Comments on: An Inflection Point for American Public Libraries

By: Libraries, eBooks, and a public broadcasting model

Libraries, eBooks, and a public broadcasting model — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:48:21 +0000

[...] An Inflection Point for the Future of Public Libraries (9/30/2009 from In the Library With a Lead Pipe): In this post Jean Costello (not a librarian, but a big supporter of public libraries, who had a blog, The Radical Patron) describes a National Public Library Corporation based off of the public broadcasting model. Costello writes “Like its counterparts in radio and television, the NPL would syndicate high-quality programming to independent libraries across the country. Programming in this context would include content as well as digital technology for operations or direct patron services. The NPL would also provide consultation and coordination for fundraising activities.” [...]

By: Amy Taylor

Amy Taylor — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:19:14 +0000

I think this is a great idea. NPL fills a need. Perhaps the greatest need is to rebuild belief that public libraries are “dedicated solely to the public good” as you say. Sadly, I don’t think the public believes this. Even if librarians and ALA believe that they are the best deciders/defenders of the public good, they are often at odds with what the public thinks is good. I hope NPL will focus on the National, the Public, and the Libraries.

By: Kathy Dempsey

Kathy Dempsey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:06:23 +0000

If there is an elephant in the room, I’m likely to point it out.

P.S.: The emperor is only wearing skivvies.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:59:06 +0000

Kathy - as an outsider looking in via the library press and blogs, it seems as though the failure you speak of from the national orgs is an elephant in the room. Approximately a dozen librarians from across the country have messaged me privately via my blog to express frustration about it. I've come across far fewer public comments such as your lunchtime chat with Helene Blowers and Jan van de Geer earlier this year and Carl Grant's commentary, Libraries; A Silence That Is Deafening where Carl said:

I think we librarians are lacking a national vision and agenda and are placing our profession and institutions at risk as a result. [...]Let’s carve a pathway, build a platform and align behind a clearly articulated vision of librarianship that will be understood and supported both nationally and internationally.

My article is an attempt to get the ball rolling with a few lofty perspectives as well as concrete ideas and suggestions for funding, service development and professional development. Hope it helps.

By: Kathy Dempsey

Kathy Dempsey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:00:48 +0000

Jean, will you be my new BFF? :-)

My favorite sentence is this: “Public libraries would benefit from the expertise of professional fundraisers rather than relying on the part-time efforts of inexperienced librarians, staff, and volunteers.” Amen, sister.

One thing I find interesting is that none of the commenters touched on the failures (pardon my French) of any of the current national orgs to tackle these challenges successfully. None of the help you mention has really come from ALA, SLA, WebJunction, etc. They are all busy orgs w/ many goals. It does seem as if we’d have to build a whole new org from scratch (one not run by endless committees) to do what you propose. Difficult? Sure. Impossible? Not quite. I’m all for it.

By: Emily Ford

Emily Ford — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:50:38 +0000

Jean,
Thank you so much for a wonderful contribution to ItLwtLP! Having a patron’s perspective that discusses these issues is invaluable to us.
Your post is insightful and thought provoking.
I wonder what implications this kind of network would have for the academic library field, especially in light of public vs private academic institutions.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:32:54 +0000

Irene – sounds like you’ve followed funding for awhile. Steve Wilson commented that libraries are a “dying enterprise”. I sometimes reflexively challenge those notions – not so much because I disagree with them but because I so desperately want them to be untrue. Your comments expose the inertia libraries have demonstrated with regard to funding. I’d say the same for technology.

This is not to disparage the hard work and achievements of staff/volunteers throughout the country; their broad mission, long history and independent organizational structure make libraries a hard ship to turn. As you say, they must start the turn now in order to remain viable.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:22:10 +0000

Lindsay, earlier this month Helene Blowers wrote "My thinking is that if we don’t strive to be the “owners” of something, then our value to our communities diminishes." IMHO, librarians stepping up to champion issues for the public like those you enumerated (DRM / platform neutrality / digital equality) is a winning strategy. It would be of great public service and increase the perceived relevance and stature of the profession. One of the reasons librarians can not step up is because they're spread so thin doing all the things you described at the beginning of your comment. I believe an organization like the NPL, properly focused and staffed to deliver tangible solutions for libraries, would help enormously. ~ Jean

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:26:23 +0000

Ah, now I understand. Thanks for writing back. There are a number of ways to approach funding – and perhaps a few hybrids are needed.

I was hoping my article would spark conversation among good people who care deeply about our libraries … and you’ve helped make it happen.

By: Lindsay Stratton

Lindsay Stratton — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:40:10 +0000

Many of the ideas presented in this article are things that library Systems (I am training coordinator for a system serving 42 small, rural libraries in New York) are already doing, attempting to do, desperately working to clarify or replace outdated mandates so that we may do better, lobbying hard for the resources to do more of, while at the same time justifying our existence in the face of local funders who wonder why money goes to these intermediary agencies rather than directly to libraries and working around an out of touch State Library.

From where I sit, greater coordination of technology infrastructure, unified lobbying for library support across the board, coordination of staff CE and professional development, relevant standards for library accreditation, presence in policy making for DRM / platform neutrality / digital equality – just these things alone would provide huge benefits to local libraries and these are things we need now, which are not being met sufficiently or consistently by library systems, regional library councils, professional associations, or the IMLS.