A Message from your County Librarian
Many of you have read the news about the 27% budget cut the Inyo County Free Library experienced this year, and the additional proposed cuts being discussed for next year. There is no doubt that the draconian cut this year has had an impact on library service. If further cuts are implemented, I would like to assure you that the remaining Library staff and I will make every effort to continue to supply internet services, new books and media, public information and reference, even if it is at a diminished level. The County Libraries not only serve as repositories of knowledge, but are our communities’ living rooms, where people gather to learn, discuss and study. They enable anyone of any economic level to gain an education through their own effort, or even on-line through the internet. Libraries are the underpinning of a free country, embodying the values of freedom of information and free speech.
Recognizing this value, supporters in the community such as the Sunrise Rotary Club, Inyo First Five Commission, Eastern Sierra Connect Regional Broadband Consortium, the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools, the Friends of the Library in the various towns, the State Library and others have contributed a great deal of money and effort this year toward facilities, automation, collections, and internet access. We have made tremendous strides toward modernization of the Library this last year with the great effort and dedication of the staff and community.
The most important thing is to ensure that the libraries are open – with books and other materials to support the Library’s mission. In support of that goal, I will be asking the Inyo County Board of Supervisors to accept a donation from me of $200 per month, equal to the amount of the recent raise of 4%, expressly to fund additional hours of staff time. Although this is a small amount, I am hoping others will join me in donating for this purpose.
The outpouring of public support for the Inyo County Free Library as we move through the budget crisis has been overwhelming. I thank you, and will do whatever is necessary to advocate for our Library.
Hi Fed Up, I pulled down the Salary Schedule as well. My learning is that the whole CAO staff makes $543,804 where as the museum and library combined are at $364,344 at least assuming only one person in a position at the library. I did some crunching of the numbers… Read more »
Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital. — Thomas Jefferson The… Read more »
The Bishop Library is wonderful. Thank You and all the contributors for making that happen and Thank You for all your efforts to keep the doors open. Somehow I think that this will all work out . I can’t believe the Supes would ever diminish access and availabilty of knowledge… Read more »
I can’t believe a lot of things the board does!
All nice to think about. Let’s face it, it’s a new digital world, we need to change with the times. Time to shut the doors and purchase servers to house books. Before you critize, the reality is that many folks that utilize the library services don’t even pay taxes to… Read more »
George: What I think is that I’m glad you don’t make the decisions about things like libraries. You sound like you spend too much time on your “smart phone”. The amount of taxes one pays is an absolutely terrible way to judge whether or not a person gets a community… Read more »
George: Get up and walk around… http://www.thestar.com/life/technology/2014/06/26/tv_watching_other_screens_increases_death_rate.html It has led to what she calls “multi-screen use,” which could see a person watching a show on a TV screen, while doing homework on their laptop and texting their friends using their smartphone. It’s a phenomenon that experts say requires further study.… Read more »
George: I take your point but disagree with it for the following reasons: 1) The current threat to the funding of the Inyo County Free Library has much less to do with the advent of the Digital Age than it does with fiscal mismanagement by the Inyo County Board of… Read more »
George let’s think about it, not everybody has Internet, let’s think about it, not every book is online, let’s think about it, a lot of people would rather read a book than a computer. Let’s think about it it, doesn’t matter if they pay taxes are not everyone is entitled… Read more »
Nancy, you exemplify the dedicated public employee. You and your staff provide outstanding service and should be commended for same, especially in light of the major reduction of your budget. As the previous writer commented, many, if not most of us, support you in your efforts to retain an essential… Read more »
Those of us who have been at the Courthouse at night know the hours Nancy Masters keeps trying to keep the Library going with little staff and utilizing temporary employees. I would be curious to know what other Department took a 27% cut in this last budget year. I remember… Read more »
I echo the above thanks to Nancy Masters and her staff for their tireless efforts to bring first class library services to our communities. Those of us from the Death Valley/Shoshone/Tecopa area of SE Inyo County especially appreciate these efforts. Many of our residents out here are low income and… Read more »
Thank you Nancy for your report on the status of the Inyo County Free Library. And thank you for your years of dedicated service to the residents of Inyo County in keeping the light of literacy, learning, and enlightenment burning in Inyo County. Your tireless efforts are the hallmark of… Read more »