Retiring Guy's Digest: 2011-03-13

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Omaha Public Library Director Promotes the Value of Libraries

The value of a public library. (Omaha World Herald, 3/19/2011

Excerpt: I have one of the best jobs in town. Each day I have the opportunity to see the direct impact public libraries have on their communities and on the individuals they serve. Libraries strengthen cities.

In Omaha, there were 2.3 million visits to our libraries in 2010, making us one of the most visited organizations in the state. In addition, 1.3 million virtual visits were made to our website, omahalibrary.org. During those visits, customers borrowed 3.2 million books, DVDs and CDs, and more than 32,000 digital books.

Of course, these are just numbers and do not begin to share the true value of the public library. Value is found every day in the stories that unfold in large and small ways, reminding us that libraries make a difference.

Racine Public Library's After School Math Club

Wisconsin student helps his peers understand math. (Racine Journal Times, 3/14/2011)

Excerpt: Fifth-grader Sandeep Reddy approached the library counter with one question. He wasn't inquiring about a book to check out, as you might expect of someone his age. Sandeep was asking if he could run math programs for students.

"It was the first time I've had anybody in elementary school come forward with a program idea and have it very well organized," said Becky Spika, program coordinator for the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. "We met and I just was like, 'Ah! This is great. Thank you.' "

Sandeep, of Racine, ended up leading a math workshop and now, as a seventh-grader, he's in the midst of leading his fourth student math group at the library. Sandeep said he came up with the idea for the math groups and continues to lead them for one reason: to help others.

"I want everyone to have the same advantage in their life. It's not fair for them to not understand or not have their friends help them or be shunned in their classes," said Sandeep, 12, explaining he started helping dyslexic friends with math in fifth grade at The Prairie School, 4050 Lighthouse Drive, which he still attends. "I didn't just give them the answer. I pulled them in the right direction so that gave me the thought, once I was older and could think beyond my school, that I could help others."

Future of the Library Task Force to Present Report to Joint Meeting of Mecklenburg County Commission and Library Board

Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven't seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression. (3/17/2010)

Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) Opposed to Recycling Cuts in Walker's Budget

Friday, March 18, 2011

Publishers Weekly Tracks Ebook Sales

Top ebook seller

Ebooks rock. (Publishers Weekly, 3/17/2011)

Excerpt: Back in March 2000, the big publishing news was Stephen King's novella Riding the Bullet being published exclusively in e-book format. King was the first major bestselling author to publish in an electronic format. At the time, Simon & Schuster spokesperson Adam Rothberg was widely quoted saying: "This could change the model of publishing."

This year, for the first time in PW's 100+ years of annual features on bestsellers, the magazine collected statistics on e-book sales. We asked publishers (and only publishers that had print bestsellers with sales of more than 100,000 in 2010) to submit e-books with sales of more than 10,000 last year. The response from the houses was mixed. Many declined to share this information, others only submitted selected titles. Still, we collected statistics on about 275 books—enough to underscore that the publishing model has indeed changed and that what is available in e-book format is ubiquitous.

cc: Wisconsin Rapids mayor, council, county board supervisors, state senator and representative

Letter: Appreciation to the library for all it offers. (Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, 3/17/2011)

I would like to write a note of appreciation for our use of McMillan Memorial Library. The library offers assistance in every way (helping with a research problem, for example). Every movie, audio book, etc., have been made available to me just for the asking. Recently, a movie called "Fried Green Tomatoes," which is an older movie, required payment through the television network. I decided to order the movie through the library and have been able to view it for free.

What would we do without the library and its fine services to use? I appreciate the library.

Thank you for all the enjoyment you give us and the assistance that we benefit from.

Officials in Sheboygan County Correct Walker's Budget Repair Bill Math

State, local officials disagree on state budget savings. (Sheboygan Press, 3/17/2011)

Just one of numerous examples.

Excerpt: For Sheboygan County, the figures released by Walker say the county would save $2,217,294 in 2012 because of his budget measures that call for $1.46 million in state aid cuts, balanced with $3.68 million from increased employee contributions to state pension programs and health insurance coverage.

But Terry Hanson, the county's finance director, estimates the county's savings for 2012 would be $96,169, or $2,121,125 less than what the State Budget Office figures show.

The main reason, Hanson said, is because the state figures assume public employees do not contribute anything to health insurance, but in contracts already negotiated between Sheboygan County and many of its employee unions, workers already pay between 10 and 12.5 percent of their premiums.

