One of the latest trends coming out of the current recession is outsourcing. For instance, a private company in Maryland is taking over libraries across the country, including in California. With success this private company, Library Systems and Services, have become the fifth-largest library system in the United States. The question now is whether this will be the new model for all libraries or is privatizing libraries a temporary trend in response to economic desperation.
Personally, it has been years since I have entered a community library. My memories are not fond of the dull experience the library had to offer. However, presently things may be different. The only other things I remember about community libraries were that there were tables and chairs, and countless, neglected, dusty shelves of books. Also, to rent a book there was a one-time fee of fifty cents for a library card that had your name and address.
In some hopes and dreams, Libraries might have more to offer to the public by being run by a private company such as Library Systems and Services, such as cleaner shelves. So what if individuals had to pay out of pocket for their library experience; they would probably appreciate the experience much more.
Furthermore, paid tax dollars support libraries, so in a sense, the public currently does pay out of pocket for community libraries, and even those who do not even visit the library pay for it. If libraries were run by a private company only the people who had a desire or need to go to a local library would pay for it.
Financially, this could also help the state budget, because it is one less program that needs funding. Also, as a private company that means they would have to pay taxes as well.
Yes it is a risk, a very small risk. On the other hand it could succeed enormously and the public and state will be able to reap the benefits. In the best case, privatizing public libraries could be so successful that there is a large profit margin. As a result this could create more jobs. With nearly a 13% unemployment rate in California it would slightly insane to pass up an opportunity such as this.
“There is no evidence that outsourcing per se has had a negative impact on library services and management. On the contrary, in the main outsourcing has been an effective managerial tool, and when used carefully and judiciously it has resulted in enhanced library services and improved library management” concluded Robert S. Martin, Ph.D., in “The Impact of Outsourcing and Privatization on Library Services and Management: A Study for the American Library Association.”
Privatizing libraries might be reducing the all-American, community feeling that libraries once were. But it is now the 21st century and change is happening, and it is good. What use to work then does not mean it works now and that can be said to more than just our libraries.
when i think of libraries, i think of those individuals who are able to access the internet to search for jobs or do research for class because they do not own a computer. not everyone can afford to make purchasing a computer and internet service a priority.
ReplyDeletealso, i think of the community events put on by libraries, such as children's reading circles. a lot of the people who take part in such events like reading circles are those parents of young children who cannot necessarily afford the opportunity to expose their children to the arts but in this small way, they are instilling in their children a love for and interest in literature.
just this week i participated in a Yolo County library's voting event, from which i actually learned a lot about political reform.
if libraries are privatized, would we have to pay for this as well? libraries are a way for motivated individuals to gain knowledge and attempt to take advantage of whatever social mobility we have left!
Interesting column. It does neglect to look at the issues of what might go wrong with a private library system.
ReplyDeleteFor example, suppose the owners of the library decide that they don't want books by women, or conservatives, or for children?
Or charge an admittance fee.
The columnist's complaints about a particular library are a good personal touch, but harder to extrapolate to making all libraries private domains.