Link to November 29 Des Moines Register article, "Des Moines libraries asked to consider volunteers".
Excerpt: Mayor Frank Cownie and City Council members this month made the request in a letter sent to the Library Board of Trustees, which came in response to citizen concerns.
Evening and weekend hours at the two branches were cut recently to help trim $535,000 from the library budget. The branches, separated by roughly two miles, now share a manager and staff.
The North Side Library "means a lot to our neighborhood," said Cathy Rosenthal, who has lived in the area since 1993. "People were pretty upset when the hours were reduced. It affected a lot of people."
Library officials have cautioned that the use of volunteers to check books in and out, resolve fines, make library cards and conduct research, among other essential services, could raise privacy and security concerns.
Not to mention the more practical considerations of recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating. And the likelihood it may take 10 volunteers to replace one half-time paid library staff member.
Related article:
Volunteers to the rescue at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. (10/17/2010)
No comments:
Post a Comment