Marshfield Public Library Provides Information on Candidates for Spring Elections

Become an informed voter at library. (Marshfield News Herald, 3/17/2011)

Excerpt: Marshfield Public Library is an important information resource. As such, the library is providing an informational display where citizens can learn more about the candidates in the April 5 election for Marshfield -- common council and school board; and town of McMillan -- town chair, constable and supervisors.

Library Director Lori Belongia said, "We applaud the candidates for their commitment of time and energy in pursuit of office. We also encourage the public to take this opportunity to become more informed about the people who will make decisions on their behalf."

Each candidate was asked to provide a photo and information explaining what he or she sees as important community challenges and opportunities, which talents, qualities and expertise that he or she brings to the position, and how he or she views his or her role in the governmental process.

An exemplary idea!

Word is Getting Out: Ebooks @ Your Library

Virtual library: E-books mean no checkout, no fines. A misleading headline. (Janesville Gazette, 3/13/2011)

Excerpt: Hedberg, like all state libraries, is part of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. The consortium contracts with OverDrive, a distributor of e-books. Wisconsin is one of its largest customers.

The consortium has more than 100,000 items available to download, including audio books, videos and music.

The consortium started adding e-books to its collection in September. The books are from all genres and for all ages. Initially, librarians focused on buying classics and now are buying bestsellers and filling in series.

More than 4,000 e-books are available through the consortium.

When more than 10 holds are put on a book, the consortium adds another copy, just like at the traditional library. Readers are notified by e-mail when their books are available.

"This is a wonderful service from the state," Kuntzelman said.

The state pays for the infrastructure, which individual libraries could not afford.

The word about the library's e-books is getting out, and staff is beginning to schedule workshops.

Patrons checked out 57 e-books in September. That number increased to 175 in February.

Fort Atkinson City Manager Sees 'Pain and Suffering' in Governor's Budget

'Pain and suffering' in Fort budget. (Daily Jefferson County Union, 3/16/2011)

Excerpt: Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget cuts place the burden of paying for necessary services onto local governments, Fort Atkinson's city manager said.

"There will be a lot of pain and suffering, but the taxpayer isn't going to be seeing anything (from the budget reductions), City Manager John Wilmet told the Fort Atkinson City Council when it met Tuesday night. "We're just bailing the state out of its deficit."

Wilmet updated the council on how the governor's budget-repair bill and proposed biennial budget are expected to affect city employees and services. He started with the budget-repair bill, which essentially paves the way for the two-year budget that would take effect July 1.

Fort Atkinson's Luther Elementary School Library Receives WEMTA Award

Luther's library 'outstanding' in state. (Daily Jefferson County Union, 3/17/2011)

Excerpt: A celebration of library learning is taking place this Friday at Luther Elementary School in Fort Atkinson.

Luther Elementary's school library program has been chosen as "outstanding" by the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association.

Nancy Everhart, president of the American Association of School Librarians, will be visiting Luther Friday as part of her tour of school libraries nationwide.

"It's just a great honor for our librarian, Michelle Maniaci, to receive this award and be represented from the State of Wisconsin and nationally as one of the finest public school libraries in the state," Luther principal Dave Geiger said.

He said Maniaci and her colleagues have worked extremely hard to make the library the focal point of the building with technology, reading and other types of instruction that take place there.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Manny Removed

Indiana library director fired, removed by police. (nwi.com, 3/17/2011)

Excerpt: Police removed the former director of East Chicago's library from the building after four board members voted to fire him due to alleged financial improprieties and convictions last year on misdemeanor charges.

Manuel "Manny" Montalvo, who has been library director since 2005, told police that the dispute would be "straightened out in court" within a few days as he was escorted from the library Wednesday. He instructed library staff to place the librarian chosen as his replacement on administrative leave, take his keys and disable his computer, but the order was apparently not carried out, The Times of Munster reported.

Four library board members voted to fire Montalvo on Wednesday while three others met separately to discuss board members' health care benefits. The board split after the replacement of two members by the mayor and school board last week. The two new members were among the four who voted to fire Montalvo.

The new appointments are being contested over alleged Open Door violations and other legal errors by Montalvo and former board attorney Carmen Fernandez, whose contract was voided Wednesday. That led to the competing meetings, The Times said.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Imagine This Headline: WLA Supports Legislators' Calls for Restoring Cuts to Library Programs

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to reach out to the Wisconsin freshman Republican legislators found here. Let them know how their constituents directly benefit from libraries. Better yet, have the people in your community who love and value libraries makes the case for you. Without these roll-up-our-sleeves, grass-roots advocacy efforts, legislators are not going to pay attention to us.

