They voted down the library millage here

[conflictgirl]

The library millage was up for renewal yesterday. Note that it wasn't going to increase anyone's bills at all to renew it, it would just maintain things at the same level. I thought maybe it would pass, because this library system fairly recently completely remodeled or built entirely new libraries. One of them is beautiful and just got finished two months ago. I can't believe they voted it down! They're putting it back on the ballot in November, but if it fails again, they are going to have to close one of the new libraries they just built two years ago. And of course, that's the library that's within walking distance of my house.

What's wrong with people? I know that the economy is doing badly, especially around here, but the amount of money anyone is going to save by voting down the millage is almost negligible. And now that nobody has much money for activities that cost money, the libraries are even more necessary. They've actually shown that the libraries have seen record use here in recent months, especially since they opened the new/remodeled locations. But I guess everyone thinks that they should somehow fund themselves.

Is my area going to be the next that has no libraries, or worse, privatized libraries? Why is everyone so ridiculously anti-taxes that they won't even pay for services that they use?

[MichiganVote]

1. Voters may have been confused by the language on the millage

Why are people voting not to raise taxes? Because it is one of the few things they have control over anymore and they are feeling pinched economically.

[davidinalameda]

2. where is "here"

:shrug:

[conflictgirl]

3. Bay County, Michigan.

[MadHound]

4. It is the convergance of two dynamics

The first is the anti-tax dynamic, especially strong now, what with the neo-cons riding high, and economic times being so bad. If you label yourself conservative, one of your high holy duties is to reduce taxes, no matter what the tax is for, no matter how badly it will harm the community. This has been drilled into neo-cons heads until they are blind to the adverse effects such cuts will cause.

Combine this with the anti-intellectual movement in this country, of which a library is a symbol. Evil place the library, has lots of books that would be better off burned. Full of them uppity intellectuals and all their book smarts. Hell I got along just fine without a library, and look at me, makin' ten dollars an hour driving a delivery truck all day. This is the other dynamic we're confronting.

Combine anti-tax and anti-intellectual, and voila, you have your millage defeat. I saw the same set of dynamics at work yesterday in my local school bond proposal. Narrowly defeated back in April(by 21 votes), it was hoped that it would be passed in the fall, especially after spending money for mailings, signs, etc. But no, even though our local elementry(K-8) schools and local high school are busting out the seams, even though there is hardly anyroom left for one more trailer classroom, the anti tax and anti intellectual forces in the county prevailed, and shot down the funds to build our first jr. high school. And best yet, the three major players leading the charge against a new jr. high had absolutely no children, either never had any or are already out of school.

It is really sad how badly these two dynamics are ravaging our country. We are quickly morphing into an uneducated society living amongst a crumbling infrastructure whose faded glory vaguely hints at a time when our country actually cared about our collective welfare, the well being of future generations, and weren't scared shitless of using their heads for something besides a hatrack. How quickly we've fallen, and how much further are we going to fall:scared:

[nealmhughes]

5. Quite frankly, as a librarian, I have been spared the toils and tears

that beset the public libraries, as I am an academic librarian, but I follow the issues closely and write about them.

There is a strong anti-intellectual movement afoot, as well as a neo-Puritanical movement. Popular books today are a mishmash of pseudo-pundits' rants, and cheap straight to paperback fiction using a formula (lawyer, wizard, and the Rapture are currently hot) and tack on some fast non-fiction such as the fact that "There has never been a book about the Civil War that can't get published and make money" (per George Rabel in a seminar in 2002), add on some American Indian fetish books, some "conspiracy theory" and some real history and one has the basic circulation lists today.

The boards of directors are a bunch of do-gooders by and large who have to face a constantly irate county/city council who have vocal neo-Puritans and Ayn Rand devotees screaming that there is a book by Truman Capote or George Monbiot on THEIR shelves...

In this case, the pissing starts at bottom and it flows uphill...and the readers lose.

