Public Libraries For Profit

[flashl]

In late October, Jackson County, Ore., re-opened the doors to 15 of its public libraries after a lack of funds had forced them shut on April 6—the largest library closure in U.S. history. However, as patrons returned to the bookshelves in the southern Oregon county, they learned that their libraries are now under private, for-profit management.

Oregon suffered a $150 million budget shortfall—and Jackson County a $23 million loss—in fiscal year 2007, after the federal government failed to renew a $400 million annual subsidy designed to help rural communities suffering from the decline in timber-logging revenue. Though Congress eventually extended the funding by one year, Jackson County commissioners, strapped for cash, voted to outsource library services to the Maryland-based Library Systems & Services (LSSI), which specializes in library management. Founded in 1981, the company initially operated federal libraries during President Reagan’s era of privatizing government services and contracts. LSSI now privately manages more than 50 public libraries nationwide.

Companies like LSSI focus on counties that are desperate to keep their public agencies afloat but lack sufficient funds to do so. In the case of Jackson County, officials offered LSSI a five-year contract worth $3 million annually, with an additional $1.3 million reserved for building maintenance. The deal cuts in almost half what the county previously spent.

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There's Fire sale in the U.S.

[Elspeth]

1. They starve the public sector and then take it over.

That's called privatization.

[eleny]

2. My county residents voted to increase the mil levy on property taxes

I didn't know if it would pass or not since our county was pretty conservative at the time. But it passed the library went back to its regular full schedule of hours. Not a problem with funding ever since.

I guess Jackson county must really be hurting if the residents couldn't resolve the crisis.

With fewer and fewer companies owning the airwaves & news outlets and now this scheme to control the libraries - our information will be limited to a nub if we even make it through this century.

[shraby]

3. I don't know if it's still true, but at one time

Michigan libraries were given a portion of all court fines to help fund libraries.

[kestrel91316]

4. Our library system in Los Angeles County was in a pretty sorry state

several years back. Then the citizens WISELY passed a library bond and it's been miraculous. Beautiful new libraries going up in underserved areas. Old libraries undergoing energy-eficient renovations. Total implementation of the computerized catalog and reservation system.

You can reserve any book in the entire system and they ship it to whatever branch you want (there are 60) for pickup. And you can return it to any branch in the system. Popular books, there's a waiting list that you track your progress on. I just love it. Our library system is a true gem, and the Central Library downtown is a national treasure.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Sounds like Rent-A-Book . . .