Would you donate to help keep BPL branches open and shelves full?
By adamg - 3/18/10 - 11:19 am
Another BPL has an active donation program; could it work here?
Via Gretchen Bostrom.
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Comments
I would!
I actually went to the various BPL friends and supporters sites when the news first broke about potential closures, to see whether donations to any of them were directed straight to such support. I was disappointed to find that they weren't, and would absolutely donate to a fund that was earmarked specifically for that purpose.
We don't know what will happen to library donations
How do we know they won't take the money and close the branches anyway?
The mayor and the director want to close the branches. That is the problem.
I donate to the endowment but
I donate to the endowment but not to operations.
Yes
I would too. But I don't think that public libraries should have to rely on donations.
they already do
the "donations" just aren't voluntary, they're taxes.
Then...
They're not "donations".
That's like saying you work for tips...except it's only your boss tipping you...with "wages".
If it came down to it, I
If it came down to it, I would. But I don't want to set the precedent that libraries are not part of the core infrastructure funded by taxes. Contributions to a library or school to help them be better than a minimum standard are one thing, but contributions to keep them open should not be a discussion we need to have.
The Brooklyn fund
Seems to be dedicated to supplementing that system's acquisition of books and DVDs. Although the branch issue is getting the most attention, another possible concern for our BPL is that it's made some pretty substantial cuts in its own book/DVD-buying fund.
No.
Trim the mayor's funding for those fucking "Mayor Thomas M. Menino" labels that get slapped on every city building, road sign, vehicle, and traffic cone.
That should let us save at least one branch.
Brilliant!
:-D
Our tax dollars
Our tax dollars fund the Boston Public Library.
Just because Menino and his bean counters want to cut $3.6 million and close 10 branches doesn't mean Boston residents want to cut $3.6 million and close 10 branches.
It's our tax money. We should make it clear that $3.6 million must be found elsewhere, not the public libraries.
I'd like to chart the growth of staffing in city departments over the last ten years and compare that to the growth of staffing in Boston Public Libraries. I bet we could find some departments loaded up with staff that benefits the public in only the most minimal way.
The next step after that's settled is for the library to raise a permanent endowment so that it can self-finance in the future on interest and dividends not capital donated.