Huffington Post's "Libraries in Crisis": Why it's time to speak up for our libraries

LINK

Based on my extensive monitoring of U.S. public library developments (and there's been a distressing amount of news to monitor), the subhead -- Why Yours Might Be Next to Close -- strikes me as a tad sensationalistic. 

Sidebar: 

• The more likely scenario.  Budget cuts result in fewer staff, reduced hours, and squeezed materials budgets. 
• Probable causes for library closures:  (1) main library trumps branches; (2) extreme poverty; and (3) municipal bankruptcy (but with volunteers to the rescue, in this case.) 
• Biggest bullet dodged in 2011:  Troy (MI) Public Library.

But, hey, if a screamer gets more people to advocate for libraries*, I'm all for it.  (*Note to self:  LD&L need to provide advocacy tips for county and local situations.)  Better to have our supporters speaking up than my reading a variation of this deflating statement again:  No residents spoke at the public hearing on the budget.  (And these are hearings on a county or municipal budget in its entirety, not just library portion of it.)  It's a report I've encountered too many times already these past few weeks.  (As they say, democracy is a participatory sport.)

Anyway, Beth Yoke, Executive Director, Young Adult Library Services Association, sent out this email to members yesterday.

The Huffington Post has created a page called “Libraries in Crisis” where it is gathering articles and blog posts about threats to public libraries across the US. It can be found at : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/libraries-in-crisis/. You can share your own stories or information by commenting on the posts that are already there. You can also email any of the posts to friends and advocates, Tweet about them, or ‘like’ them if you have a Facebook account. Please feel free to forward this information to any library colleagues or advocates who might also have a story or information to share. Thanks for all that you do to ensure teens have access to great library services and resources!

Hat tip to Rhonda Puntney, WLA President











Across the pond, subhead-worthy carnage is taking place @ UK public libraries.

This map contains about 100 pink dots -- my vision blurred trying to count them all -- indicating the number of UK public libraries "forced to close".  But people are fighting back.