Slog
News & ArtsFriday, August 28, 2009
Life Libraries Closing for a Week
Posted by Gillian Anderson on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 3:45 PM
This weekend is your last chance to pick up your stuff at the library. All locations of the Seattle Public Library will be closed August 31 through September 7. They are closing down due to citywide budget cuts. The libraries will be open again on Tuesday, September 8.
According to the website:
No Library services will be available during the one-week closure.No items will be due and no fines will accrue.
The last day to check out Library items or use the book drops before the closure is either Saturday, Aug. 29 or Sunday, Aug. 30, depending which library you use.
No book drops will be open. Do not leave books and items outside Library locations during the closure. You will be responsible for theft, loss or damage to Library items left outside buildings. There is no need to return items during the closure because no items will be due and no fines will accrue.
No access to the online catalog. You will not be able to search the catalog or databases, place holds on items, or check your Library record.
No access to the Library Web site. No staff members will be working to maintain and troubleshoot problems. The online reference service, databases and other online features will not be available.
3
Who the fuck EVER shuts down a Web site when the physical storefront (if such exists for a particular enterprise) is closed? Are they just trying to make it hurt their patrons more?
4
Seems to me the shutting down of the website is a statement.
"We are closed. The city has not budgeted for libraries. Do you miss us? Talk to the city."
Whatever the reason, it's strange.
"We are closed. The city has not budgeted for libraries. Do you miss us? Talk to the city."
Whatever the reason, it's strange.
5
Hey, let's build another $160 million library we can't afford to run! We'll justify being "house poor" on the grounds that construction bonds couldn't have funded operations, and surely no benefactors would have funded the "Jones family Sunday hours."
Also, we'll ignore the city's most obvious demand: space for laptop users to enjoy public ambience (similar to, oh, every coffee shop). And since it's an architectural marvel, no one will question its success as, oh, a library or a public space for interaction.
Also, we'll ignore the city's most obvious demand: space for laptop users to enjoy public ambience (similar to, oh, every coffee shop). And since it's an architectural marvel, no one will question its success as, oh, a library or a public space for interaction.
6
@3: I heard the Director on NPR and she said it was because there'll be no staff to support it and it's a "gateway." The first explanation kind of makes sense, if it goes down no one is going to be putting it back up, so just sticking up a placeholder means you won't be getting anyone's hopes up for a service you won't deliver.
The second part is just MLIS speak for "we don't want the website to do things without us because it'll make people think about cutting our jobs."
The second part is just MLIS speak for "we don't want the website to do things without us because it'll make people think about cutting our jobs."
7
@6 - I tend to use the website to rack up holds on materials... I imagine that they don't want the list of reserved materials to stack up for a solid week before they have time to get to it.
8
3
no business that relies on keeping customers/clients happy ever would.
But for a bunch of civil servant/public employee union hacks it is just one more way to say 'screw you-'
no business that relies on keeping customers/clients happy ever would.
But for a bunch of civil servant/public employee union hacks it is just one more way to say 'screw you-'
10
@6, 7: Those possible explanations don't quite fly. Webmasters/IT directors are generally salaried and should be responsive to info infrastructure maintenance needs on an on-call rotating basis around the clock. Moreover, on-line reserves, renewals, etc. are completely handled by library automation software and don't create a backlog for staff--in other words, a book with a reserve hold pops up a flag when scanned on return or on attempted checkout by someone other than the first reserve in line.
11
I'm a librarian, not at SPL, and I applaud this move. No library staff will be working and none will be paid during the closure. That's right, people are off WITHOUT pay. There's no reason to try to make the budget cuts invisible to the public, or the mayor will have even more incentive to say the library can do more with less. They can't. The public should be angry, but direct that anger to the city government.
14
@10: it's a furlough. No one is there, including IT people. So if something breaks (which with something as complex as an online catalog happens all the time, it just makes things even worse. Leaving the web resources up does the give the impression that services are still available. And would it really be easier to go into all those pages and change every single on that had hours on them to erase them for a week and then a week later go back and put in the regular hours. Not to mention all the other pages that need to be changed/processed to be turned on and off.
That said, I do think they are mainly trying to send a message: you want libraries - you pay for them.
That said, I do think they are mainly trying to send a message: you want libraries - you pay for them.
15
Does this mean that office workers won't be able to park at the downtown library? It's the one part of the library that actually earns the city money!
16
I was really hoping to get that season of the twilight zone before they closed. Extra week=only clocking three episodes a day!
17
Too bad, but it is better than laying off staff. Interesting that they are shutting the website down. The website is much more than an OPAC; I use the databases on a regular basis. It's quite possible that they are trying to send a message to the community by completely cutting off all information access in order to get the populace politically involved in future budget cuts.
someone said it here before - we need to follow the KCLS model and have a flat tax to pay for SPL's day to day operation in order to free it from the municipal govt.
someone said it here before - we need to follow the KCLS model and have a flat tax to pay for SPL's day to day operation in order to free it from the municipal govt.
