The U.S. public library system is wonderfully and fatally interspersed. The wonder comes from its reach, diversity and cooperation. Thousands of libraries span the American landscape. Each reflects its local constituency and caters to its unique needs. They do so with enough standardization to enable anyone to enter a library anywhere in the country and seek assistance, use resources, borrow materials and participate in programs. What a success story!
The fatality is that we rally, plead and petition individually to save our local libraries — and our efforts do not accrue from year-to-year or to each other.
So let’s try pushing together.
Contact me. It takes just two to start something.
Your “The fatality is that we rally, plead and petition individually to save our local libraries” resonates with my urging as ALA president this year that we view our libraries as an integrated ecosystem and that we unify our splintered advocacy efforts. See http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/advocacyuniversity/additup/about/abt_2.cfm.