The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

The economy is headlines news every way you look these days. We are
hearing the words recession, depression, unemployment, foreclosure,
bail-out and downturn on a daily basis.

Libraries are not new to dealing with budget cuts and limitations.
I am fortunate enough to work in a library that is in Ohio. Ohio may
have bad winters, bleak employment prospects, and a bad reputations
in many other areas, but Ohio has the nations best public libraries.
Compared to other states we are better funded and consistently populate
the upper tiers on library rankings in many areas.

In tough economic times people are now turning to their libraries for services
they previously looked to the retail or commercial sector to fulfill. Movies, books, information, computer use, and classes are all being used more than ever at local public libraries.

What does this mean for libraries and librarians? This is it people!
This is our time to shine. Drag out your Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney
spirit and put on a show. We have their attention and it's time to amp up
the customer service to 11. Public libraries are used to providing great customer
service on a tight budget and we will have to continue to do so. It's very simple-
give them what they are asking for the best way we can with the resources we have.

I'm proud to be working at a library that is now embracing this philosophy every day.



"Economic Uncertainty Spreads to Library Endowments," American Library Association, October 14, 2008.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2008/october2008/endowmentsshaken.cfm (Accessed January 10, 2009)
Document ID: 516576