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The library regulators also missed the boat
Prince William County is looking at 33 percent reductions. Loudoun is considering program cuts of 5, 10 or 15 percent. Fairfax agencies have been ordered to find cuts worth 15 percent, which would mean closure of 14 community libraries on Fridays, elimination of two hours of Sunday service at eight regional libraries and reduction of new materials by 25 percent. Fairfax libraries would eliminate 305 jobs and purchase 70,000 fewer materials annually if these recommendations are followed, according to a county report.
Fairfax, the region's largest jurisdiction and one of the country's wealthiest, had taken an aggressive approach to maintaining and expanding its library system before the downturn. The county opened three new branches in the past year -- in Oakton, Fairfax City and Burke Centre -- where soaring, spacious architecture and an abundance of computer stations, meeting space and comfortable chairs have attracted brisk business and happy customers.
Here is the story. New library books will not, alas, be a countercyclical asset. Comovement is a bitter pill to swallow.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 30, 2008 at 08:58 PM in Books | Permalink
Comments
Maybe there will be more book sales?
Posted by: Stan Tsirulnikov at Oct 30, 2008 9:16:37 PM
Thank you for this post. I work at a public college library in New York. The rumor at the moment is that our book budget, which was very tight already, is about to be cut in half. Library hours will probably not be cut, but the collection will become a little less useful as time goes by. The likelihood is that the significant books published this year, next year, and for some indefinite period, that we never buy, will never be bought. Very sad.
Posted by: Hal at Oct 30, 2008 9:18:40 PM
Reduced library hours aren't the same threat they used to be, at least for me. With online catalogs and requests, my library trips are very efficient- in and out. My browsing in on amazon.
Also, as my library trip durations have declined, I am actually reading more AND my trips have increased in number.
Posted by: djconnor at Oct 30, 2008 9:35:17 PM
Could someone please remind me why libraries should be publicly funded?
Posted by: Russ R at Oct 30, 2008 9:43:58 PM
Could someone please remind me why libraries should be publicly funded?
Posted by: Russ R at Oct 30, 2008 9:44:24 PM
economies of scale?
Posted by: a_c at Oct 30, 2008 10:04:59 PM
I stopped voting for library levies when the library board decided to spend lots of monies on maintaining a video movie library, and lots of money on computers for games and probably porn.
I like books.
Posted by: save_the_rustbelt at Oct 30, 2008 10:15:06 PM
Russ: Shouldn't access to knowledge be available to everyone? Is there any incentive for people to privately fund libraries? Is there any reason they shouldn't be publicly funded?
Posted by: engineer at Oct 30, 2008 10:18:09 PM
rustbelt: Are you sure those computers were for games and not for providing free internet access? For those without a computer that's just as valuable a service as providing free book access. Yes, there's a lot of unsavory stuff on the internet, but it's also a very powerful and useful tool.
Plus why would you assume they are buying computers for porn? AFAIK most libraries specifically prohibit that sort of thing.
Posted by: engineer at Oct 30, 2008 10:24:50 PM
Could someone please remind me why libraries should be publicly funded?
Because promoting reading and education benefits society as a whole? I guess you would call it a positive externality.
Posted by: MS at Oct 30, 2008 10:26:47 PM
The cut-backs that strike libraries during economic downturns are especially difficult since preliminary research seems to indicate library usage increases during these times: www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/reports/economichardtimestechnicalreport.pdf
Posted by: Fletch at Oct 30, 2008 10:57:36 PM
The New York Library Society, a private library since 1754, is really one of NYC's loveliest places. Few know about it. Highly recommended.
Posted by: StreetWalker at Oct 30, 2008 10:58:42 PM
There are two cuases on this planet that I wish I had unlimited dollars to help, humane societies and libraries.
I learned to read early and have been doing so for nearly 38 years. I believe we should all be required by law to have a library card and to make use of it.
Libraries are a free source of knowledge and entertainment. Anyone not sharp enough to take advantage of this deserves to be kicked out of the gene pool.
Posted by: Kenneth at Oct 30, 2008 10:59:38 PM
"Could someone please remind me why libraries should be publicly funded?"
Because I use the library.
Same reason why I voted against our elementary school building a swimming pool...
Posted by: Paul N at Oct 30, 2008 11:01:13 PM
New library books will not, alas, be a countercyclical asset.
=======
There is a strong historical precedent to the contrary, in a way.
The politicians burn them at the top of the cycle, for light/enlightenment.
The people burn them at the bottom of the cycle, for warmth.
