Friday, October 31, 2008
Leon schools and public libraries may combine
According to a story posted October 30 by WCTV-TV, the Leon County Commission and School Board are considering plans to combine public libraries and schools. The full article includes a video clip and is posted at http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/33600269.html.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
October 21, 2008
Flagler seeks library pact with St. Johns By HEATHER SCOFIELD Staff Writer
PALM COAST -- Flagler County residents have always been able to check out books from libraries in neighboring St. Johns County without paying a fee.
Until a few months ago, that is.
The economic downturn, housing market meltdown and subsequent loss of property tax revenues in Florida counties has left libraries and other government-supported agencies around the state scrambling to find new ways to stay afloat, said Flagler County Library Director Holly Albanese.
For the St. Johns County Library system, that meant a new era of charging out-of-county residents for their St. Johns County library card.
But many Flagler residents depend on St. Johns' libraries for services and materials they can't get in Flagler's small system, Albanese said.
"Flagler residents have always enjoyed reciprocal borrowing privileges in St. Johns County," Albanese said. And she wants to keep it that way, Albanese said.
In a meeting Monday, Flagler County commissioners agreed to sign an agreement with St. Johns officials that would keep the neighborly generosity flowing between the counties, with residents of each county able to get free library cards in the two counties.
The Flagler County library system consists of one major library in Palm Coast and a satellite branch in Bunnell that only operates a few days per week. So residents often depend on the larger, neighboring county library systems to meet their needs when Flagler can't. And an August voter referendum that would've protected or even expanded library services in the county in light of recent budget woes was shot down, so officials aren't sure when the funds will be available for library system improvements, County Administrator Craig Coffey said.
"It makes keeping these types of arrangements more important," Coffey said.
More than 41,000 registered borrowers utilize Flagler County libraries, some of whom are St. Johns County residents, Albanese said.
And while Flagler's neighbors can still get a Flagler County Library Card without charge, Coffey said the library is looking to recoup some of its budget losses from the last few years in part through a new service that would provide passport photos to residents who require them.
heather.scofield@news-jrnl.com
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01102108.htm
Flagler seeks library pact with St. Johns By HEATHER SCOFIELD Staff Writer
PALM COAST -- Flagler County residents have always been able to check out books from libraries in neighboring St. Johns County without paying a fee.
Until a few months ago, that is.
The economic downturn, housing market meltdown and subsequent loss of property tax revenues in Florida counties has left libraries and other government-supported agencies around the state scrambling to find new ways to stay afloat, said Flagler County Library Director Holly Albanese.
For the St. Johns County Library system, that meant a new era of charging out-of-county residents for their St. Johns County library card.
But many Flagler residents depend on St. Johns' libraries for services and materials they can't get in Flagler's small system, Albanese said.
"Flagler residents have always enjoyed reciprocal borrowing privileges in St. Johns County," Albanese said. And she wants to keep it that way, Albanese said.
In a meeting Monday, Flagler County commissioners agreed to sign an agreement with St. Johns officials that would keep the neighborly generosity flowing between the counties, with residents of each county able to get free library cards in the two counties.
The Flagler County library system consists of one major library in Palm Coast and a satellite branch in Bunnell that only operates a few days per week. So residents often depend on the larger, neighboring county library systems to meet their needs when Flagler can't. And an August voter referendum that would've protected or even expanded library services in the county in light of recent budget woes was shot down, so officials aren't sure when the funds will be available for library system improvements, County Administrator Craig Coffey said.
"It makes keeping these types of arrangements more important," Coffey said.
More than 41,000 registered borrowers utilize Flagler County libraries, some of whom are St. Johns County residents, Albanese said.
And while Flagler's neighbors can still get a Flagler County Library Card without charge, Coffey said the library is looking to recoup some of its budget losses from the last few years in part through a new service that would provide passport photos to residents who require them.
heather.scofield@news-jrnl.com
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01102108.htm
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Treasure Island don't need no li-berry
St. Petersburg Times
By Howard Troxler, Times columnist Published Wednesday, October 1, 2008 8:24 PM
The Gulf Beaches Public Library in Madeira Beach is a bright and friendly place. On Wednesday morning the staff was hanging Halloween decorations in the children's section, and getting ready for the afternoon session of its Alfred Hitchcock film series (Foreign Correspondent).
Just after the library opened, the parking lot already was half filled, and bikes were lined up in the rack. Most of the computers already were in use. "I'm looking for the American Revolution," one patron wandering in the shelves said to a staff member.
I knew how he felt.
For more than 40 years, the Gulf Beaches Public Library has been supported by five Pinellas County cities — Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington Beach and Redington Shores.
Until now.
Treasure Island has pulled out of the deal for the coming year, citing a tight budget. Treasure Island will not chip in its $107,000 share of the library's $513,000 budget.
