I just returned from the ALA Midwinter Conference in Boston - I left an icy and wet Boston to come home to a chilly, wet and windy California. Currently, we are on Tornado Watch here in HB and the County EOC has been activated. I have a new appreciation for Sandbags.
But back to Library topics - Midwinter seemed to be fairly well attended, even with the cold weather. (Cold for me that is. I am a native Californian, so I am a temperature wimp.) I toured the exhibits, found some new things, went to committee meetings and saw old friends. Unfortunately, what I heard everywhere was how we are all dealing with budget cuts...
ALA published a study on the condition of libraries just before Mid Winter and it affirms what we were all talking about at the Conference - Library use is up, with more people coming in and using our services, but our budgets are suffering. We are all looking at reductions in hours and spending in general. Here's a good summary of what all public libraries are facing.
What does this mean for our library clientele? When times are tough, people turn to their libraries for books, programs, help with finding a job, homework support, etc. Every hour we have to pull back means that many more people don't have access to what they need.
So what do more budget cuts mean? It means longer lines, fewer resources available, fewer computers, or at least fewer computers that work. It means fewer people to help fill requests, shelve books, fewer books on the shelf, fewer programs, etc.
As a library director, my challenge is to figure out how we can still provide our essential services with less money. What is most essential? Is it our computers? Is it our books? Is it the building? Is it the programs?
I'd love to hear what you think it is absolutely essential in the modern library.
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