This post by RCA
President Colin Mills was originally published in Reston Patch.
President Colin Mills was originally published in Reston Patch.
In Fairfax County, we love our libraries. That was never more apparent than last
Wednesday, when the Library Board of Trustees met to consider the “Beta Plan”
proposed by library administration. The Coutny’s
citizens stood up – and showed up – to support our libraries and our
librarians. And the Board listened.
Wednesday, when the Library Board of Trustees met to consider the “Beta Plan”
proposed by library administration. The Coutny’s
citizens stood up – and showed up – to support our libraries and our
librarians. And the Board listened.
As I mentioned
last month, the Beta Plan would dramatically reshape how the County’s
libraries operate, mostly for the worse: with a smaller and less-credentialed
staff and no dedicated positions for children’s librarians. Combined with the shrinking of the library’s
collection, driven by an aggressive book-culling program, our library system
appeared headed for a dimmer future: fewer books, fewer staff, and less
specialized service.
last month, the Beta Plan would dramatically reshape how the County’s
libraries operate, mostly for the worse: with a smaller and less-credentialed
staff and no dedicated positions for children’s librarians. Combined with the shrinking of the library’s
collection, driven by an aggressive book-culling program, our library system
appeared headed for a dimmer future: fewer books, fewer staff, and less
specialized service.
When RCA passed
a resolution in August opposing the Beta Plan, the issue hadn’t yet crossed
into public view. Library staffers were
well aware of the changes, and some of the public had become informed, but it
wasn’t yet a big deal. Over the next
couple of weeks, though, the story exploded in the local media and among citizens.
a resolution in August opposing the Beta Plan, the issue hadn’t yet crossed
into public view. Library staffers were
well aware of the changes, and some of the public had become informed, but it
wasn’t yet a big deal. Over the next
couple of weeks, though, the story exploded in the local media and among citizens.
What really captured people’s attention was the thousands of
books in perfectly good condition, tossed into dumpsters rather than being sold
or given away. A library destroying
books instead of saving them? The idea
shocked and appalled a lot of book lovers, including me.
books in perfectly good condition, tossed into dumpsters rather than being sold
or given away. A library destroying
books instead of saving them? The idea
shocked and appalled a lot of book lovers, including me.
Given the attention around the issue (including an article
in the Washington
Post), I expected the meeting to be well-attended. I showed up at George Mason Regional Library
in Annandale at 6:30 for the 7 PM meeting, to ensure that I would get a good
seat.
in the Washington
Post), I expected the meeting to be well-attended. I showed up at George Mason Regional Library
in Annandale at 6:30 for the 7 PM meeting, to ensure that I would get a good
seat.
Turns out I should have come earlier; the parking lot was
already full, and I had to circle several times before I could even find a
spot! I knew then that our citizens weren’t
going to let our libraries go down without a fight.
already full, and I had to circle several times before I could even find a
spot! I knew then that our citizens weren’t
going to let our libraries go down without a fight.
I walked into the meeting with Tresa Schlecht, the brave
woman who was the first to photograph the dumpsters full of discarded
books. “I’ll bet they’ve never had a
crowd like this!” she said, and I agreed.
The crowd was so big that the meeting room couldn’t hold us all; they
piped the audio out into the lobby to accommodate the overflow.
woman who was the first to photograph the dumpsters full of discarded
books. “I’ll bet they’ve never had a
crowd like this!” she said, and I agreed.
The crowd was so big that the meeting room couldn’t hold us all; they
piped the audio out into the lobby to accommodate the overflow.
Unfortunately, policy at Library Board meetings limits the
number of public speakers to 5.
Fortunately, the people who spoke, including Reston’s own Kathy Kaplan,
were passionate and united in opposition to the Beta Plan. As if to stress how personal this issue is,
each speaker started by talking about her history of involvement with the
library system. Each speaker received
rousing applause from the crowd.
number of public speakers to 5.
Fortunately, the people who spoke, including Reston’s own Kathy Kaplan,
were passionate and united in opposition to the Beta Plan. As if to stress how personal this issue is,
each speaker started by talking about her history of involvement with the
library system. Each speaker received
rousing applause from the crowd.
Fortunately, the Board didn’t leave us in suspense for
long. After reading the resolution
passed the previous night by the Board of Supervisors, which called for the
Beta Plan to be delayed, the Library Board voted unanimously to suspend the
Beta Plan indefinitely. Board Chairman Willard
Jasper formed an ad hoc committee to solicit public input and figure out a path
forward that works for everyone. He
formed a separate committee to review the book-culling policies and recommend
changes. Great news for us book lovers!
long. After reading the resolution
passed the previous night by the Board of Supervisors, which called for the
Beta Plan to be delayed, the Library Board voted unanimously to suspend the
Beta Plan indefinitely. Board Chairman Willard
Jasper formed an ad hoc committee to solicit public input and figure out a path
forward that works for everyone. He
formed a separate committee to review the book-culling policies and recommend
changes. Great news for us book lovers!