If you are a Treasure Island resident who wants a library card, you'll have to pay $100, the same as any other outsider to the Pinellas library system. The city will not reimburse you, as some Pinellas cities do.
It is fair to say that Treasure Island's unilateral pullout has left some bad feelings all around — among the other cities holding the bag, as well as some of its own residents. The library is drawing down its reserves while it figures out what to do.
The library has an explanatory sign at its entrance for Treasure Island residents. To encourage them to buy a card, the library is holding a drawing for two $50 gift certificates at Publix, and two $50 gas vouchers (or these days, about half a tank).
Jan Horah, the library director, asked me to say this: If you're a Treasure Island resident who intends to buy the $100 card, please do it there, so her branch gets the money.
I saw a cheerful fellow come in, sit down at the front desk and eagerly pay his $100. I asked him if he was from Treasure Island, and he said yes.
"My wife and I are frequent users," Dick Krahenbuhl, 70, told me. She'll go through two or three books a week; he's the "shuttle driver" back and forth to the library.
"I disagree with the city, and I'll tell you why," he said. "They'll never convince me there isn't some way to save money somewhere along the way."
Actually, Treasure Island's $16.7-million budget looks reasonably tight. It's cut jobs and jacked up other fees on residents.
If I were mean, I would point out that the City Commission itself will cost $60,000 next year in salaries, life and medical insurance.
Life and medical insurance!
But that would be mean.
Treasure Island's alternative was to keep property taxes just high enough to cover the $107,000 library cost, averaging an extra $21 per parcel of land.
Twenty-one bucks. Not worth it, they said. Let those who want a library card pay $100. And if they don't have $100, the heck with them.
It seems odd to have to argue for the importance of libraries in a democracy. In fact, I don't think you can have the second without the first. But this view is probably out of fashion in a defiantly know-nothing age.
If Treasure Island doesn't think libraries are important, Treasure Island deserves what it gets in return. That goes for the rest of us, too.
By Howard Troxler, Times columnist Published Wednesday, October 1, 2008 8:24 PM
The Gulf Beaches Public Library in Madeira Beach is a bright and friendly place. On Wednesday morning the staff was hanging Halloween decorations in the children's section, and getting ready for the afternoon session of its Alfred Hitchcock film series (Foreign Correspondent).
Just after the library opened, the parking lot already was half filled, and bikes were lined up in the rack. Most of the computers already were in use. "I'm looking for the American Revolution," one patron wandering in the shelves said to a staff member.
I knew how he felt.
For more than 40 years, the Gulf Beaches Public Library has been supported by five Pinellas County cities — Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington Beach and Redington Shores.
Until now.
Treasure Island has pulled out of the deal for the coming year, citing a tight budget. Treasure Island will not chip in its $107,000 share of the library's $513,000 budget.
If you are a Treasure Island resident who wants a library card, you'll have to pay $100, the same as any other outsider to the Pinellas library system. The city will not reimburse you, as some Pinellas cities do.
It is fair to say that Treasure Island's unilateral pullout has left some bad feelings all around — among the other cities holding the bag, as well as some of its own residents. The library is drawing down its reserves while it figures out what to do.
The library has an explanatory sign at its entrance for Treasure Island residents. To encourage them to buy a card, the library is holding a drawing for two $50 gift certificates at Publix, and two $50 gas vouchers (or these days, about half a tank).
Jan Horah, the library director, asked me to say this: If you're a Treasure Island resident who intends to buy the $100 card, please do it there, so her branch gets the money.
I saw a cheerful fellow come in, sit down at the front desk and eagerly pay his $100. I asked him if he was from Treasure Island, and he said yes.
"My wife and I are frequent users," Dick Krahenbuhl, 70, told me. She'll go through two or three books a week; he's the "shuttle driver" back and forth to the library.
"I disagree with the city, and I'll tell you why," he said. "They'll never convince me there isn't some way to save money somewhere along the way."
Actually, Treasure Island's $16.7-million budget looks reasonably tight. It's cut jobs and jacked up other fees on residents.
If I were mean, I would point out that the City Commission itself will cost $60,000 next year in salaries, life and medical insurance.
Life and medical insurance!
But that would be mean.
Treasure Island's alternative was to keep property taxes just high enough to cover the $107,000 library cost, averaging an extra $21 per parcel of land.
Twenty-one bucks. Not worth it, they said. Let those who want a library card pay $100. And if they don't have $100, the heck with them.
It seems odd to have to argue for the importance of libraries in a democracy. In fact, I don't think you can have the second without the first. But this view is probably out of fashion in a defiantly know-nothing age.
If Treasure Island doesn't think libraries are important, Treasure Island deserves what it gets in return. That goes for the rest of us, too.
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