Lib Politics Rodeo January 20th, 2014
The Sacramento City Council voted last week to put a $12 per year property parcel tax to fund libraries on the June 2014 ballot. This would provide additional funding to support a growing system.Three new libraries have been added since the last tax was approved.
Welcome to the Lib Politics Rodeo.
Every Monday we will round up the previous week’s news on library politics and highlight some of the things that we are following or reading. Here’s what we have in our lassos this week.
In the news:
The Sacramento City Council voted last week to put a $12 per year property parcel tax to fund libraries on the June 2014 ballot. This would provide additional funding to support a growing system.Three new libraries have been added since the last tax was approved. EveryLibrary is watching this, but we are not yet involved. Also in California, nine Los Angeles libraries will now be open Sundays thanks to measure L that passed in 2011. Other services are also being restored. In the words of mayor Eric Garcetti, "by reopening our libraries on Sundays, we reopen the doors of opportunity for thousands of children and families who look to their local library as a place of learning, safety and community."
Back in December we learned that a joint levy was voted down for the Kanawha County Library (WV) and School District. Looks like the library will push forward with its own levy in the 2014 November election. The library will make a proposal to the School Board in February. The library lost almost half of its funding last year when the state Supreme Court ruled that the school district could no longer provide funding for the library. So far, 40 employees have retired or resigned. However, more layoffs will be needed to meet budget cuts. Library officials are hesitant to close branches and are opting instead for reductions in library hours and staffing.
Last, but not least, the area hit by hurricane Katrina may see the first ever library funding increase since before the storm hit. Webster Parish (LA) will have a special election on May 3rd to vote for a renewal of the library's funding. This is for a 10 year 12-mill tax that is set to expire on December 31st, 2014.
We are looking forward to the American Library Association 2014 Conference in Philadelphia next week even though the polar vortex is expected to hit again. EveryLibrary will be holding its Annual Meeting where we will be electing new members to our board as well as discussing the year ahead. We hope that you will join us for this meeting and also support us in the year ahead by attending our social event. The EveryLibrary | Mango Midwinter After-Hours Benefit and Party. $25 for an open bar, film festival, and networking from 9 pm – 11 pm. Then we open the doors (with suggested donation of $10+) for an after-hours dance party with DJ Marc Records. Get your ticket now so you wont have to endure the polar vortex any longer than needed.
That’s all for today. We'll be at another rodeo next week. Hope to see you at the conference. We'll be back with more Lib Politics Rodeo on February 3rd. Happy trails!