Mark took me away this last weekend. We headed down to St. Augustine Beach. We had a lovely room with a view of the beach and jacuzzi tub in the room.
Why? Well, after months of pins and needles, we are still open the same hours at the same branch. Somehow the people spoke up and wanted us open. It was humbling how many people came into the library to tell us how we were important. Some signed or created petitions, some contacted the local politicans, some wrote the paper. It was so cool.
It is amazing to me just what an importance libraries have everywhere. I remember being at a meeting recently and hearing about Philadelphia's library system. Basically if they didn't get the budget passed, they were going to close the entire library system. Every branch. Even though I don't live anywhere near there, I responded by contacting the local goverment. I just checked their page. The bill keeping them in business passed 32 to 17.
And yea gods, have we been busy! I secretly laugh when I get the gate count now. The reasoning they gave for us being the ones under the knife was that we weren't being used. I have only been with the system for 7 years this upcoming February. I think that I have been at this branch for maybe going on 3 years. We got a gate counter within that time and when I checked it tonight it was over 266,000 people who have gone and out. Even halfing it, it would be 133,000 people coming in.
And we aren't busy? Yep, that's us... just a bunch of library slackers twittling our thumbs.
Good night and Yay for Libraries!
1 comment:
I feel your pain. We were going down to two. Now hours have been slightly cut and rearranged, but were still open with the threat of cutting hours later on anyway. At least you got a vacation out of it.
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