libcrisis

in your present lifetime, if you want the da vinci code, move out of denver

Denver Public — probably my favorite Big Beautiful Library besides Vancover — is asking the mayor to form a special tax district to keep the library regularly funded.

“If you want to read ‘The Da Vinci Code’ in your lifetime, the Denver Public Library is probably not a good bet for you,” [city librarian] Ashton said. That’s because there are still more than 800 names on the waiting list for the recent best-selling novel

how far we’ve come

Posted on 30Dec03 by jessamyn

Pennsylvania was the state that had the first lending library in the US and now its public library system ranks 40th in the nation… and this is an improvement over a few years ago, apparently. [thanks stessa]

sell the books to raise the cash?

Posted on 15Dec03 by jessamyn

Tough decisions with falling stock prices. Do you sell the nice books to fix the library? The library director of the Providence Athenaeum didn’t think so, he’s resigned and the debate is growing ugly.

some news isn’t all bad, VPL gets more money and more hours

Posted on 04Dec03 by jessamyn

Vancouver Public Library, one of my favorite Big Beautiful Libraries [with a kickass website], but one with a severe budget shortfall, is finally getting the funding to not have to close for a week in the summer, and expand hours.[thanks andrew]

enhancement is not basics

Posted on 27Oct03 by jessamyn

State funds for school library enhancement were completely cut in Alabama after the failure of the Governor’s tax referendum. As a result school libraries are watching their budgets shift to zero while the stadards for accreditation are [rightfully] staying the same. Also, one of the saddest little library pictures I have seen. [thanks mac]