Library Privileges

Did you know that in some countries one cannot remove books from the library?

Did you know that in some countries one cannot even USE the library if one is not a dues-paying member?

Many years ago I knew some people who immigrated from Peru. One of the most surprising (but delightful) things to them was that their children could actually take books home from the library to read with their parents. These parents wanted their children checking out as many books in English as possible so that the whole family would become proficient in English as soon as possible.

It worked.  All three of those children earned full scholarships to an Ivy League university. They truly became part of the "American Dream."

Now, we at Reston Friends don't think that the Fairfax County Supervisors are targeting the library budget because they don't believe in the good the libraries do. We think they're overwhelmed by the demands of the squeaky wheels. If no one speaks on behalf of the libraries, the libraries will die, little by little.

Next weekend is supposed to be rainy. If you're not doing much, stop by any library in the system on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  Take a look around. See how many newly-aspiring Americans are using the library. Look at the computer terminals. How many of those spots are filled by people of different hues? The blogger spent some time this Sunday afternoon at another library in our system, across the county. I saw there what I see at Reston -- every spot filled by people receiving tutoring, students studying, people doing research, and many of them were speaking (quietly) languages other than English.

The strength of Fairfax County is in our embracing the diversity of our population, and providing everyone the tools and opportunities to succeed. The families that are spending their time in the libraries on the weekends are the ones who are stepping up to that opportunity, gratefully and diligently.

Less than 1%.  That's the ENTIRE Fairfax County Public Library budget. That has to be spread between 22 branches. And the County Executive thinks it's a luxury?

Contact your county supervisor today!  If you live in Reston, that's Cathy Hudgins. hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov

As the immortal Yogi Berra said, "it ain't over 'til it's over."

County Budget is On the Table

Fairfax County Executive Anthony H. Griffin unveiled his "solutions" to our budget crisis this week. If you want to see the Washington Post article, click here.


If you want to see how the proposals for Fiscal Year 2011 actually break out, you might want to spend some time on the Fairfax County government page by clicking here.


What neither the article or the numerous links on the Fairfax County Government page make clear is how disproportionate and inequitable the budget cuts are. The way they hit the library system are:


Fairfax County Public Libraries (FCPL) represent 1% of the total county budget.
In Fiscal Year 2010 FCPL was asked to cut 15%. They did, and you now have shorter hours, almost no magazines, and fewer staff people. A few months later they were asked to come up with another 3% in cuts.
In Fiscal Year 2011 FCPL is being asked to cut another 15%. That will result in even shorter hours, and even fewer staff.
To date, FCPL has been asked to cut a total of 33%.


Contrast this with many other agencies that have been asked to cut 3%.  No, that is NOT a typo.  THREE PERCENT.


Not only is it inequitable it is stupid! It's like kicking the smallest member of your team around just because he's the smallest -- when you're the one that has kept him small!


If you need real numbers to understand how inequitable this is, these are some of the numbers from the pie chart:


Parks & Libraries (combined) 1.4%
Public Safety    12.3%
Health & Welfare 11%
Fairfax County Public Schools 53.8%


Is there some reason they can't ask ALL agencies to take an 8% cut across the board? 


Questions? Comments? E-mail us.

Washington Post & Fairfax County Public Libraries

If you missed the Metro section of today's Washington Post, it was worth reading. It has an article about the cuts the libraries are facing in the County budget. While the Post focused on the human cost in terms of job elimination, it didn't really express how difficult it will be for those who keep their jobs, but who will be expected to do the jobs that have been eliminated as well.


The Post article also failed to address the inequities of the County budget -- over 54% for the public schools and less than 1% for public libraries? What kind of a formula for success is that?


If you want to read the entire article, go here.


If you can't get it that way, try stopping by the library to read it.  But do that quick, before the subscription to the Post goes the way of the buggy whip.

Since you're home anyway . . .

A reader (I hope he's a reader of the blog), asked us to publicize the fight to save the library's already-meager funding.  This blog has posted on this issue before, but if there's any hope of success, it's worth giving you more specific ways to act.  As we contemplate what storm removal is doing to the state and local budgets, this becomes more urgent than ever.


Here is what the reader sent:

It would be very helpful if you would include links to some of the advocacy on behalf of the library system on your blog.

 

http://fairfaxlibraryfoundation.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-fairfax-county-public-libraries

 

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveOurLibraries/

 

 

Links to any of the recent news articles.

 

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1007

 

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/01/the_first_signs_of_fairfaxs_bu.html

 

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=337067&paper=73&cat=104

 

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=336595&paper=73&cat=104

 

http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2009/12/30/fairfax/news/fe316.txt

Frightful Weather

We have snow again today, and the kids in Fairfax County Public Schools are on a 2-hour delay. What happened to that global warming we were all worried about a few months back?

