From the NY Times[1]
we are "told", as they are all too often wont to do:
For children and teenagers, libraries help instill an
ethic of responsibility, to themselves and to their neighbors, by teaching them
what it means to borrow and take care of something public, and to return it so
others can have it too. For new parents, grandparents and caretakers who feel
overwhelmed when watching an infant or a toddler by themselves, libraries are a
godsend. In many neighborhoods, particularly those where young people aren’t
hyper-scheduled in formal after-school programs, libraries are highly popular
among adolescents and teenagers who want to spend time with other people their
age. One reason is that they’re open, accessible and free. Another is that the
library staff members welcome them; in many branches, they even assign areas
for teenagers to be with one another…The openness and diversity that flourish
in neighborhood libraries were once a hallmark of urban culture. But that has
changed. Though American cities are growing more ethnically, racially and
culturally diverse, they too often remain divided and unequal, with some
neighborhoods cutting themselves off from difference — sometimes intentionally,
sometimes just by dint of rising costs — particularly when it comes to race and
social class.
Well I wonder what the "ethic of responsibility"
is? A "fine" for a late book, a place for teenagers to "hang out". I
really wonder what world the writer is in. Libraries were in my day controlled
locations, silence, and oversight. Also they are filled with materials that the
librarians like. Also, and this is critical, a 10 day borrowing period just
does not work for trying to learn calculus. It may works for some trashy novel,
but not for The Brothers Karamazov. Also libraries are not often in the best of
locations.
What is or shall we say was the role of a library. It was at least as far as I recall a depository of knowledge to be shared by a community. A library at a University, a school, even a corporation. It was not a social meeting ground. A community center serves that function. But libraries have become whatever we want them to be since they have funding independent of function. I will demonstrate that below.
What is or shall we say was the role of a library. It was at least as far as I recall a depository of knowledge to be shared by a community. A library at a University, a school, even a corporation. It was not a social meeting ground. A community center serves that function. But libraries have become whatever we want them to be since they have funding independent of function. I will demonstrate that below.
Now as to funding, in New Jersey there is a massive tax
imposed based on real estate values. Live in a rich town and get a well-funded
library. However rich towns do not really need libraries. Poorer towns may have
no interest.
From NJSpotlight[2]:
How are public libraries funded? Because they are public
entities, libraries receive money from the state and must adhere to certain
standards, like size and number of books, and are required to have an annual
audit to ensure they are complying with state regulations. Almost all public
libraries are funded according to equalized valuation of all property in the
towns they serve, not just residential properties. New Jersey law sets the
minimum funding limit for municipal libraries at what they call “1/3 mill.”
This works out to $0.33 on each $1,000 of equalized value of the property, but
currently more than half the libraries in the state are funded above this
amount, according to the NJLA. For county libraries, that minimum is set at
1/15 mill (about $6.66 per $100,000) on the "apportionment valuation.” The
NJLA reports that all county libraries are funded above this amount.
Note the last statement. Those rich towns really get well
funded libraries. But who uses them?
From the State Law[3]:
Implementing the Municipal Library Tax Levy Law (Revised)
P.L. 2011, c. 38 (S‐2068) This Local Finance Notice supersedes and replaces the
guidance contained in Notice 2011‐13, which is repealed. This Notice provides
an improved process that is consistent with other financial transactions
related to the fiscal relationship of municipalities and public libraries
covered under P.L. 2011, c. 38 (S‐2068), enacted and taking effect on March 21,
2011. The law provides a dedicated line item on property tax bill to fund
municipal free and joint free public libraries. It does not result in any
increased taxes, but changes the way the minimum library appropriation is
displayed to the public. The implementation procedure maintains budgeting the
minimum 1/3 mill of equalized value in a budget appropriation, but deducts that
amount from the tax levy in the calculation of the Amount to Be Raised by taxes
for Support of the Municipal Budget. This reduces the municipal tax levy and
rate, creates a new line item and tax rate on the tax bill for municipal
library purposes, maintains a neutral cap levy, and maintains the library
appropriation as part of the municipal budget to facilitate library related
transactions.
Thus take a town with 5,000 homes valued at $500,000 per
home. Assume 10,000 residents. Then the Real Estate is $2.5 billion and at a
rate of 0.33 mil, that is $8.25 million for the library per year. Or $850 per
resident! Imagine how many books you could buy on ABE for example! That is
mandated every year! Imagine a really rich town, say with $2 million homes and
this $2500 per year per person to the library!
Perhaps it really is time to re-look at libraries. With real
data, not politically correct wording. If one recalls Eco's The Name of the Rose, there a library was a cloistered and secure collection of allowed and forbidden texts. I can never recall a library as a social meeting ground, devoid perhaps of any books. But alas in today's world, who needs books? They may be dangerous. After all one's smart phone contains all one needs, really.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/civil-society-library.html
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/civil-society-library.html
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