And speaking of paying attention, don't forget to keep an eye on this group.

Libraries Have Changed Even if Perceptions Have Not

Shushing the stereotypes: Librarians shed their stodgy image as the world of accessing information changes. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/2011.)

Excerpt: Increasingly, librarians find the calling straight after finishing an undergraduate program - a shift from prior years when more folks explored the job as a second career.

At the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science - which operates an extension program in Columbus - half the applicants to the two-year graduate program are in their 20s; in past years, about one-third of the students were 30 or younger.

"There is definitely an attitude that's different," said Don Wicks, interim director of the Kent State library school. "You have to be flexible and adaptive."

The Kent State curriculum, likewise, has grown to include studies in HTML coding and information architecture, among other topics.

The occupation isn't bulletproof. The 2009 state budget included a 30 percent cut in library funding that, in central Ohio, led to layoffs, reduced operating hours and smaller purchasing budgets. Voters last year, however, approved levies that helped revive some shortcomings in the Columbus and Southwest systems.

Still, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 10 percent employment growth for librarians and library assistants through 2018.

Ohio Library Council Director on Gov. Kasich's State Budget Cuts

LINK

Where have we heard this before?

Kasich's budget slashes aid to local governments. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/15/2011)

Excerpt: Doug Evans, director of the Ohio Library Council, said the cuts could have been worse.

"Considering the financial situation of the state and all the discussion about breathtaking cuts, I suggest we are somewhat relieved."

About 250 Ohio libraries rely solely on Ohio's Public Library Fund for their funding, however. For those, Evans said, "It certainly is going to have an impact."

Related articles:
Save Ohio Libraries: House Bill 318. (12/12/2009)
Latest library news from Ohio. (7/11/2009)
Save Ohio Libraries: Ohioans protest funding cuts. (6/28/2009)

The public library crisis in Ohio. (6/24/2009)

Charlotte Mecklenburg 'Future of the Library Task Force' Report to be Submitted Next Week

Panel again calls for saving libraries in low-income areas. (Charlotte Observer, 3/16/2011)

Excerpt: One of the most debated recommendations of the independent library task force - to make saving branches in low-income areas a top priority - was reaffirmed in the group's final meeting Tuesday.

The discussion came as the Future of the Library Task Force was finalizing a 64-page report that will be submitted next week to the county commission and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees.

Among the recommendations adopted in past meetings is a call for the library to shift staff so hours can be increased at the six better-equipped regional locations.

The trade-off is that up to six smaller branches might have to close, if the county can't provide more money to keep them open.

The controversy centers on a provision that three branches in low-income areas (West Boulevard, Scaleybark and Sugar Creek) be excluded from consideration for closing.

