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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > July > 07 > Entry
As library use is soaring…
Funding for our Ohio libraries is being cut back.
A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times explains why the demand for library services is increasing:
” Here’s a silver lining in the economic recession — Chicago Public Library circulation has spiked 30 percent in the past year.
“People are realizing, ‘Why should I buy my books, my CDs — I can get it free at the library,’ ” Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey said Saturday, speaking at the dedication of a new library in Beverly.
Dempsey said the use of online holds — reserving books online to pick up at a local library — has increased 100 percent in the last year.
Increased library use is being reported around the country, as people decide not to spend on books and the unemployed seek out computers and other job-hunting resources.”
In these hard economic times we need our public libraries more than ever. We need all those books and CDs and computers. We need those bookmobiles. We need our librarians. We need our libraries to be open longer.
Sadly, in Ohio the library situation is deteriorating. Hours are being cut back. Pay cuts are being mandated. Bookmobiles are not going out where they are needed.
Does this concern you? Write a letter. Make a phone call. Call your elected representative. Let Governor Strickland know in no uncertain terms that getting the economy turned around is important and our public libraries need to be open to expedite the recovery process.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By Alice
July 8, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
No applause or egg-face- washing necessary. The fun I have in acting like an a-hole is reward enough for me.By lmj
July 8, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this
I’m not sure if I should stand and applaud Alice or go wash the egg off my face.By vick
July 8, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
LMJ, you should be aware that Alice usually reserves her sarcasm for the really important issues. Like this one. Alice’s brilliant sarcastic gifts are fully evident in this comment. You fell for it. She’s that good!By lmj
July 8, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Alice, Are you referring to the library system that many believe was started by the nefarious socialist Benjamin Franklin? Let’s not ask about any socialistic hand-out that the big chain book store might have gotten (in the form of tax breaks and incentives) from the government to build a new store. Maybe I should sentence you to the three days I spent in my library to open your eyes. I’m not sure how to tell which were welfare queens, but the patrons I saw did come in all genders, ages, wardrobe, political parties, and economic levels.By Scout
July 8, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
I’m also sympathetic to library funding - BUT I’d rather see library budgets tighten than see gambling in Ohio. I’m not sure about Yellow Springs, but in Centerville there is much money wasted on nonessential items like video games, first run DVDs, too many employees, glossy ads sent to everyone, etc. There are many ways to tighten the budget without hurting patrons.By TRS
July 7, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this
I’m sympathetic to library funding. Considering the economic woes of Ohio, exactly where would funding come from?By Raoul
July 7, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
Ouch. Vick, Alice just landed a hard right. Personally, I think we have too many libraries, so closing some might be good for the budget. I can tell you that the library closest to me functions more as a day care center for truants. I guess if you are playing hooky everday, being in a library might not be the worst place to hang out. The sad fact is that the way we are headed the cost of paying for government run services will break us. I think there will be a lot more Tea Parties on the horizon, so Vick, keep the water boiling!By vick
July 7, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
Oh Alice, thank you! I love Earl Grey by the way…By Alice
July 7, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this
And promote socialism? NO THANKS. Our libraries are a mess because the government can’t run anything right. Maybe if we get our socialist government off our backs we can start supporting private businesses like Barnes & Nobles more. Or I am sure there are some nice non-profit churches that would be willing to do it. Red-blooded Americans work hard and PAY for their books and internet and I have no interest in supporting lazy unemployed welfare queens with free books. Maybe if poor urban kids didn’t get everything handed to them they could grow up and be what their lazy parents weren’t: moral and hardworking. I also do not need some educated elitist librarian indoctrinating my kid with liberal “learning”. Vick, please stop trying to shove your marxist/socialist liberal elitist causes down the throats of us honest hard-working Americans or I am going to start mailing you teabags.By Cyranetta
July 7, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
The thing that infuriated me about the Governor’s justification of severe library cutbacks is that he seemed to throw the emphasis on libraries as entertainment centers. In a world where Internet access is increasingly necessary (even to download the State’s own forms!), libraries are often the ONLY places for people to access e-mail and other important services. And it isn’t as if the state’s libraries weren’t already taking a significant cut since they are indexed to state revenue.By lmj
July 7, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this
This so infuriated me, Vick, my laptop and I spent three days in the library two weeks ago, from opening to closing, sending e-mails for anyone who wanted. I sent over 1000 e-mails in those three days. This will hurt the small towns, like Yellow Springs and Urbana more than the Dayton’s and Columbus. The large cities have multiple branches to jockey. We don’t.