Sunday, February 15, 2009
Save NJ Libraries
Some or most of you in NJ have probably already seen this but since I posted in it my personal blog and emailed friends and family, I figured I would post it here as well. The New Jersey League of Municipalities is trying to cut the funding (from taxes) for NJ libraries in half! I don't work in a public library myself but all of my classmates who do say that public libraries are being used now more than ever. With the recent increase in job losses and downturn of the economy people are using their local library for a number of services. It's crazy that as the use of libraries increases, the funding decreases. Here's an article explaining the situation. And here's a site provided by NJLA where you can contact your assemblyman. All you have to do is provide your zip code and the site takes care of the rest. I've already hassled everyone I know in NJ to do it and I urge you to do the same!
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Great to see you blog about this important issue.
ReplyDeleteRead north jersey article and there are no reader comments: would it make sense to organize librarians to post comments on news stories related to this topic?
ReplyDeleteYes and no. I think it's safe to say we know how most librarians feel about this issue and the comments they would be likely to leave. On these articles I usually find it more interesting to read comments from non-librarians. I often found that articles dealing with libraries receive a mix of comments, some who fully support library funding and others who think libraries are virtually obsolete. It can be disheartening to read when the general public just doesn't see any value in their libraries.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on the stories is one way to show support but perhaps not the most effective?
This is a really serious proposal. The funding, now based on a formula of 1/3 mill (a tenth of a percent) of equalized valuation (a house worth $100000 would pay $33 to support the library), would be 1/6 mill. That is half of the current amount, and to maintain a resource that is needed now more than ever, this formula won't provide adequate funding.
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