Privatizing Public Libraries

[The Straight Story]

Privatizing Public Libraries


Ongoing budget deficits at the local government level have opened the door for a private company to develop into the fifth largest library system in the United States. Library Systems & Services (LSSI) currently operates 14 public library systems in 63 locations, ranging from California to Tennessee. The privatization move has been met with opposition from residents who believe libraries should be treated like public safety operations and not taken out of the hands of the government. The company has claimed financial success in turning around ailing libraries by slashing overhead costs and replacing unionized employees.

For the first time, however, LSSI has been hired to operate a library system that is not experiencing dire financial difficulties. The city of Santa Clarita in Southern California has signed a $4 million contract with the company to run its three libraries, which until now had been part of the Los Angeles County library system.

Santa Clarita’s mayor pro tem, Marsha McLean, told The New York Times that the libraries will still be public because they will be open to the public and owned by the city.

LSSI is majority owned by a private equity firm, Islington Capital Partners.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Privatizing_Public_Libraries_100928

[ibegurpard]

1. why not? it's good enough for education

[Iris]

Yep. And why would we ever consider free and open access to information a right

it's not like we're in an information age or anything

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[Liberal_in_LA]

2. Oh no!

That's terrible.

[Blue Owl]

3. As soon as I found out there would be a George W. Bush Library on a college campus

I knew this country was safely tucked inside the handbasket to hell.

Fuck.

[howaboutme]

4. Public Private partnerships are about corruption

not more efficient service for communities, or the people. This needs nipped in the bud. How many people will be willing to volunteer for a private for profit corporation? Library volunteers are a big part of community and keeping costs down. Corrupt politicians of both Parties make these decisions with their palm up.

[Iris]

5. In the article, the CEO of the company says they are a "family run business"

like that makes it better! (And, actually, they are now a publicly held company)

[Kablooie]

7. So are Koch Industries.

[L0oniX]

6. Libraries are going to be museums. Sadly, E books are the future.

[Iris]

13. No they won't. Libraries are about access to information not books.

[L0oniX]

15. So you don't think libraries will be online? Whatever.

[LWolf]

8. Schools, libraries, teachers, librarians, nurses....

when the privatization formula's working, it keeps showing up.

:grr:

[DonCoquixote]

10. OH god

Libraries will be the last canary to die before the corps and the jesus freaks choke off all information.

[SugarShack]

11. This happened in Tampa, FL several years ago, and the communities fought them down!

Stand up for your rights, when they come to a town near you!

[HEyHEY]

12. Doesn't that just make it a bookstore?

[Iris]

14. good point

[MajorChode]

16. Public libraries are dying a slow death anyway

ebooks are just going to take a larger and larger share of the market each year. I don't know why libraries are loaning out ebook readers already.