If there's plan to close some or many branch libraries in Los Angeles, well, then, there goes my neighborhood library.
The library system in this city is always a victim of the City's near-sightedness about the library's power to impact the city. The image of librarians working at the Reference Desk, usually motherly old-women, wearing nerdy eye-glasses, processing books, or trying to help some kids find books is probably the dominant image that most city administrators and legislators have in mind when they think about public libraries. But that image is outdated. The librarians I've met are bookish and nerdy, yes, but they are more than that; they are mostly young, computer savvy, very diverse in terms of race, are quite informed about many, many things, and are willing to help patrons who want to avail library services.
But there's a very important reason why the City of Los Angeles should give the Los Angeles Public Library a lot of attention: It is the place where people go online and look for jobs! Yes, the library system does let the public borrow books, music cds, movies, or magazines for free; that's the default function for libraries. But in the Age of Information or Digital Age, computer-usage in public libraries competes with these other materials which patrons can avail for free.
I've used public-library computers to look for jobs, and write my resumes. My neighborhood library is very important to me, because of that, and I'm sure, for many patrons as well. Because of this, the City should increase funding for LAPL to enhance their computer-system capabilities. And the library system should not cut hours either. In fact, the library system should have regular seminars or workshops that help patrons use computers, so they can find what they need online. There should also be regular job-seeking workshops, how to open email-account workshops, or how to use the library's word-processing software.
In many ways, neighborhood public libraries are neighborhood resource centers, especially because of the one-on-one attention librarians give to patrons, most of the time, usually assessing patrons' needs for the best resources to meet those needs. City administrators and legislators do not see this part of library-work, and may even consider the idea of borrowing library materials for free and using computers for free a luxury!...that's why they think about brushing the idea and importance of public libraries aside.
More on this issue here and here and Petition Here To: SAVE THE LIBRARY!!!
The library system in this city is always a victim of the City's near-sightedness about the library's power to impact the city. The image of librarians working at the Reference Desk, usually motherly old-women, wearing nerdy eye-glasses, processing books, or trying to help some kids find books is probably the dominant image that most city administrators and legislators have in mind when they think about public libraries. But that image is outdated. The librarians I've met are bookish and nerdy, yes, but they are more than that; they are mostly young, computer savvy, very diverse in terms of race, are quite informed about many, many things, and are willing to help patrons who want to avail library services.
But there's a very important reason why the City of Los Angeles should give the Los Angeles Public Library a lot of attention: It is the place where people go online and look for jobs! Yes, the library system does let the public borrow books, music cds, movies, or magazines for free; that's the default function for libraries. But in the Age of Information or Digital Age, computer-usage in public libraries competes with these other materials which patrons can avail for free.
I've used public-library computers to look for jobs, and write my resumes. My neighborhood library is very important to me, because of that, and I'm sure, for many patrons as well. Because of this, the City should increase funding for LAPL to enhance their computer-system capabilities. And the library system should not cut hours either. In fact, the library system should have regular seminars or workshops that help patrons use computers, so they can find what they need online. There should also be regular job-seeking workshops, how to open email-account workshops, or how to use the library's word-processing software.
In many ways, neighborhood public libraries are neighborhood resource centers, especially because of the one-on-one attention librarians give to patrons, most of the time, usually assessing patrons' needs for the best resources to meet those needs. City administrators and legislators do not see this part of library-work, and may even consider the idea of borrowing library materials for free and using computers for free a luxury!...that's why they think about brushing the idea and importance of public libraries aside.
More on this issue here and here and Petition Here To: SAVE THE LIBRARY!!!