Related articles:
Recriminations? No. But you can't avoid the facts of the matter. (3/13/2011)
The battle of the branch libraries. (3/8/2011)
Survey influences Charlotte Mecklenburg's Future of the Library Task Force. (3/5/2011)
$7.50 per household per year to keep 6 branch libraries open? Sounds reasonable to me. (3/4/2011)
Up to 6 libraries could close under proposal. (3/2/2011)
Tuesday vote of Future of Library Task Force likely. (2/27/2011)
Future of the Library Task Force to release recommendations soon. (2/8/2011)
Banker to lead Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. (1/22/2011)
And what about the cost of a joint library-county study committee? (12/22/2010)
The future does not look bright. (12/9/2010)
Library boosts fines, fees. (11/23/2010)
CML libraries and parks: Survey says... (10/26/2010)
Future of the library task force. (10/21/2010)
Volunteers to the rescue. (10/17/2010)
Charlotte Observer to Harry Jones: Check your ego at the door. (9/21/2010)
County manager regrets hitting the 'send' key. (9/18/2010)
Library steering committee veers into off-road territory. (9/15/2010)
Bank of America and Carolina Panthers kick off library fundraising campaign. (9/14/2010)
Another branch extends hours thanks to volunteer support. (9/12/2010)
Volunteers step up. (9/10/2010)
2 branch libraries to open one more day per week. (9/5/2010)
Library urban legend in the making? (9/4/2010)
Library launches pilot program to expand hours with volunteers. (8/31/2010)
Group to study county library merger. (7/28/2010)
Book stores help out the library. (7/21/2010)
Libraries hope to expand hours with volunteers at 4 branches. (7/20/2010)
Another change in hours. (7/18/2010)
Matthews branch library sends out plea for volunteers. (7/13/2010)
Most county commissioners cool to sales tax hike. (7/9/2010)
New hours in effect. (7/6/2010)
Charlotte Observer editorial board laments the passing of the Novello Festival of the Book. (6/28/2010)
Shuttered branch could become Friends' used book store. (6/25/2010)
A reduced future. (6/23/2010)
Interlocal cooperation pact. (6/22/2010)
Three branches close. (6/19/2010)
Town of Mint Hill perspective. (6/18/2010)
Five towns tentatively OK $730,000 for libraries. (6/18/2010)
Carmel, two other branches to close. (6/16/2010)
Now that the ax has fallen. (6/16/2010)
Commissioners to vote on budget today. (6/15/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries: It's complicated. (6/9/2010)
Mayor wins straw vote at emotional council meeting. (6/7/2010)
Editorial: Should city 'stay in its lane' on libraries. (6/4/2010)
County commissioners restore some cuts to libraries. (6/4/2010)
Straw votes begin on Mecklinburg County budget. (6/3/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries continue to look for one-time financial help. (5/31/2010)
High school junior speaks out eloquently for libraries. (5/30/2010)
Mayor Foxx on the art of governing. (5/30/2010)
Mayor supports financial help for library. (5/27/2010)
County budget: Oh, yeah, this is fair. (5/25/2010)
Bailout proposal not gaining traction. (5/23/2010)
Library trustees vote to close 4 branches. (5/20/2010)
Mecklenburg County tightens its belt. (5/20/2010)
County manager cuts $14.7 million from library budget. (5/18/2010)
2010-11 Mecklenburg County budget to be unveiled today. (5/18/2010)
North Carolina woman plans on "going straight to the top" to keep Charlotte libraries open. (5/16/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg officials ask local municipalities for $3 million contribution. (4/30/2010Library Board chair speaks out. (4/25/2010)
County commissioners seek ways to ease library cuts. (4/23/2010)
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit. (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task. (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours. (4/6/2010)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Idaho House Passes Bill That Requires Filtering on All Public Library Computers

Continued

Idaho House passes bill on library Internet use. (Idaho Statesman, 3/14/2011)

Public libraries would have to block offensive content on computers, such as pornography, under legislation approved by the Idaho House.

Lawmakers approved the measure Monday on a 63-7 vote, sending it to the Idaho Senate for consideration.

Republican Rep. Mack Shirley's bill would require public libraries to install computer software to filter obscene materials and other content deemed harmful to minors. A previous version of the bill would have withheld public funding for libraries that don't comply, but that section was dropped amid concerns over how the state would enforce it.

Critics of the bill say it would require libraries to buy costly software that is designed to filter offensive content but may not always be successful. Shirley contends free filtering software is available to public libraries for this purpose.

Unhappy Employees Air Grievances @ the Salt City Public Library

LINK

SLC library employees slam director, board. (Salt Lake City Tribune, 3/15/2011)

Excerpt: Three employees plus a volunteer unloaded at the meeting, saying they were nervous but determined to get the message out. The unusual move follows Elder’s January overhaul of management. After all supervisors were forced to reapply for their positions, 18 people kept their jobs, four retired and five were removed from management into “special assignments.” Several veterans were shifted to different branches.

Elder defends the move as a means to upgrade library services, remain nimble and to adapt to changing needs and technologies. She told the board in January the change was remarkably smooth. Until now, criticism from the ranks has remained mostly anonymous.

Related article:
'Boomeranging twist' at Salt Lake City Public Library. (1/18/2011)
Management shake-up at library. (1/3/2011)

Potential Retirement Savings for Public Employers Under 2011 Wisconsin Act 10

LINK

Distribution of County and Municipal Aid Under the Governor's 2011-13 Budget

LINK

Naturally, I'm particularly interested in this page. Just a 5.3% reduction for the City of Menasha.

Publishers Look to Bottom Line in Formulating Ebook Policies for Libraries

LINK

Publisher Limits Shelf Life for Library E-Books. (The New York Times, 3/15/2011)

Excerpt: Publishers are nervous that e-book borrowing in libraries will cannibalize e-book retail sales. They also lose out on revenue realized as libraries replace tattered print books or supplement hardcover editions with paperbacks, a common practice. Sales to libraries can account for 7 to 9 percent of a publisher’s overall revenue, two major publishers said.

But e-books have downsides for libraries, too. Many libraries dispose of their unread books through used-book sales, a source of revenue that unread e-books can’t provide.