Posted by: Amicus at Oct 31, 2008 12:31:14 AM
I'm not quite sure why public libraries should be funded. Nor do I know why I had to get a master's degree to attempt to work in one. All I know is I mighta picked a bad time to try to break into a tax-funded industry.
I know my school loans were packaged up and sold to Sallie Mae. What are her prospects?
Food service, here I come (again).
Posted by: burger flipper at Oct 31, 2008 1:18:59 AM
"Libraries are a free source of knowledge and entertainment. Anyone not sharp enough to take advantage..."
Pop quiz, anyone see the fallacy here?
Universities. Oh, and there is this thing called the internet. Take a gander to your right. Books!
All that said, being the rabid free marketer I am, libraries are probably the last thing I'd shut down.
I'm beginning to think that one of the main effects of recessions is that they offer plausibility. Noone will get yelled at for cutting costs or firing people they wanted to fire during a recession.
Posted by: Andrew at Oct 31, 2008 6:43:55 AM
Fear not! Libraries have decided to demand a bailout of their own. (No, I'm not kidding.)
"The American Library Association (ALA) is asking Congress for $100 million in stimulus funding to aid the nation’s working families during the current economic crisis. Aid is sought to stem the bleeding of critical library services that help Americans with job searches, small business development, financial literacy and other essential assistance in hard economic times."
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/october2008/ALA_print_layout_1_517914_517914.cfm
Posted by: AnonymousLibrarian at Oct 31, 2008 6:48:50 AM
As a child, I used to read all kinds of books from the neighborhood public library. I loved roaming the basement shelves, where books not in high demand were kept. At age 12, say, this was a way to do some independent learning, and to begin to see a wider world. With a library card, I didn't need permission from the school system or from my parents. It was a quiet liberation. What kind of community would refuse some public money to make that available to its young people?
Posted by: Hal at Oct 31, 2008 7:08:40 AM
Why are government buildings the nicest ones in town? Sure, laid off people can use libraries during the downturn, which is why it would be smart to plan for that rather than wasting resources on flat screen TVs and mahogany meeting rooms.
"We" also just built a gaudy library in town. It looks like The White House, which is additionally irksome to me. The larger city down the road put in many large screen plasma televisions when they built their new library several years ago before prices started to come down. It seems decision-makers in government are not immune to the psychology of "fake prosperity makes me feel wealthy." Not to mention it's not their money. Not to mention a little thing called the internet.
And, our university campus is continuing to build enormous new state-of-the-art buildings (and refurbishing the library, probably contracted at the peak of the building boom) while the budget is being cut by 5-10%. Sure, it's hard to moth ball a building once construction has begun. Not to mention all the operating budget is gone because people spent it to make sure they weren't too late. We literally discussed, half in jest, buying supplies that would work as a commodity currency. This is maddening for a contrarian and I count the days until I can get out of this system.
And we are to believe that the government can spot bubbles and prick them or take the punch bowl away from the party? People who populate the government are likely the most pro-cyclical personality types of all.
Posted by: Andrew at Oct 31, 2008 7:09:46 AM
There are 6 public libraries within 5 miles of me, 16 libraries within ten miles, 33 within 15 miles, and 57 within 20 miles. I love libraries and I could easily live with 33% reduction if it came in the form of consolidation.
Posted by: Will at Oct 31, 2008 11:39:33 AM
In case you doubt the public good aspect of education: in times of crisis, you don't want your neighbors coming after you because they think you are a witch.
Lovely publicly funded libraries? Grover Norquist said that was impossible, "Nobody takes care of what everybody owns." -- NYT Magazine, April 13, 2008.
Posted by: Paul at Oct 31, 2008 4:59:17 PM
Nor do I know why I had to get a master's degree to attempt to work in one. All I know is I mighta picked a bad time to try to break into a tax-funded industry.
No offense, but this might demonstrate that not the brightest bulbs get MLS or whatever master degrees to work in non-school libraries and then expect to be paid like unionized public school teachers....
Posted by: at Nov 1, 2008 9:17:43 AM
How about a digital library for everyone in the world to have access to everything ever written. A massive world wide effort to upload and have translated millions and millions of writings. Not only should we build and renovate the physical infrastructure of our country to get us out of the coming depression, but if we started building a world wide information infrastructure that was completely free of any censorship then perhaps Physical brick and mortar libraries could be reduced in number (as long as access terminals are made available readily to all). Think Big.
Posted by: Roga at Nov 1, 2008 5:35:35 PM
How about a digital library for everyone in the world to have access to everything ever written.
Sounds like Google, Bartleby, etc.
However, most (good) living authors might want to get paid for their work.
Posted by: at Nov 2, 2008 6:00:59 AM