My favorite part of the meeting came at the end. The Board concludes its meetings with closing
remarks by each Board member. Each member
thanked the audience for attending, talked about his or her own love of books,
and stressed the importance of having a library system we can all be proud
of. The crowd applauded these remarks as
well. It was a nice kumbaya moment, and
I think everyone left feeling happy.
remarks by each Board member. Each member
thanked the audience for attending, talked about his or her own love of books,
and stressed the importance of having a library system we can all be proud
of. The crowd applauded these remarks as
well. It was a nice kumbaya moment, and
I think everyone left feeling happy.
This was a great victory for library employees and patrons
alike. We reaffirmed our commitment to
quality library service. The Board heard
from the people and acted accordingly.
And we reframed the debate: instead of arguing over the Beta Plan cuts,
we can talk about providing great libraries that meet the needs of the citizens
going forward.
alike. We reaffirmed our commitment to
quality library service. The Board heard
from the people and acted accordingly.
And we reframed the debate: instead of arguing over the Beta Plan cuts,
we can talk about providing great libraries that meet the needs of the citizens
going forward.
There is a caveat to all this good news. We may have won this battle, but the war isn’t
over. The ad hoc committee will report
back to the Board in November, and we need to voice our support for our
libraries and librarians between now and then.
At the meeting, several Board members showed off the hundreds of emails
and letters they’d received in opposition to the Beta Plan. We need to make sure they keep hearing from
us. Email
the Library Board and let them know how you feel. And when there are public meetings on the
library’s future, show up and make your voice heard. (We’ll keep you informed of the meeting
schedule as we learn it.)
over. The ad hoc committee will report
back to the Board in November, and we need to voice our support for our
libraries and librarians between now and then.
At the meeting, several Board members showed off the hundreds of emails
and letters they’d received in opposition to the Beta Plan. We need to make sure they keep hearing from
us. Email
the Library Board and let them know how you feel. And when there are public meetings on the
library’s future, show up and make your voice heard. (We’ll keep you informed of the meeting
schedule as we learn it.)
We need to reach out to the Board of Supervisors as
well. The proposed cuts were a reaction
to a very real budget crunch that our library system faces. The County’s per-capita library spending has
dropped by over 30% since 2007, and the library system’s share of the County
budget has fallen by a third in that time.
well. The proposed cuts were a reaction
to a very real budget crunch that our library system faces. The County’s per-capita library spending has
dropped by over 30% since 2007, and the library system’s share of the County
budget has fallen by a third in that time.
In his closing remarks, Chairman Jasper urged all the people
who showed up at the meeting to turn out again when he testifies at the Board
of Supervisors budget hearings. He noted
that at most budget hearings, the police and fire departments are well
represented, but only a couple people show up to support the libraries. We can’t let that happen again. We need to show the Board of Supervisors that
libraries are a core function of the County in our eyes.
who showed up at the meeting to turn out again when he testifies at the Board
of Supervisors budget hearings. He noted
that at most budget hearings, the police and fire departments are well
represented, but only a couple people show up to support the libraries. We can’t let that happen again. We need to show the Board of Supervisors that
libraries are a core function of the County in our eyes.
The Beta Plan may have been a disaster in the making, but it
did provide a valuable teaching moment for us all. One Library Board member made a good analogy in
her closing comments. She compared the
library system to a stoplight: We need it, but we tend to take it for granted
unless it’s not there or it’s not working right.
did provide a valuable teaching moment for us all. One Library Board member made a good analogy in
her closing comments. She compared the
library system to a stoplight: We need it, but we tend to take it for granted
unless it’s not there or it’s not working right.
This crisis has been a wake-up call. As someone who loves our libraries, I was
glad to have a chance to stand up and support them. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another book-dumping
crisis for us to give our libraries the funding and support they deserve.
glad to have a chance to stand up and support them. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another book-dumping
crisis for us to give our libraries the funding and support they deserve.
Thanks for the comment, Spookd. And you make an excellent point! The Board of Supervisors is responsible for the declining library budget, and we need to make sure they're held accountable.
Don't let the Board of Supervisors off the hook.
Let our Supervisor Hudgins know her political future may depend on her role in resolving this egregious breach of faith.
Our Real Estate taxes have gone up, so why has the library budget declined?
And, why is our library staff populated by "poorly credentialed" librarians.