From http://new.mynevadacounty.com
Library Outsourcing FAQ's 10/30/09
Many citizens have questions about the current budget situation facing the Nevada County Library and the decision by the Board of Supervisors to issue a request for proposals for library services. A frequently asked questions (FAQ) document has been created to help citizens fully understand the issues, answer questions, and to help facilitate healthy community discussions.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sample letter to the Board of Supervisors
The Friends of the Truckee Library have posted this sample letter on their website http://truckeefol.org/
Dear (Insert Name)
For over half a century, our community has shown how much we value libraries by donating time, money, and materials to keep our library alive and well, and by voting overwhelmingly for the sales tax measure to fund our libraries. When the Nevada County libraries were in financial trouble 14 years ago, citizens from both sides of the county demonstrated their willingness to donate their time and expertise to find a viable solution.
I strongly urge you to give the communities who appreciate and use our public libraries the opportunity to explore alternatives to putting the management – and sales tax revenues – of our public libraries in the hands of a for-profit company in Maryland.
Postpone the decision to outsource, and let us prove once again that we are capable of finding a far better way than privatization to fund the vital services that our public library provides to all segments of the population.
Respectfully, ________________ .
Dear (Insert Name)
For over half a century, our community has shown how much we value libraries by donating time, money, and materials to keep our library alive and well, and by voting overwhelmingly for the sales tax measure to fund our libraries. When the Nevada County libraries were in financial trouble 14 years ago, citizens from both sides of the county demonstrated their willingness to donate their time and expertise to find a viable solution.
I strongly urge you to give the communities who appreciate and use our public libraries the opportunity to explore alternatives to putting the management – and sales tax revenues – of our public libraries in the hands of a for-profit company in Maryland.
Postpone the decision to outsource, and let us prove once again that we are capable of finding a far better way than privatization to fund the vital services that our public library provides to all segments of the population.
Respectfully, ________________ .
Truckee Friends of the Library Opinion
Truckee Friends of the Library has written an opinion page that appeared in yesterdays Sierra Sun. The Friends also posted this on their website http://truckeefol.org/:
The Friends of the Truckee Library believes there is no impending fiscal crisis that warrants this hasty process, and that there are many other options for tightening our library belts.
If you share our concerns, please contact the Nevada County Supervisors and Truckee Town officials to urge them to postpone the decision to outsource library operations so that interested organizations and individuals can work together to find a better alternative.
The Friends sample letter is on the next post as well.
Contact Information for Nevada County CEO and Supervisors
Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Eric Rood Administrative Center
950 Maidu Avenue
Nevada City, CA 95959
Telephone: 530-265-1480
Toll Free: 1-888-785-1480 (Nevada County only)
Fax: 530-265-9836
bdofsupervisors@co.nevada.ca.us
Nate Beason, Supervisor District One
Home: 530-470-9074
nate.beason@co.nevada.ca.us
Ed Scofield, Supervisor District Two
Home: 530-272-8921
ed.scofield@co.nevada.ca.us
John Spencer Supervisor, District Three
Home Office: (530) 477-7572
john.spencer@co.nevada.ca.us
Hank Weston Supervisor District Four
Home Office: (530) 432-8205
hank.weston@co.nevada.ca.us
Ted Owens, Supervisor District 5
10183 Truckee Airport Rd. Ste. 213
Truckee, CA 96161
Home Office: (530) 582-7826
(530) 582-7882 (Fax)
ted.owens@co.nevada.ca.us
Rick Haffey, CEO
Eric Rood Admin Center
950 Maidu Ave.
Nevada City, CA 95959
ceo@co.nevada.ca.us
Toll-free: 1-888-785-1480 (within Nevada County only)
Fax: 530-265-9836
The Friends of the Truckee Library believes there is no impending fiscal crisis that warrants this hasty process, and that there are many other options for tightening our library belts.
If you share our concerns, please contact the Nevada County Supervisors and Truckee Town officials to urge them to postpone the decision to outsource library operations so that interested organizations and individuals can work together to find a better alternative.
The Friends sample letter is on the next post as well.
