Is it possible to enlist the assistance of your local tiers of government,
the Chamber of Commerce and whatever local Economic Development Council you
may have to reinforce your pleas for more funding? Large libraries should
be viewed as an "industry" that attracts people spending money to an area.
These "users" impact many service industries in a community as they use
transportation, hotel and food services among others. The number of
visitors to the library spending dollars, not only in the library but in the
community as well, must have a significant impact on the economics of a
community as each dollar spent has a multiplier effect in the community.
It is unfortunate that many politicians and public servants in government
view large libraries as "end users" of the tax dollar when in reality they
are agents multiplying tax dollars in the community. I suspect that when
library administrators learn to use this argument and back it up with
figures, they will have a more generous audience in the budget committee.
Public libraries should have vigorous marketing of their services just as
other industries do.
I hope this idea will grow and be fruitful.
Loretta
In Texas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandra Treadway" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: LVA money problems.
> Dear Beth (and interested listserve subscribers),
>
> Thank you for your message and for your words of support for the
> Library's current fiscal situation. As you know, the Virginia
Genealogical
> Society has also been very supportive of the Library's needs, particularly
> during the past several years, and we very much appreciate their continued
> efforts on our behalf. I know the VGS membership is as concerned as you
are
> over the steps we may have to take if our fiscal dilemma does not improve.
>
> Please know that, while no final decisions about Saturday closings
> have yet been made, the Library is facing an extremely tight period ahead
if
> the General Assembly does not alter the present budget situation in the
next
> week or so. We have several vacancies at the moment in our public service
> staff and are expecting several others during the summer, which is our
> busiest period. If things do not change, we simply will not have
sufficient
> trained archivists, librarians, and other professionals needed to keep our
> reading rooms open six days a week. The Code of Virginia requires that
the
> Library, as the research and reference library in the state capital, be
open
> during the regular business hours set for state government agencies, which
> are Monday through Friday. Thus, if we have a staffing shortage that
would
> force a reduction in hours, we would have no choice but to close on
Saturday
> rather than on a weekday.
>
> Please know, too, that we are all very aware of the serious
> difficulty this would cause for people who conduct research on Virginia
> history and genealogy, many of whom can only visit the Library on the
> weekend. If we should have to take this step, it would not be a decision
> reached lightly and it would cause us tremendous anguish as well. We have
> come so far in the past several years since our move to the new Library
> building and this set back would be a blow we would feel acutely. I am
not
> certain that there is much that can be done at this point, but the
> suggestions found on the VGS website offer the best place to start. We
have
> provided state authorities with statistics on the number of patrons served
> by the Library's staff on a typical Saturday, but letters to the
Governor's
> Office or the General Assembly from concerned constituents mean much more
> than cold numbers.
>
> We will certainly alert subscribers to Va-Hist and Va-Roots
> immediately, as well as the public at large, should the Library have to
> close on Saturdays. This would not occur before July 1, but it could
happen
> at that time should the budget situation remain as it is today.
>
> Please stay tuned! And thanks again for your kind words. It
helps
> us all to get through tough times to know that we have so many loyal
friends
> and supporters.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Sandy Treadway
>
> ----------------------
> Sandra Gioia Treadway Phone: 804-692-3599
> Deputy Director Fax: 804-692-3594
> Library of Virginia E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> 800 East Broad Street (Please note NEW e-mail address)
> Richmond, VA 23219-8000
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth Bond [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 4:20 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [VA-HIST] LVA money problems.
>
>
> Hello everyone,
> I am very disturbed by what I just saw on the Virginia Genealogical
> Society website. Their alert page at: http://www.vgs.org/alert.htm
> refers to a possible closing of LVA on Saturdays.
>
> Right now I can get there one day during the week and usually on
Saturdays.
> But during the summer with a job I have all summer, I can only get to LVA
on
> Saturdays.
>
> I know that is true for alot of people all year long and particularly
people
> from out of town or out of state.
>
> I also volunteer there one Saturday a month. I would be more than willing
> to volunteer there two Saturdays a month if it would help.
>
> Since they close early during the week at 5:00 and are open from 9:00 to
> 5:00 when most people are working, it is very difficult for alot of us to
> get there during the week.
>
> I know they are having budgetary problems but it is supposed to be a
public
> building for the public.
>
> There must be a way we all can help somehow.
>
> Mr. Tarter, what do you think?
>
> Thank you.
> Beth
> [log in to unmask]
>
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>
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