Librarians laid off, libraries to close all over Detroit

**socks_mahoney** · March-28-11, 03:04 PM

A community group I work with was supposed to have a meeting at the library in our neighborhood tonight. I got a phone call from the receptionist there today informing me that all the librarians had been laid off and the library had to close---so the meeting would be cancelled.

But the meeting is pretty inconsequential. The lady said that all the librarians are being laid off...this is not right.

A friend recently told me too that the main branch of DPL is going to close. I didn't believe him, until now.

Detroiters are going to have to stand up and say NO sooner than later.

lilpup · March-28-11, 03:14 PM

It was announced a while back that 85 library staff would be cut. To my knowledge the main branch isn't closing. There are lay-offs and closures happening at libraries nationwide. It's really surprising that DPL has held on as long as it has without a big move.

Troy is losing their library altogether since voters voted not to fund it.

**fryar** · March-28-11, 03:28 PM

'Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.' - Walter Cronkite

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110326/...#ixzz1HvaKZllM

**Mind field** · March-28-11, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by fryar

'Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.' - Walter Cronkite

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110326/...#ixzz1HvaKZllM

Too late. Our nation is already ignorant as hell. All people care about any more is playing video games, laughing at comedies, drinking, getting laid and useless gossip.

**English** · March-28-11, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mind field

Too late. Our nation is already ignorant as hell. All people care about any more is playing video games, laughing at comedies, drinking, getting laid and useless gossip.

Unfortunately, yes. There is also a kind of rank selfishness that I see growing among people. Today, I had some conversations about the erosion of the notion of not only the public good, but "public" anything -- public education, public television, public radio, public sector workers, the public in general. My sense is that people are frightened and want to cocoon themselves and their families against further financial hardships.

We will continue to get rid of our institutions and privatize everything as long as people trust the largesse of corporations over government and nonprofits. Where we go next from this historical moment is anyone's guess. As a liberal, I don't like this, and feel that we haven't learned our lessons from the 2008 crash. My conservative friends tend to believe that when we bailed out Wall Street and the Big Three, we ruined things. In the end, I believe that historians will judge Bush and Obama's bailout and stimuli as a mistake. The only question remaining is how colossal -- is this the beginning of a temporary period of austerity, or is the end of the America we knew?

**Eric_c** · March-28-11, 04:21 PM

Well, if the libraries close, then they'd better damn-well put up those steel, anchored window and door covers or else they'll be nothing to come back to.

THIS is the truth, people!

Anybody know anybody of consequence within the library system to remind them of this simple, probably unthought of, yet very real precaution?

Mark my words: if certain safegaurds aren't taken the *minute* these buildings close, there will be pics all over this site within a matter of months, if not weeks, of rifled, ruined, scrapped-out library buildings blighting our neighborhoods.

Lay off a few more librarians if it means we can have a routine security patrol protecting our public buildings and already-fragile streetscapes.

**Zimm** · March-28-11, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mind field

Too late. Our nation is already ignorant as hell. All people care about any more is playing video games, laughing at comedies, drinking, getting laid and useless gossip.

you had me until the getting laid part...

**bailey** · March-28-11, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by fryar

'Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.' - Walter Cronkite

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110326/...#ixzz1HvaKZllM

"What's a library, dad?"

"Oh, it's just a place where homeless people come to shave and go BM." -Family Guy.

I think that aptly sums up the region's perceptions of libraries.

**Hermod** · March-28-11, 03:32 PM

Keep the librarians.

Lay off the clowncil staffs.

**cman710** · March-28-11, 03:39 PM

This is sad, but not surprising, given the dire financial situation. I would expect more of these kinds of announcements in the coming years. Hopefully, the city can maintain some basic library service throughout the city, and at least at the main branch.

**English** · March-28-11, 03:39 PM

It isn't often that I agree with Hermod, but amen, and amen again.

**jt1** · March-28-11, 03:45 PM

The poorer the neighborhood the greater the need for libraries.
I woudl prefer that they keep them open but..... if they close them, will they reduce the 4.6 mill allocated for librarues from property taxes.

Seems like a specific line item in the mill rate that is for libraries should only go to libraries. A reduction in operating cost by the libraries should result in a deduction in the mill rate.

**Detroitnerd** · March-28-11, 03:55 PM

Interesting article on the dangers posed to public goods, such as libraries, by free market fundamentalism.

QUOTE: Like all fundamentalists who get their clammy hands on the levers of power, the market fanatics are going to kill off every humane, life-enhancing, generous, imaginative and decent corner of our public life. We're coming to see that old Karl Marx had his finger on the heart of the matter when he pointed out that the market in the end will destroy everything we thought was safe and solid."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...kill-libraries

**maxx** · March-30-11, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Interesting article on the dangers posed to public goods, such as libraries, by free market fundamentalism.

