Saving Our Libraries

Library closure…

Don’t think it can happen to your small town library?

Don’t be so sure!

Libraries must be prepared because closure sometimes comes without notice. Library funding has been cut drastically within the last four years according to the ALA.

So what can you do if your library does close? The town of Hamden experienced a closure from June 2005 till June 2006. Community members held book swaps to demonstrate the community’s need for books. While they attempted to talk to town officials, that got them nowhere. They decided to hold an advertising campaign to keep the library on everyone’s minds; put out newsletters, hold events, plan fund raisers. Look into the possibility for partial corporate financing. Use your local cultural councils to help with funding. Maybe you can charge dues from your member. Or buy promotional items and give them away, it will pay off in the future.

Think out side the box!

Dracut library closed in 1992. The town experienced financial problems. The library was only given a month to attempt to stop the closure. The director was assured that the library would never close. They were wrong. The library closed. The doors were locked. The public were shocked. The act of actually closing the library had never been done before… Ultimately, it was a good thing. It woke up the community. They realized how necessary a library is for a community. Within six months enough money had been raised to reopen the library as a private entity (while they did not stay private very long). In 2002, another referendum went on the ballot. This one was to build a brand new library. And it passed at almost one hundred percent! The community refuses to have such a thing happen again. It seems like you don’t know what you have until you lose it.

How might we prevent this?

• Develop a “Friends of the Library” committee
• Pay attention to the children programming and have your cameras ready.
• Stay involved politically but stay neutral
• Establish relationships with the community
• As a librarian do not take what happens personally...it is not about the library but about money
  

MLA Day One - Common Themes

Since there are so many of us blogging today, and many posts about the same sessions, I’ll just pipe in here with a sort of overall comment and opinion-type post. Just for the record, I am a middle/high school librarian in rural western MA, so my perspective might be skewed or different than most.

The most interesting thing I found is that during the first keynote address this morning, Callie Crossley talked about stories. Library stories. And the fact that we need to tell stories about the emotional journeys that happen in and because of our libraries. We know that libraries are havens and safe spaces for growth and learning for people of all ages, but we need to show and tell our communities the stories that we see unfolding every day because that is how we will illustrate the value of libraries, beyond just being a place to get information.

Just last week, at a Gates-sponsored workshop on sustainable technology at rural libraries (run by the fabulous Linda Braun), this same thing came up. We had a conversation, or multiple conversations, actually about the fact that we know the value of our libraries and the services we provide, but that we need to share them with all our constituents, especially the ones who don't actually come to the library. So, the real question is HOW and WHERE do we share these stories? I don't have the answer, but I'm interested in what people think.

Of course, for a whole year (or more, actually) every conference I've been to or heard about is dealing with Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. This time last year, I don't think I knew anything about it, and it was somewhat mysterious. Now, it's just everywhere and it appears that most librarians now understand and actually are using the collaborative, social networking tools that make up library 2.0. But I wonder if that's true in all areas/regions of the country.

Keynote I: Callie Crossley

Callie Crossley clearly loves libraries and librarians, and the feeling is mutual. So first she told stories about ways her life has connected with libraries: experiences in childhood, using her local Cambridge branch, her eagerness to hear Nancy Pearl talk today, mentioning that she's read Jessamyn West's blog (http://www.librarian.net, if you haven't seen it), and that she's a longtime book club buddy of Em Claire Knowles (I want to be in *that* book group!).

But do other people value the library the way we do? And she spoke of library closures and threats to library services--in Oregon, and closer to home, Medway, Saugus. How many people can articulate the benefits of the public library? Librarians have been working on expanding their mission, but that takes resources.

It's good that librarians advocate to engage the attention of the nation's policymakers. But this effort is too narrow; we need to engage the public, since as the bumper sticker says:
“When the people lead, the leaders will follow.”

"If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect."
Thomas Jefferson, Poor Richard's Almanack

Crossley herself encourages others to use free wifi at the library, encourages others to get reading suggestions there, and to get library cards. We need to “rebrand” libraries, with new terminology and imagery. We could use a tagline (e.g., “save the cheerleader, save the world"). We need to tell our stories with passion to let people know what libraries are all about.

She ended with: “Act now, tell the stories, save the libraries.”