My hope is that we can strengthen the many good things about our public library system while melting away the things that threaten its existence. Absent significant change in the next few years, I believe our public libraries will be fading away at a rapid pace by 2019.

In my view local autonomy is a societal & democratic asset, despite its incredible limitations. A well-run NPL could be a powerful counterbalance. It would introduce a more efficient systemic structure to better leverage the funds already circulating through the system. The IMLS reported collective public library operating budgets of $11b in 2007, and yet the majority of our public libraries are running on fumes because the lion’s share of operating budgets are devoted to re-inventing the wheel tens of thousands of times across the country. Foundations and corporations still make significant grants, though my impression is they’re used on campaigns geared toward making people who already love libraries love them more (e.g. “I Love Libraries” or “Geek the Library”) — or to perpetuate operations that don’t add much value for libraries or patrons (e.g. the recent Dollar General grant administered through the ALA).

Creating a top-notch centralized resource for libraries to obtain services and using donated funds to better effect would have a huge impact. It would, I believe, also trigger an avalanche of productive activity within our libraries.

I didn’t know what was going on. Now, that I read some of the comments here, it makes sense. Being who you aren’t only works for a moments and then it goes to hell. Enhancing the beauty that is you, making it better and proudly sharing who you are has better results.

I think the past ten to fifteen years, libraries have been pretending that they are something else, to a point that they no longer know who they are at all.

Let’s go back to the core and polish off the beauty that is library and get that message back to our communities.

Some things that I think are working for the library are navigators and providers of information. I think workshops are a great part of libraries; it continues in the vain of providing information.

What we can do we these things that we do well is expand on how we get this information and information-based products to our customers. This means better allocation of resources to make that happen. If a library system provided information in a format similar to what NPR priovides to its customers via internet as well as on the radio, we would be going in the right direection.

I feel ALA should be a stronger voice in creating the message that change and unity is needed in public libraries in order for them to survive. We do need an innovative leader of public libraries to bring focus to all of us and to help bring attention to all of the great services we provide.

And, as difficult as it has been to realize this — if my town proposed a tax override to fund our library for another year, I probably wouldn’t vote for it. I’m convinced the existing structure of my local/regional library system isn’t sustainable and can’t justify throwing more money at it. (Instead, I donate my managerial and technical skills generously in my own community and pursue radical advocacy in my state and across the country.)

In An Inflection Point for Public Libraries, I wrote “I believe we do not need to remake our pub­lic libraries; we sim­ply need to shore them up. As we envi­sion change, it seems impor­tant to pre­serve the local auton­omy and authen­tic­ity that have col­lec­tively made these insti­tu­tions a national trea­sure. The right change would bol­ster libraries’ abil­ity to lever­age dig­i­tal tech­nol­ogy while increas­ing use of their phys­i­cal facil­i­ties and sur­round­ing ameni­ties.” I’ve proposed creation of a National Public Library Corporation, similar to NPR. I’d be interested to know what you think of this idea.

Interestingly, I think NPR did lose its way for awhile. I’ve been a steady listener and contributor since 1985. A few years ago, I felt NPR didn’t deliver the high quality programming I’d come to rely on. This was partly due to financial pressure – NPR was cutting back like all news organizations & the depth of reporting suffered. They were also trying to modernize and in doing so, gave up their special sauce (IMHO). They dumped renowned host Bob Edwards in favor of a younger male/female team. They also dropped thoughtful essays by folks like Elissa Ely, MD and Baxter Black in favor of trendy pieces in the “Jerry Seinfeld” vein. As a result, I listened less and donated less. Vivian Schiller is bringing NPR back, and she’s brought me along with her. I listen more, contribute more and once again spread the word about good content I’ve heard on the radio or experienced online.

But like I said, having a Vivian on our side could only help!

For example, a friend of mine, knowing I am a librarian, complained to me that his local public library was too loud. Why were the librarians allowing so much noise? He also believed that it was extremely foolish for the library to be built right next to the local high school, because “at 2 pm the library is flooded with high school students. What were they thinking?!?” He concluded that he no longer visits the library after 2 pm as it is too disruptive.

There is a tendency amongst librarians to want to dispel the stereotypes about our profession. We want to modernize the library and make it “hip.” One of the biggest insults one librarian can say to another is, “get the bun out of your hair.” A “modern” librarian once remarked that if patrons want quiet they should go to a coffee shop instead of a library.

Why do we spend so much time trying to dispel these stereotypes? That is our brand, it is who we are. To go back to the NPR analogy, the new president didn’t replace the current programming with hip-hop to appeal to Gen Y. She stayed true to the brand, which is always the first rule: do not alienate your core customer-base.

High schoolers are great, but they don’t approve millages.