> Steve Benson
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
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> https://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
>
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