[conflictgirl]

9. I thought about going to grad school to become a librarian

I really believe in the populist mission of public libraries and I think it is work that I would really enjoy. But I see what's happening to library systems everywhere, and I think I would just end up in more debt and unable to get a full-time job with benefits. Around here - before the millage was voted down - the library system recently advertised for two part-time degreed librarians. The fact that they would hire two part-time librarians instead of one full-time librarian probably reflects the fact that the library has to cut back for budgetary reasons, but it just doesn't look good.

I've always loved libraries, ever since I was a little kid, and it's still one of my places to spend an afternoon. Now my kids were early readers and they love libraries too. It really is a shame that people are so short-sighted and have such lousy priorities. :(

[blondeatlast]

13. Reconsider--the public librarian pool is aging rapidly.

I work at one of the biggest, best PL systems in the country (not just my opinion, either).

We can't hire librarians fast enough; fresh out of school, many are graded up within a year or even less.

It's a great career. Don't be discouraged; there's plenty of work out there.

I understand your frustration, though.

Our expansion (which has been very rapid recently) has been funded with bonds; the public almost never has failed to pass a bond for us or any other city services.

[davidinalameda]

12. I hope you're not slamming on Mr. Potter

;)

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. The free library system is one strong pillar of democracy

We need to support it.

[Lisa]

7. I was talking to a branch librarian yesterday ...

... at my hometown library, and she was furious about the efforts of a neighboring city to "dumb down" their system. Apparently all the local politicians are thrilled by the sight of a library with a bunch of internet hookups, a collection that has "20 copies of the latest Danielle Steele but just try finding 'The Grapes of Wrath'" -- and hardly any staff. Basically they are trying to mimic a big-box bookstore. And -- gag! -- our city council is all jealous and is hoping to select a local branch to re-make with that goal in mind.

I agree, conflictgirl -- it's ridiculous how people will shell out for a bunch of banners proclaiming which is the town's "main street" (as if it weren't obvious!) but never mind coughing up a few bucks for the library. A while back someone posted the story about the libraries in Salinas, -- and I'm sorry to say that there are other systems which are being throttled for lack of cash (when they aren't being pestered by busybodies who want them to get rid of the "satanic" Harry Potter books).
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/12/28/Arts/steinbecklibraries041228.html

As for not being used ... for just one example, the neighborhood branch's DVD collection sees such a high circulation rate that even during the summer slowdown, barely 3% is on the shelf at any given time. (Come fall, that will drop below 1%, if last year is any indication .... I counted.) I have been helping the library stretch its collection budget by donating copies of films, especially hard-to-find documentaries and foreign movies.

[Ron Green]

8. Text-based literacy, along with context, is fading from our world.

It had a good run, about 500 years, but now the new iconography is on the way in. I'm afraid the new picture-based literature won't carry the power of the old pre-literate stuff, where epic poets sang around the campfires.

[Lars39]

10. The town I used to live in almost lost 25% of their books

because the jackasses on the County Commission wouldn't pay the fee to the state. It wasn't just the books either, it would have been internet service and a whole slew of other things.

[davidinalameda]

11. let me ask you something

is there a "friends of the library" group in your area?

if not, start one

start lighting those single candles rather than just cursing the darkness

[conflictgirl]

14. I don't know if there is one or not

What does a Friends of the Library group do? I am more than willing to vote yes in millages. But unfortunately with an unemployed husband I don't have money to donate to them, and with three kids, three part-time jobs, and a full-time college schedule, I don't have the time to donate right now either.

[davidinalameda]

15. they raise money; they volunteer; they get the word out

there has to be some sort of organization that supported the levy, no?

they help man fundraisers; my local group does a book sale a few times a year

not to take anything away from your busy life, if you have time to post on here, you have time to volunteer

you can write letters to the editor or stuff from home; I'm sure that any help would be appreciated and groups like this usually work on a shoestring with the vast majority of time and money going to the library itself

[davidinalameda]

16. let's try this again

had trouble posting just now

Subject: they raise money; they volunteer; they get the word out
Message:
there has to be some sort of organization that supported the levy, no?

they help man fundraisers; my local group does a book sale a few times a year

not to take anything away from your busy life, if you have time to post on here, you have time to volunteer

you can write letters to the editor or stuff from home; I'm sure that any help would be appreciated and groups like this usually work on a shoestring with the vast majority of time and money going to the library itself