Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I am proud to be in this community.
About 70 people from our area went to Ukiah to encourage the Board of Supervisors to continue the county's support of the interlibrary loan system between Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties. Also, since the current county librarian is leaving, they are saying they will not replace her. The community owns the building and many of the books, but the county supplies the internet service and loan system with outside libraries which is vital to our area. Mendocino county is broke, so they are looking at all of the ways to trim expenses and our library was one of them. Well, they are giving at least until July and were quite impressed to see so many people fill their room and tell of their love and need for the library. One supervisor said that this was the most people he has seen come for a cause. Many of the 20 or so who went to the mike to speak I recognized, but had never heard them talk before. I live in a pretty smart, caring town. Alix Levine is the current president of our library.
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4 comments:
That is terrific. Keep up the good work!
What's the actual budget? How much would be saved by dropping the library?
They never really talked figures, but I heard that the interlibrary system was about $9,000 per year and the librarian position is a 32 hour per week plus benefits. And there was an insurance cost,etc. The computer internet system is an expense, too. The county adds new books. They have agreed to keep it going until July with the librarian as an extra help position instead of permanent librarian which will be easier for them to get rid of if need be. This library has almost as many volunteers as the Ukiah library. The speakers were pointing out that the county was getting a lot of 'bang for their buck' since the community owns the building, etc.
Since the community owns the building, etc. it will not shut down if the county pulls out, but to keep the service level as it is will be a big hardship on the community. We have the theater to keep going, the lighthouse, and then if they legalize pot there goes all of the community income!
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