As they say in Australia, you would have to be "blind Freddy" not to know that California is facing a budget crisis of epic proportions, or that libraries across the country are being forced to close branches and drastically curtail services as a result of local government shortfalls.
Here at PVLD we've been relatively fortunate, and have managed to make it through the economic downturn so far thanks in no small part to the efforts our employees have made to find new sources of revenue (Passport services, notary services, exam proctoring services....all provided by existing staff in addition to their usual jobs) and curtail spending. Woe betide the person who accidentally leaves colored paper in the photocopier causing the next staff member who uses it to waste a few sheets when they find their document has been printed on yellow or sky blue!
Given the above, it truly irks me when I see examples of other government agencies (and sometimes other libraries) doing things that seem to me to be plain wasteful.
A case in point from this morning: I opened a manila envelope mailed from the California Department of Developmental Services and addressed to me, and inside found a 255 page printed copy of the "Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and Related Laws". No letter of instruction, just the book. I can only assume that a copy was sent to every Library Director in California with the intention of having us add it to the library collection.
I may just be having a bad day, but I find it really difficult to believe that anyone thought this was a good or appropriate use of taxpayer funds...not because I have any concern about dissemintaing information pertinent to people with developmental disabilities, but because it surely would be much cheaper to make a document like this available digitally via the Internet rather than incurring the expense of printing thousands of copies, preparing them for mailing (envelopes, mailing labels, staff time), and mailing them (even at bulk rates)....especially at a time when services to the developmentally disabled are threatened with drastic cuts?
Furthermore, If asked for information about laws relating to people with developmental disabilities, I'm pretty sure that the first place our librarians would look is on the Internet, not in the library catalog. In fact, as we undergo a comprehensive review of our collection, it is precisely items like these (highly specialized, too flimsy to be circulated, and with contents that are readily available online) that are being weeded. If the librarians did decide that an item such as this should be added to the collection, it actually would cost PVLD a not insignificant sum to catalog it and label it, and get it ready for the shelf.
I don't mean to single out the Department of Development Services....today's mailing is just the latest in a string of similar unsolicited "gifts" of printed booklets, pamphlets, and flyers from various State agencies. I know that the total expense of all of these mailings is a drop in the bucket of the overall budget deficit, but surely it would be better to use the money to actually provide services to those in need rather than send out a barrage of information and hope that it somehow connects with someone who is looking for it.
And public libraries aren't immune from this kind of behavior. Each month I receive a multiple page, full-color, glossy newsletter from the Queens Library in New York describing all of their (admittedly fine) programs and events...and more recently making a plea for support as they face their own severe budget cuts and library closures. I can only assume that the newsletter is sent to every Library Director in the country, since I certanly never requested it. Usually receipt of the newsletter is followed a day or two later by another mailing from Queens suggesting that, for a fee, they would be willing to help PVLD with our marketing needs.
Huh? How can it possiby be a good use of library funds to do a mass mailing of a very expensive marketing piece that is clearly aimed primarly at the Queens community to Library Directors nationwide? Surely that money would be better spent on library services and programs...and if this is their marketing approach I question what real value we would get from their consulting services.
So that is my whinge for the day.... I know I am probably just in a craby mood, and the intentions of the people who think this stuff up are really good, but I needed to get it off of my chest! Thanks for listening...
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