Recently in Library Category

Source: Norman Oder, Library Journal, 8/29/2007

After an intense petition campaign and facing a crowd urging that local management of the Bedford Public Library, TX, be maintained, the Bedford City Council last night voted 4-3 against outsourcing library management to Library Systems and Services, LLC (LSSI).

....... LSSI's response to the city's request for a proposal was said to be confidential, because it contained "trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential or financial information." Because that prohibited discussion at the Council's meeting, and because the topic would not qualify for an Executive Session under state law, the city asked the State Attorney General to rule as to whether parts of the document could be disclosed. Some 36 hours before the meeting last night, LSSI agreed to allow disclosure of the entire document, thus leading to details about proposed staffing and more.

Source: By Damian Mann, Mail Tribune (OR), August 22, 2007

……… The county negotiated with Library Systems and Services LLC (known by the acronym LSSI), a Maryland-based library management company, to operate all 15 branches at $4.3 million a year, or about half the former budget before libraries were closed April 6.

……. Olney, one of about 40 audience members, said that without the union contract libraries operated under previously, volunteers can assume more duties and even potentially fill in on Sundays.

……. During a preliminary review of bids to operate all libraries from LSSI and the Service Employees International Union Local 503, the difference in cost was $1.4 million for the first year. But after a more careful analysis, the county determined LSSI's bid was actually $1.8 million less. Over five years, LSSI's bid saved $11.6 million over the union's proposal.

Source: Star Telegram (scroll down) (TX), http://www.star-telegram.com/407/story/206898.html

The city has asked the Texas attorney general whether Library Systems and Services can withhold certain parts of its proposal for running the library.

The city believes that some parts can be exempted because they contain trade secrets or confidential financial matters, according to City Attorney Stan Lowry's letter to the attorney general.

Two requests, including one from the Star-Telegram, have been made to see the company's proposal through the Texas Public Information Act.

The company and the Bedford Public Library were the only organizations to submit proposals.

Source: By Damian Mann, Mail Tribune (WA), August 14, 2007

A union bid to outsource operation of all 15 branches in Jackson County would trim $1 million off the library budget, though the offer doesn't include maintenance and utility costs. The Service Employees International Union, Local 503, which is affiliated with the Jackson County Employees Association, released a copy of the proposal Monday that offers three different plans to open libraries.

…….. He [SEIU organizer John Mulvey] said the union's proposal doesn't provide the 40 percent savings expected from LSSI, but he said he doubts his competitor could offer a substantially lower price. He said the only way LSSI could offer a lower price is by cutting salaries and benefits dramatically, or offering a reduced rate the first year just to get the contract.

Source: Bill Kettler, Mail Tribune (OR), August 06, 2007

Jackson County has received two proposals for reopening its mothballed library system, but County Administrator Danny Jordan said it could be months before county officials decide when, or if, books will be circulating again.

As Monday's 2 p.m. deadline passed, proposals had been received from Maryland-based Library Systems and Services LLC (known by the acronym LSSI), and the Jackson County employees union, SEIU Local 503.

Source: By Damian Mann, Mail Tribune (OR), July 09, 2007

Jackson County residents should know by August whether the library system can be run more cheaply by being outsourced.

County officials sent out a request for proposals this week from organizations or companies interested in running all 15 branches. They are asking for bids both on operating the libraries as a system and operating each branch independently.

Source: By JAMES YOO, The Record (NJ), Wednesday, June 27, 2007

....... In shared arrangements, he added, only towns that give the services benefit, not the ones who get it. Municipalities that pay for a library or other services will have nothing to show for their money if the contract ends, he said.

Boonstra suggested a third option: privatization of services. That would eliminate the need to chip in for pension and benefits, he said.

Source: By Damian Mann, Mail Tribune (OR), May 26, 2007

Outsourcing library operations has the potential to knock 40 percent off the budget for all 15 branches in Jackson County, says the executive director of the Jackson County Library Foundation.

Jim Olney said preliminary discussions with Library Systems and Services LLC (known by the acronym LSSI), a Maryland-based library management company, indicate to him the cost of operating the libraries could be reduced from $8 million to $5 million.

Source: By LAURIE FOX, The Dallas Morning News (TX), Monday, January 8, 2007

After a divisive tax rollback closed the Bedford city library almost two years ago, the facility is back in the political crosshairs. The City Council is expected on Tuesday to consider extending a request for proposals that could lead to outsourcing library operations to a private company.

Source: By JESSICA DeLEÓN, STAR-TELEGRAM (TX), Fri, Dec. 01, 2006

BEDFORD - More than 50 residents braved Thursday's arctic blast to hear about the possibility of turning over the operations of the library to a private company. Most of the audience members appeared to want the city to remain in control of the library so that the local touch continues.

........ The American Library Association said in a 2001 statement that it opposes having private companies run public libraries because libraries should be directly accountable to the public.