The American Library Association has assembled two task forces to study the issue.

Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC).
OITP E-Book Task Force.

Monday, March 14, 2011

A Community Meeting About the Future of Public Education

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Sponsors:

LINK

Books Everyone Should Read: 'Information is Beautiful' Consensus Cloud

LINK to full cloud, sources

"At the end of the day, it's all about getting children to love reading"

Teaching Kids To Treasure Books In A Changing Landscape. (Hartford Courant 'Mommy Minute' blog, 3/14/2011)

Excerpt: "It's our job to scoop up kids and families with our enthusiasm and show them how vital books are and how much fun the shared experience is," says Lynn Hidek, children's librarian and assistant director at Clinton's Henry Carter Hull Library, which has just acquired four Barnes and Noble Nooks. Hidek believes the future of books is permanently changing, as textbooks become increasingly available on e-readers. She says libraries have a long, tough road ahead.

Even though Hidek owns a Kindle, which she says is an expensive yet superb traveling companion, she doesn't believe the traditional book will ever become extinct.

"Because that turn of the page is more physical than the digital sweep of the finger," she says, "opening a real book is like opening a treasure chest or a magic box. What's going to happen next?"

At the end of the day, it's all about getting children to love reading.

"What we want is for our kids to be curious, talented, savvy readers so they can ignite their imagination," says Hidek.

Publishers Prefer Such Adjectives as 'Suspenseful', 'Thrilling', 'Heart-Pounding'

Hayes Read Violent Books Prior To Cheshire Murders. (Hartford Courant, 3/14/2011)

Excerpt: Friday's motion, which deflects much of the blame for the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and daughters Hayley and Michaela onto Hayes, contains this passage in a footnote:

"Not until after his arrest in this case did Mr. Komisarjevsky learn that Hayes, while at the Gates Correctional Institution from December 2006 to March 2007, checked out 24 fictional books, the 'majority' of which, according to the [Department of Correction], 'pertain to very violent murders to include strangulation, rape, arson, serial killing, satanic torture and the burning of victims. Most victims are women.'

"The titles include David Baldacci's 'Split Second,' Dale Brown's 'Battle Born,' Diane Guest's 'Lullaby,' Colin Harrison's 'Manhattan Nocturne,' Craig Holden's 'The River Sorrow,' Greg Iles's 'Mortal Fear,' Jonathan Kellerman's 'Twisted,' Steven Krane's 'Teek,' Rochelle Krich's 'Dead Air,' John Lescroart's 'The First Law,' Barbara Parker's 'Blood Relations,' James Patterson's '1st to Die' and 'Violets are Blue,' Ridley Pearson's 'Beyond Recognition,' Steven Spruill's 'The Genesis Shield,' Whitney Strieber's 'Unholy Fire' and Steven White's 'Harm's Way.'

Related articles:
Connecticut correction commissioner, and occasional book critic, initiates library policy review. (10/7/2010)
Connecticut state senator concerned over prisoners' access to certain books. (10/3/2010)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Indiana Gun Bill (SB0292) Opposed by Public Safety Officers and Local Officials

But then we know how selectively state legislators have been listening to their constituents lately.

LINK

Gun bill puts community safety in danger. (Indianapolis Star, 3/10/2011)

Excerpt: Imagine you are enjoying a spring day at the park with your kids and suddenly you hear gunfire yards away. You quickly grab your family and find cover only to realize the noise is coming from someone firing a gun for target practice in the same serene green space. Terrified, you call 911 to report the incident. Your trauma turns to outrage when you learn that it's no longer against the law in Indiana to shoot a gun at a city park. Worse, the police can't do anything about it.

If Senate Bill 292 passes, this scenario will be a reality facing police, city and town officials, as well as Hoosier families. This bill is a threat to public safety and attempts to repeal existing laws that are on the books in most cities and towns in Indiana. These laws prohibit the discharge of firearms either inside a city's boundaries or at specific locations, such as parks, town halls or libraries.

The NRA heartily approves, of course. In fact, they can't get enough of this type of legislation.

Recriminations? No. But you can't avoid the facts of the matter.

Study says library is funded less, cut more. (Charlotte Observer, 3/13/2011)

Excerpt: A comparison of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to those in 13 other communities shows it received below-average money from the county in fiscal year 2010-11, yet sustained higher-than-average cuts.

That's the conclusion of the independent Future of the Library Task Force, which is preparing a study on how the library can become more sustainable in the face of shrinking government support.

On average, the county library got $2 less per capita, when compared to 13 "benchmark" communities across the Southeast, task force officials say.