Isn't it nice to know that even when the streets are difficult for driving, and the wind cuts like a knife, that there is a warm place to visit? Unless the County Government decrees otherwise, the library staff are like the old Post Office motto,

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds". "

They show up and do their jobs quietly, efficiently and effectively, no matter the weather. (The saying actually goes back to Herodatus, but most people associate it with the Post Office).

Here's another cool thing. You can visit Reston Regional Library in your pajamas. True! If you have a computer, you can log in and visit the catalog, many databases, and spend oodles of time perusing the FCPL website without ever changing out of your most comfortable clothes. With a library card you can put books on hold and sign up for programs!

So as the County continues to jump through budget hoops and we hear lots of talk about how

only essential programs will survive, feel free to let our Hunter Mill Supervisor to the County Board of Supervisors, Cathy Hudgins, know that for you, the library is ESSENTIAL and she must fight for it's survival. You can click on the link, or call her at 703-478-0283.

Now let's all go shovel some more snow. Sigh.

/kw

Snow Kidding

This is what the bookdrop looked like from the outside after the County furlough days.

The weather is moving in, so you'd better get to the library TODAY and stock up on good reads! While you're there, take a minute to thank a staff member. The people who work at Reston Regional Library are part of a team of talented, dedicated professionals who serve throughout Fairfax County. They are continually asked by the County to do "more" with "less". Incredibly, the libraries are one of the first entities on the block for budget cutting, and the staff at RR just handle it with true grace.

Think about this -- less than 1% of your County tax dollars support the library. Over 50% of your County tax dollars support FCPS. And yet the libraries greatly support the school mission by filling in those after-school hours with kids and adults who need assistance, tutoring, research ideas, and books! In fact, many of the county-wide budget dialogues were held at the libraries. Where will we hold those in the future if the libraries are closed due to lack of funding?

This is what the bookdrop looked like from the inside after the County furlough days.

Take care of our libraries, take care of our staff!

Thanks!

Ad Astra Per Aspera

As a child growing up in Kansas the blogger memorized all types of things about our state, including its motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera. It means "to the stars through difficulties." When Seneca the Younger first spoke this, it captured the imagination of many.

When we have difficulties, like extreme budget cuts, while we must look inward to make sure we are as efficient as possible, we must then shift our gaze outward to ensure we have a path to the future charted. The budget cuts the County is asking the library to make hurt. A LOT. The libraries have already had to look inward and make very difficult cuts including hours and personnel. But the County is asking for more and more and more. And while the library community understands that everyone must do a little more with a little less, we believe that the cuts to the library are disproportionate.

The blogger has kids in public school right now and so hears the plaint from both entities. Sure, the public schools are feeling cuts as well and many VOCAL parents want their particular program preserved at all costs. But the fact of the matter is that what has been done to the library is not equitable in any way. The library took deep cuts in FY 2010 and is slated to take even deeper ones in FY 2011. This is in contrast to the FCPS (over 50% of the County Budget) and other agencies that didn't even take cuts in FY 2010.

And that's before you consider that in times of tight funds, library usage goes UP, not down. So if the County cuts hours and cuts staff, they're asking more patrons to stand in line longer to get fewer services. The Friends groups raise a LOT of money - this is true. But we cannot legally fund staff positions or underwrite operating costs to keep a library open. Many Friends groups, by their own governing documents, are also barred from purchasing materials like books. This makes sense if you figure that once the Friends start paying for books the County will spend the money saved elsewhere and there will be no going back.

The ONLY way to get the attention of the County Officials who will make the cuts is to be HEARD. There's one more community meeting planned for Dec 2 (Herndon HS, Hayfield HS, Lake Braddock HS, 7-9pm). But there's also a petition you can go sign urging the County to Restore FCPL's Budget. Go check it out:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/restore-fairfax-county-public-library-budget.html

And now, to the stars:

Road of Stars to Santiago by Edward Stanton

A book of impressions about the author's journey on El Camino de Santiago. Uniformly good reviews. This copy is like New at $24.50

Corona: America's First Satellite Program

This paperback describes the nation's first satellite reconnaissance mission. The information was declassified in 1995 and provides a look into a time of great technological innovation which laid the basis for the type of satellite imagery we think of as 'standard' today. $12.75

These two books, and many others, are available at RestonFriends1, our Amazon storefront. If you're a local, current Friend, and you are interested in any of these books, e-mail us, and we'll save you the postage.

/kw

Budget Meeting at Herndon HS Dec 2

In response to public demand, Fairfax County has added an additional budget meeting on December 2 occurring simultaneously at Lake Braddock HS, Herndon HS and Hayfield Secondary School (7 to 9pm). The library system needs supporters at all of these meetings. If they don't hear from us, they'll assume it's okay to slash and burn!

Register for the meeting here. It's limited to 70 participants at each location. Get out and be heard!