QUOTE: Like all fundamentalists who get their clammy hands on the levers of power, the market fanatics are going to kill off every humane, life-enhancing, generous, imaginative and decent corner of our public life. We're coming to see that old Karl Marx had his finger on the heart of the matter when he pointed out that the market in the end will destroy everything we thought was safe and solid."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...kill-libraries

Oh, no! Someone is giving Marx credit for being right? Oh, it's only those commie Brits. I'm sure the free market and capitalism will take care of this library problem. And the public school problems. And the pension problems. Which way to the company store?

And concerning libraries, I wonder how many people actually used the library regularly.It's been years since I went in the main library and I don't recall it being crowded. What a great building. Maybe libraries could have a cover charge for entering.

**old guy** · March-30-11, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by maxx

And concerning libraries, I wonder how many people actually used the library regularly.It's been years since I went in the main library and I don't recall it being crowded. What a great building. Maybe libraries could have a cover charge for entering.

I think the small satellite libraries that used to be scattered all over the cities were possibly the most important part of the library system. I do have fond memories of Detroit's main library though. I doubt you're ever going to see crowded libraries again.
What bothers me is that you hear blanket statements that every home now has a computer. That just isn't true. There are a large number of homes that either don't have computers, or have computers but can't afford internet access. There have to be large numbers of families that have several children but only one computer or a computer that's so old it barely functions.
With the economy in the shape it's in, I'm sure a number of households have had to choose between paying utilities or paying for internet access.
Streamline the system, don't eliminate it.

**Danny** · March-30-11, 11:51 AM

'I can't live without books.' BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

**Yooper** · March-28-11, 04:34 PM

Librarians will eventually be obsolete.
All resources will be scanned and digitized. There will be no need for libraries as we know them.
Over my 40 years of going to libraries, not once have I relied on a "librarian" for any assistance whatsoever.
I feel sad saying this, but it's just reality.

**Detroitnerd** · March-28-11, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Yooper

Librarians will eventually be obsolete.
All resources will be scanned and digitized. There will be no need for libraries as we know them.
Over my 40 years of going to libraries, not once have I relied on a "librarian" for any assistance whatsoever.
I feel sad saying this, but it's just reality.

That's preposterous. Are you aware that librarians are now "media specialists"? They help you wade through all that information. Just because information gets scanned in doesn't mean society doesn't benefit from having somebody to help you find accurate, reliable information.

So don't feel sad. You're wrong.

**Lowell** · March-28-11, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Yooper

Librarians will eventually be obsolete.
All resources will be scanned and digitized. There will be no need for libraries as we know them.
....I feel sad saying this, but it's just reality.

I share that sadness. My little library of 2 or 3 thousand books in my childhood village were essential in my coming to know the world. But today I, and the kids in that same small town, carry a resource in our pockets greater than the Library on Congress.

The concept of librarian-ism is alive and well in this mobile wireless internet age but, like so many things, it needs to be re-invented and adapted to this reality. Beyond the archiving of historical print and other physical objects, their role as gateways to knowledge is in question and certainly does not require them sitting behind a check out desk.

A library is no longer something we go it. It is something that comes to us.

I say this with more than a twinge of pain when I think of the many beautiful palaces of learning that were created and whose future is in question. The incredible McGregor Library by my house in Highland Park was a first class example of what can happen. Those space likewise need to be re-invented -- challenging thoughts for challenging times.

**Yooper** · March-28-11, 04:58 PM

Media specialists?
We all have libraries in our homes via the net.

What exactly is this assistance you require?
Boolean searches trump human brains every time.

**Detroitnerd** · March-28-11, 05:05 PM

Studies show that students using the Internet can find an answer most of the time.

The only problem is that half of the time it is an incorrect answer.

Media specialists perform the same functions as librarians: They help you find good, solid, reputable information. Seems an important thing to me.

But, heck, those boolean searches producing bogus information half the time must be good enough, huh?

**Yooper** · March-28-11, 05:20 PM

"Studies show that students using the Internet can find an answer most of the time.

The only problem is that half of the time it is an incorrect answer."

That is an outright lie.

**Yooper** · March-28-11, 05:23 PM

"Studies show that students using the Internet can find an answer most of the time.

The only problem is that half of the time it is an incorrect answer."

Did your librarian share this little factoid with you, or was this something you learned using the 50/50 Internet?

**fryar** · March-28-11, 05:18 PM

Or maybe content-aggregation, with crowd-sourced input, for many subjects, at least? I also can't say I have ever really tried to max out the capabilities of my local librarian. For all I know, they could be an undegreed clerk of some kind.

But there's no way Wikipedia makes a local library redundant.

**Yooper** · March-28-11, 05:18 PM

Ok, let's have a contest.

I will be on an iPad and you can run to your local librarian.

PS. I have the Library of Congress at my fingertips in the millisecond range.

Not to mention thousands of Universities worldwide and thousands of databases.

For free.

Ask your librarian how to access these resources. They probably have a bank of computers hooked up to the net for research.

Ask your librarian about patents...or you could go to the USPTO directly...