Job seekers increase library use, but funding down according to "Library Journal"

Across the nation, libraries are feeling the crunch of time, resources and space to meet the demands of the unemployed, underemployed, homeless and often distraught customers who need their help.

In his article, "When Service Matters:  Library Budgets 2010," Charles London, Library Journal, takes a national look at how libraries are dealing with increased use and slashed budgets.  As he notes, the news media has commendably covered the up tick in library use, but has failed to note how library budgets are spiraling downward.

"Nevertheless," wrote London, "for some library systems, for some librarians, this crisis has been an opportunity.  On a personal level, many library employees have been reminded of how essential their work is, and, on the systemic level, some institutions are finding ways to rise to the current crisis, through collaboration, outreach and innovation."

London describes some of the unique ways libraries across the country are meeting the demands of the unemployed, from helping customers find high quality resume writing resources, to pointing them to online government information.  Forming new alliances with other institutions has been a natural fit in many circumstances.

"In Iowa," London said, "the state library and Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) have initiated a [new] program.  The partnership kicked off with closed-circuit TV presentations [the Iowa Communications Network] by State Librarian Mary Wegner and IWD director Elisabeth Buck in which two public librarians shared their experiences on serving unemployed Iowans."   (The session was videotaped and is available on the State Library's Web site, along with other information about the joint venture.)

When examining the effects the influx of new customers has had on library staff, London quoted Niki Ehlers, director of the Humboldt Public Library.  "The staff has trouble knowing when to draw the line.  They go to bed at night wondering if they should have helped a guy add more bullet points [to his resume] and expand his job history."

Read the entire article in the January 15, 2010 Library Journal.