18
@10- Someone has to pull all the books that were put on hold, and someone has to transfer them around the branches. That's the backlog that was mentioned, and in a week it would get very, very big.
Also, the buildings are all closed, including the ones the IT staff are in. Opening the buildings would require some staffing, plus heating/cooling and cleaning.
Also, the buildings are all closed, including the ones the IT staff are in. Opening the buildings would require some staffing, plus heating/cooling and cleaning.
19
"But for a bunch of civil servant/public employee union hacks it is just one more way to say 'screw you-' "
Jenny, dear, why don't you go out and start your own library if us "civil servant/public employee union hacks" displease you so.
In the meantime, do try to STFU. You may be an idiot, but there's no need to flaunt it.
Jenny, dear, why don't you go out and start your own library if us "civil servant/public employee union hacks" displease you so.
In the meantime, do try to STFU. You may be an idiot, but there's no need to flaunt it.
21
@Jenny. As a ""civil servant/public employee union hack" I am losing an entire week of pay, which, due to SPL employing mostly part time workers (i'm 24 hours a week) , means people like me who live on the edge and often falling off the edge, will now be is some serious financial trouble. They're saying next year the closure witll be even longer... more like two weeks without pay. So yes, screw me. I'm screwed.
22
BRILLIANT defense of your position, Jenny. With a mind like yours, you really don't need a library.
24
you girls really should take it up with your union.
killing the goose that lays the golden egg is their speciality.
you girls really should take it up with your union.
killing the goose that lays the golden egg is their speciality.
25
19
22
A little testy aren't we?
But you are right, we mustn't flaunt, must we Cat-
Oh, and do please STFU, you used up hag.
22
A little testy aren't we?
But you are right, we mustn't flaunt, must we Cat-
Oh, and do please STFU, you used up hag.
26
To paraphrase an old funnyman, "Jenny, you ignorant slut!"
You do understand that the imaginary "union hacks" and "lazy civil servants" you despise so much really had no hand in this decision, don't you?
The librarian's union didn't sit down to tea one day and decide "Hey, we can save some money if we all go without pay for a week!". No, not at all.
Furloughs like this are decided by management (you know, the non-union people paid the big bucks to prevent shit like this from happening, by running competent budgets and stuff). Not the unions.
I guarantee you the union protested the decision to furlough, and probably even suggested other, smarter alternatives that would have lessened or eliminated the need to have the furlough.
By the way, Jennny (and other dipshits who often and soundly get trounced on Slog for their stupidity): How does it feel?
You do understand that the imaginary "union hacks" and "lazy civil servants" you despise so much really had no hand in this decision, don't you?
The librarian's union didn't sit down to tea one day and decide "Hey, we can save some money if we all go without pay for a week!". No, not at all.
Furloughs like this are decided by management (you know, the non-union people paid the big bucks to prevent shit like this from happening, by running competent budgets and stuff). Not the unions.
I guarantee you the union protested the decision to furlough, and probably even suggested other, smarter alternatives that would have lessened or eliminated the need to have the furlough.
By the way, Jennny (and other dipshits who often and soundly get trounced on Slog for their stupidity): How does it feel?
27
Who is this "Jenny"? A City Council member who is feeling a little guilty about not only shutting down the library but causing so many SPL workers to line up at the food bank? Jenny: assuage your guilt elsewhere. Like maybe off the end of a pier somewhere.....
28
27
Sorry, wrong guess; just a working gal with an actual job in the real world who will be drawing a paycheck next week. (if you show up early maybe the line won't be so long...)
Sorry, wrong guess; just a working gal with an actual job in the real world who will be drawing a paycheck next week. (if you show up early maybe the line won't be so long...)
29
@26
This crummy deal is perfect for the unions--city saves the needed money, but the union doesn't lose any members. If the city was run like a real company, they'd do some layoffs to trim the fat, but since the elected Democrat's in charge get campaign payoffs from the unions, they're not going to suggest that. Who loses? The taxpayers, of course.
This crummy deal is perfect for the unions--city saves the needed money, but the union doesn't lose any members. If the city was run like a real company, they'd do some layoffs to trim the fat, but since the elected Democrat's in charge get campaign payoffs from the unions, they're not going to suggest that. Who loses? The taxpayers, of course.
30
What kind of illiterate shithole closes all the libraries for a week? Greg Fuckiing Nickels would be that shithole, and this is not the first time he's done it. SLP is an easy target and inconveniences Lord Nickels much less than a much shorter, across-the-board furlough for all Seattle employees in 2009. Mayor Jowly is the same asshole who initially said Seattle wouldn't much be affected by the Great Recession because Seattle is so special, what with our world class vibrant economy and all that crap. I hope the door does hit his fat ass hard on his way out.
