Bertot, Jaeger, Langa and McClure wrote this article about public access and internet in libraries, and how the federal government has "drafted" libraries to help the people without any compensation; monetary or otherwise. So essentially, libraries are getting dumped on by Big Brother and Uncle Sam, and especially so in times of crisis and natural disaster. Why?
The geniuses at FEMA and DHS and all those other government agencies helping poor people have slowly been making their forms and information solely available online. Because people who can't afford to feed themselves probably have access to a computer. It just makes sense, right? WRONG.
So, instead of creating offices to help these people use the computers to find the information, they direct the people to the nation's libraries. They are giving people references to the library but not giving libraries extra money, funding, or anything of the sort to help them out. They have shifted the burden of aiding the public away from themselves and onto libraries.
Bertot, et. al, argue that the government actually relies on librarians to train and provide the public with internet access to access government programs without adding funding for libraries because LIBRARIANS PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE. Even though libraries are not equipped to handle the volume of people they receive, especially in times of natural disaster (aka hurricanes in the gulf coast region) but they do it anyway. In polls taken by these researches, librarians said that they cleaned up debris, provided food and shelter for these refugees, assisted with finding family and pets, online help for people filling out FEMA forms, insurance forms, etc.
Not because they had to.
That brings me to another article by John Buschman called On Libraries and the Public Sphere...he argues that libraries are being swayed by capitalism today, which has a strong tie with the government. So if libraries don't have a choice but to train themselves in technology and assist the public because the government isn't funding extra for the extra work being given by the government, but they're also the driving force behind the capitalistic economy, which forces libraries to try and "compete" for the consumer's business, what's a library to do?
People want intellectual freedom and free access to internet and technology, right? They appreciate the librarian walking them through their online form because they couldn't figure it out at home, right? So they will vote to increase government (tax) dollars for libraries, right? No? Then what do they want? to be "idle" at learning but heavy at play (4)?
People go to a university because of "their sports teams" and not its' quality of education (5)? They go to the library and expect a coffee shop and a comfy chair....hold it. Libraries are being forced to slowly change they way they've operated for many years because of the economy? They opt for electronic resources instead of print without considering the archival and historical ramifications? Sounds like a bad sci-fi/horror novel.
"Our historical strength lies in robust sectors of society and the economy which are different"(7).
Libraries have a difficult time staying afloat due to lack of funding. Their job now is not just to be the keepers of knowledge and organization, but to convince the public that they are useful WITHOUT TURNING INTO A COMMERCIAL BOOKSTORE. To educate, stay ahead of the curve, persuade but not sell out. To make lemonade when the government throws lemons, but not bend at the whims of the government. What is that quote from "V for Vendetta"...the people should not be afraid of its' government, but the government should be afraid of its' people? I think Bob Marley would be proud.
Comments
Wouldn't it be easier to justify funding if libraries were busy instead of bare?
Do you think taxpayers should reward libraries in response to a job well done or when they need improvement?
I think more people should use the library! However, especially if the government is using libraries as a "dumping ground", they should recognize the need and offer more funding (especially instead of decreasing it!). I guess that instead of mentioning only that librarians provide invaluable service to the community, they also don't turn people away (or with rare exception). And I don't know exactly how numbers correlate to funding, but I'm guessing that the bigger the number of visitors the bigger the dollar amount given.
Now, in response to the last question-- taxpayers don't always have the say when funding is given, and I wonder about the percentage of voting citizens who actually check to see where their tax dollars are going...
I remember in Psychology 101, there is a difference between punishment and reward. And there is negative and positive reinforcement for both. So I think libraries should NOT be punished; I consider freeloading a form of punishment; but they SHOULD be rewarded, especially when their employees go above and beyond providing excellent service.
Phew!