California library news: Kern County Board of Supervisors considers a proposal to privatize the library

Journalist Terry Phillips asks, "Should Kern County government privatize the public library?"

Here's a transcript of the first minute or so of his commentary

Unless you live in Bakersfield California, you might be unaware that the Kern County Board of Supervisors  is looking at a proposal to privatize the public library,.

You heard it right,

Outsource the public library to a private profit-making corporation

Can you believe it?

Neither can I.

What could possibly go wrong with turning an essential community service into a business?

Let's see how well that idea works elsewhere.

Take the prison system.  

More than two million Americans are living behind bars compared to state-run incarceration.   Studies show that private prisons have a higher rate recidivism.  Inmates are more likely to commit crimes after they get out.  For-profit prisons have higher levels of violent escapes.  They also cost more than those operated by the state.   All that might be good for business but not for society

Privatization for the military has produced poor results too, as we learned the hard way in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Mercenaries do not serve America as well as troops who are directly employed by and accountable to the national command structure.

Related posts:
Lesson two in privatization: Community probation service.  (7/7/2012)
A lesson in privatization:  Welcome to Hallandale Beach Florida and the world of aquatic risk management.   (7/5/2012)
Councilman Dunn wants to discuss the privatizing of the Balch Library "at some point".  (4/4/2012)
Sheboygan looks to privatize cleaning services at 3 city facilities.  (11/15/2011)
When writing about LSSI, it's probably wise to note that there are 16,671 library locations in the U.S.  (8/1/2011)
For-profit, privately run public libraries: anecdotal vs. actual evidence. (7/27/2011)
Santa Clarita Mayor eventually trumpets the library's LSSI connection.  (7/4/2011)
Bill passed by California Assembly sets up roadblocks to public library privatization. (6/4/2011)
LSSI's fairly pathetic track record.  (3/4/2011)
Camarillo sez goodbye to Ventura County, hello to Library Systems.  (10/26/2010)
Privatizing @ your library.  (9/27/2010)