The same study revealed the library's 33.5 percent cut in county money was more than twice the percentage trimmed from the budget of libraries in those other communities.

Task force members admit such conclusions could be seen as accusatory - particularly given how last year's budget process damaged the relationship between the library and county.

Related articles:
The battle of the branch libraries. (3/8/2011)
Survey influences Charlotte Mecklenburg's Future of the Library Task Force. (3/5/2011)
$7.50 per household per year to keep 6 branch libraries open? Sounds reasonable to me. (3/4/2011)
Up to 6 libraries could close under proposal. (3/2/2011)
Tuesday vote of Future of Library Task Force likely. (2/27/2011)
Future of the Library Task Force to release recommendations soon. (2/8/2011)
Banker to lead Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. (1/22/2011)
And what about the cost of a joint library-county study committee? (12/22/2010)
The future does not look bright. (12/9/2010)
Library boosts fines, fees. (11/23/2010)
CML libraries and parks: Survey says... (10/26/2010)
Future of the library task force. (10/21/2010)
Volunteers to the rescue. (10/17/2010)
Charlotte Observer to Harry Jones: Check your ego at the door. (9/21/2010)
County manager regrets hitting the 'send' key. (9/18/2010)
Library steering committee veers into off-road territory. (9/15/2010)
Bank of America and Carolina Panthers kick off library fundraising campaign. (9/14/2010)
Another branch extends hours thanks to volunteer support. (9/12/2010)
Volunteers step up. (9/10/2010)
2 branch libraries to open one more day per week. (9/5/2010)
Library urban legend in the making? (9/4/2010)
Library launches pilot program to expand hours with volunteers. (8/31/2010)
Group to study county library merger. (7/28/2010)
Book stores help out the library. (7/21/2010)
Libraries hope to expand hours with volunteers at 4 branches. (7/20/2010)
Another change in hours. (7/18/2010)
Matthews branch library sends out plea for volunteers. (7/13/2010)
Most county commissioners cool to sales tax hike. (7/9/2010)
New hours in effect. (7/6/2010)
Charlotte Observer editorial board laments the passing of the Novello Festival of the Book. (6/28/2010)
Shuttered branch could become Friends' used book store. (6/25/2010)
A reduced future. (6/23/2010)
Interlocal cooperation pact. (6/22/2010)
Three branches close. (6/19/2010)
Town of Mint Hill perspective. (6/18/2010)
Five towns tentatively OK $730,000 for libraries. (6/18/2010)
Carmel, two other branches to close. (6/16/2010)
Now that the ax has fallen. (6/16/2010)
Commissioners to vote on budget today. (6/15/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries: It's complicated. (6/9/2010)
Mayor wins straw vote at emotional council meeting. (6/7/2010)
Editorial: Should city 'stay in its lane' on libraries. (6/4/2010)
County commissioners restore some cuts to libraries. (6/4/2010)
Straw votes begin on Mecklinburg County budget. (6/3/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries continue to look for one-time financial help. (5/31/2010)
High school junior speaks out eloquently for libraries. (5/30/2010)
Mayor Foxx on the art of governing. (5/30/2010)
Mayor supports financial help for library. (5/27/2010)
County budget: Oh, yeah, this is fair. (5/25/2010)
Bailout proposal not gaining traction. (5/23/2010)
Library trustees vote to close 4 branches. (5/20/2010)
Mecklenburg County tightens its belt. (5/20/2010)
County manager cuts $14.7 million from library budget. (5/18/2010)
2010-11 Mecklenburg County budget to be unveiled today. (5/18/2010)
North Carolina woman plans on "going straight to the top" to keep Charlotte libraries open. (5/16/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg officials ask local municipalities for $3 million contribution. (4/30/2010Library Board chair speaks out. (4/25/2010)
County commissioners seek ways to ease library cuts. (4/23/2010)
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit. (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task. (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours. (4/6/2010)
"Save Our Libraries Sunday". (3/29/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg users owe average of 55 cents in fines. (3/27/2010)
Library announces new hours for branches. (3/26/2010)
Library Board applies a Band-Aid to its bleeding system. (3/25/2010)
Follow-up on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board vote. (3/25/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board votes to keep all branches open. (3/24/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board presented with 2 budget-cutting alternatives. (3/24/2010)
More and bigger cuts looming on horizon. (3/23/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Rethinks Closings. (3/22/2010)
A New Day is Dawning in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. (3/21/2010)

Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven't seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression. (3/17/2010)