Contact Information for Nevada County CEO and Supervisors
Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Eric Rood Administrative Center
950 Maidu Avenue
Nevada City, CA 95959
Telephone: 530-265-1480
Toll Free: 1-888-785-1480 (Nevada County only)
Fax: 530-265-9836
bdofsupervisors@co.nevada.ca.us
Nate Beason, Supervisor District One
Home: 530-470-9074
nate.beason@co.nevada.ca.us
Ed Scofield, Supervisor District Two
Home: 530-272-8921
ed.scofield@co.nevada.ca.us
John Spencer Supervisor, District Three
Home Office: (530) 477-7572
john.spencer@co.nevada.ca.us
Hank Weston Supervisor District Four
Home Office: (530) 432-8205
hank.weston@co.nevada.ca.us
Ted Owens, Supervisor District 5
10183 Truckee Airport Rd. Ste. 213
Truckee, CA 96161
Home Office: (530) 582-7826
(530) 582-7882 (Fax)
ted.owens@co.nevada.ca.us
Rick Haffey, CEO
Eric Rood Admin Center
950 Maidu Ave.
Nevada City, CA 95959
ceo@co.nevada.ca.us
Toll-free: 1-888-785-1480 (within Nevada County only)
Fax: 530-265-9836
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Nevada City Advocate
http://www.nevadacityadvocate.com/government/3152.html
"The only company that has apparently shown an interest to this point is Library Systems & Services, which is based in Germantown, Md. It manages the library systems nationwide and in Redding and Riverside County in Southern California."
Reader Don Pelton on Oct 13 08:52pm replied:
It's not just that LSSI is the only company "showing interest" in this business. It may well be that LSSI is the only real player in that field.
See my reports on 10/09/0, here:
http://sierravoices.com/2009/10/danger-in-privatizing-nevada-county-libraries/
... and again today, here:
http://sierravoices.com/2009/10/library-privatization-rejected-by-town-of-dartmouth/
http://www.nevadacityadvocate.com/government/3152.html
"The only company that has apparently shown an interest to this point is Library Systems & Services, which is based in Germantown, Md. It manages the library systems nationwide and in Redding and Riverside County in Southern California."
Reader Don Pelton on Oct 13 08:52pm replied:
It's not just that LSSI is the only company "showing interest" in this business. It may well be that LSSI is the only real player in that field.
See my reports on 10/09/0, here:
http://sierravoices.com/2009/10/danger-in-privatizing-nevada-county-libraries/
... and again today, here:
http://sierravoices.com/2009/10/library-privatization-rejected-by-town-of-dartmouth/
Monday, October 19, 2009
Library professional speaks out on possible library privatization
January 28, 2009 9:25 AM
To the Editor:
I recently read Dartmouth's Privatization Study Group's report recommending that the town consider outsourcing our public library services to Library Systems & Services, LLC (LSSI), a Maryland based firm. The committee recommends that the town "initiate an RFP to get all the facts out on the table"; however, the report itself reads more like a brochure for LSSI than an unbiased policy recommendation. It is incomplete, contains only information from LSSI, and repeatedly makes subjective and unsubstantiated claims. In some instances, the report is even factually incorrect. I hope this letter helps our town's leaders and the study group get the "facts on the table."
There is literature on the outsourcing of library services that provides us with reasons to be suspicious of LSSI's claims. In his article "The Outsourcing of Public Library Management" LSU Professor Robert Ward found that "achieving gains in efficiency, and citizen satisfaction, are questionable." In his research, Dr. Ward discovered that in the LSSI-run Riverside, California library system, the library's budget rose 18% from FY 1997-98 to FY 2001-02. Meanwhile services such as circulation decreased significantly, and the unit cost for service delivery increased by 58%. Paying more and getting less is neither more efficient for the municipality, nor is it more satisfying for citizens.
Matt Sylvain
Dartmouth
(Editor's note: Mr. Sylvain is the Assistant Librarian at the Claire T. Carney Library, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth)
For the complete article:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/PUB02/901280372
January 28, 2009 9:25 AM
To the Editor:
I recently read Dartmouth's Privatization Study Group's report recommending that the town consider outsourcing our public library services to Library Systems & Services, LLC (LSSI), a Maryland based firm. The committee recommends that the town "initiate an RFP to get all the facts out on the table"; however, the report itself reads more like a brochure for LSSI than an unbiased policy recommendation. It is incomplete, contains only information from LSSI, and repeatedly makes subjective and unsubstantiated claims. In some instances, the report is even factually incorrect. I hope this letter helps our town's leaders and the study group get the "facts on the table."
