The Budget and Us

How nice it is to blog again. I've missed writing, and there really is no excuse for not keeping up with it for so long. I can say that I stopped before my younger son was born - but he's thirteen months old now, and although there were complications following his birth, I've been back at the library for some time. I'll have to promise myself that I'll write more often - if not every day, then at least once or twice a week.

The big issue right now is the disgraceful condition of the state's budget. Like representatives of other organizations, library advocates are fighting to maintain their share of the funds. Marketing has never been the traditional librarian's strong point, but suddenly it has become a task of utmost importance - only slightly less so than answering reference questions.

But I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about this particular campaign. Naturally, I'm a firm believer in the power of libraries, and I recognize the need to convey that message to the public. We can never stop advocating, can never stop working to disprove the theory that "everything" can be found on the Internet and that, therefore, libraries are worthless.

And yet, because of the current dire financial situation of the state, everyone is being asked to relinquish some of what they have. Teachers, public workers, and those in the private sector, too, have to sacrifice in order to rebuild the foundation from which we work. Why should librarians be spared? We don't live in a bubble; we live in a society, and we need to work together in order to improve the economy. That doesn't mean quitting, it doesn't mean ceasing to advocate, but it may mean purchasing fewer databases or even combining facilities.

Like any other reasonable person, I don't want to work with less. I don't want to have to offer my patrons a limited number of resources, don't want to cut down on the remarkable programs that we offer. But it is essential to acknowledge the reality of our situation. And so I refuse to participate in the mass hysteria that is being generated by some organizations.