31
26
How does it feel?
How Does It FEEL?!
Doc- I'm crushed.
When I was making you my bitch in the alley last night you said it was the biggest thing you had ever had shoved up your ass...
I may demand my $15 back if you keep this up.
But while I've got you please share some of those other, smarter alternatives that would have lessened or eliminated the need to have the furlough that the union suggested.
Please?
How does it feel?
How Does It FEEL?!
Doc- I'm crushed.
When I was making you my bitch in the alley last night you said it was the biggest thing you had ever had shoved up your ass...
I may demand my $15 back if you keep this up.
But while I've got you please share some of those other, smarter alternatives that would have lessened or eliminated the need to have the furlough that the union suggested.
Please?
32
I know I shouldn't feed the troll but Jenny, have you ever been in a library? The people who work here have "actual jobs in the real world", taking shit off of a too often unappreciative public 7 days a week. I hope you enjoy working your actual job next week.. now I'm guessing you're a step and fetch it for Mayor Nickels.. making McDonalds runs and wiping the sweat from his fat brow.....
33
I'm totally selfish. The idea of no library for a week gives me a withdrawal-induced panic attack.
35
Who the fuck has time for the library if you have a real job? Oh, that's right, bums.
Go buy a book, you cheap fucks.
Go buy a book, you cheap fucks.
36
This is what happens when you spend recklessly on program after program, Democrats. Suddenly, you don't even have the money to keep your public services open.
39
@35 Part of my "real job" involves using the nonprofit center at the Central Library to research grants & other funding. Lots of local nonprofits rely on the SPL subscriptions to online & paper databases. Many individuals and families rely on libraries as free, safe, climate controlled places to spend time--I bring my niece to the library regularly. I make time to use the library for personal use--reserving books, CDs, and movies. I also buy books and music--but the library stretches my entertainment budget.
@36 We don't have money to keep public services open because the economy crashed under the strain of two wars and complete deregulation. I'm willing to pay more in property tax and would support a flat tax to keep libraries open and pay librarians a living wage.
I hope the library employees have researched options for making it through their forced, unpaid leave. Food banks, meal programs, utility assistance, childcare programs, etc. 2-1-1 is a great resource. Best of luck and thanks for all you do.
@36 We don't have money to keep public services open because the economy crashed under the strain of two wars and complete deregulation. I'm willing to pay more in property tax and would support a flat tax to keep libraries open and pay librarians a living wage.
I hope the library employees have researched options for making it through their forced, unpaid leave. Food banks, meal programs, utility assistance, childcare programs, etc. 2-1-1 is a great resource. Best of luck and thanks for all you do.
40
It's just sad that some people here are so uneducated about what public libraries actually do. Besides giving shelter to the homeless, the mentally ill, and the chronic alcoholics who have no resources thanks to the cuts to services for them, we actually serve a phenomenal number of families, regular old employed people, etc. But I guess it's pointless to discuss that with haters. Just keep it up.. Next time your internet crashes and you need to "borrow" one of our computer terminals, please go elsewhere. Or just buy a new computer since you're so obviously elitists and too good to mix with the masses...
41
Know who the #1 user of public libraries are? CHILDREN. That's right: children who are learning to READ. So, for sure, if you don't think that it's a pretty important public good that children learn to f&#_ing read, by all means, pretend that the library is a worthless, meaningless waste of public funds full of poor people and others who seem to make you nervous to be around.
42
@29, if the city were run like a real company, the "library" would be selling cigarettes and porn, not letting people use shit for no fee beyond their taxes.
44
" giving shelter to the homeless, the mentally ill, and the chronic alcoholics "
Fuck me, that's reason enough to shut them down all year then.
Fuck me, that's reason enough to shut them down all year then.
46
I used to work in IT at SPL. When they say the website is a "gateway", what they mean is that the library provides ISP access to those who don't have their own ISP. When I was there, it was still dial-up - it may still be - with limited support, and it was text-only, but it still provided Web and email access to those without funds for their own ISP. It took significant staff time to support.
I imagine the reason they're shutting it down is twofold: one, to make a point, and two, because otherwise half the IT staff would still be working. I can only imagine how full the help desk voicemail is going to be, let alone their email - people are going to be irate and take it out on those who had zero say in the decision.
If you're pissed about this, I highly recommend contacting the city council and Mayor's office with alternative suggestions for saving money on the city budget.
I imagine the reason they're shutting it down is twofold: one, to make a point, and two, because otherwise half the IT staff would still be working. I can only imagine how full the help desk voicemail is going to be, let alone their email - people are going to be irate and take it out on those who had zero say in the decision.
If you're pissed about this, I highly recommend contacting the city council and Mayor's office with alternative suggestions for saving money on the city budget.
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