There is literature on the outsourcing of library services that provides us with reasons to be suspicious of LSSI's claims. In his article "The Outsourcing of Public Library Management" LSU Professor Robert Ward found that "achieving gains in efficiency, and citizen satisfaction, are questionable." In his research, Dr. Ward discovered that in the LSSI-run Riverside, California library system, the library's budget rose 18% from FY 1997-98 to FY 2001-02. Meanwhile services such as circulation decreased significantly, and the unit cost for service delivery increased by 58%. Paying more and getting less is neither more efficient for the municipality, nor is it more satisfying for citizens.
Matt Sylvain
Dartmouth
(Editor's note: Mr. Sylvain is the Assistant Librarian at the Claire T. Carney Library, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth)
For the complete article:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/PUB02/901280372
Nevada County mulling privatization of public library system
Here is The Sierra Sun's report on the Nevada County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20091015/NEWS/910159997/1066&ParentProfile=1051
Nevada County mulling privatization of public library system
By Dave Moller
Sun News Service
Here are a few points the article did not include. Citizens supported County Librarian Mary Ann Trygg's proposal of $400,000 in cuts over the next two year and asked the Board of Supervisors to slow down and look carefully at all the facts.
Nevada County Library has made it through rough times in the past. If the tax measure is not bringing in the funds for the added services that it intended, then those services could be the first to be eliminated.
Volunteers are a major support of the current library functioning. They shelve, repair, and cover books and raise thousands of dollars for books and programs. Would they still volunteer for a private company's profits?
How would the county interface with the private company? Who would monitor if current policies of privacy were being followed? Would the county or the private company handle censorship issues? If the Supervisors are against reductions in closures or services, how would they handle reductions of hours or services by a private company if that was the means of increasing profit?
Does the proposed request include specific provisions to adequately insure sufficient quality of service and performance?
Do contract renewal provisions provide the agency with a realistic option to seek a new vendor or bring the activity back in house?
After reading the proposal which is still not online as of this date, it is impossible to understand where managerial authority and legal obligation apply.
http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20091015/NEWS/910159997/1066&ParentProfile=1051
Nevada County mulling privatization of public library system
By Dave Moller
Sun News Service
Here are a few points the article did not include. Citizens supported County Librarian Mary Ann Trygg's proposal of $400,000 in cuts over the next two year and asked the Board of Supervisors to slow down and look carefully at all the facts.
Nevada County Library has made it through rough times in the past. If the tax measure is not bringing in the funds for the added services that it intended, then those services could be the first to be eliminated.
Volunteers are a major support of the current library functioning. They shelve, repair, and cover books and raise thousands of dollars for books and programs. Would they still volunteer for a private company's profits?
How would the county interface with the private company? Who would monitor if current policies of privacy were being followed? Would the county or the private company handle censorship issues? If the Supervisors are against reductions in closures or services, how would they handle reductions of hours or services by a private company if that was the means of increasing profit?
Does the proposed request include specific provisions to adequately insure sufficient quality of service and performance?
Do contract renewal provisions provide the agency with a realistic option to seek a new vendor or bring the activity back in house?
After reading the proposal which is still not online as of this date, it is impossible to understand where managerial authority and legal obligation apply.
The mission of this blog is to inform citizens about privatization of public libraries.
On October 13, 2009 the Nevada County Board of Supervisors in Nevada County California voted to approve the request for contract proposals for the management of the County Library. County Executive Officer Rick Haffey explained the county would maintain control over the facilities, but a private company would run day-to-day operations and the library employees would no longer be employed by the county.
Haffey would not call this privatization but I wonder why he is avoiding this word.
Just google "Definitions of privatization" and see if the shoe fits.
Privatization: The process of private, for-profit businesses taking over the provision of public services.
Glossary of International Trade Terms
http://www.afsc.org/TradeMatters/ht/d/sp/i/13425/pid/13425
The mission of this blog is to inform citizens about privatization of public libraries.
Haffey would not call this privatization but I wonder why he is avoiding this word.
Just google "Definitions of privatization" and see if the shoe fits.
Privatization: The process of private, for-profit businesses taking over the provision of public services.
Glossary of International Trade Terms
http://www.afsc.org/TradeMatters/ht/d/sp/i/13425/pid/13425
The mission of this blog is to inform citizens about privatization of public libraries.
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