Recently in Library Category

Source: By JESSICA DeLEÓN, STAR-TELEGRAM (TX), Tue, Nov. 28, 2006

BEDFORD - The city is looking at hiring a private company to run the city's public library -- an issue that will be discussed at a meeting and public hearing Thursday. The company would oversee operations, but the city would keep the building, the collection and maintain the right to manage or establish library policies, said City Councilman Charles Orean, who brought up the issue.

…… The loss of jobs concerns critics of outsourcing. Companies that contract for city services tend to hire less experienced workers, which can result in higher turnover and lower wages, said Kerry Korpi, director of research and collective bargaining services for the Washington, D.C.-based union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Source: By JESSICA DeLEÓN, STAR-TELEGRAM (TX), November 14, 2006

BEDFORD - More than 30 residents attended a Bedford City Council work session Monday that covered a variety of topics. Among the highlights: Library outsourcing: The council agreed to host a work session about hiring a private company to take over some of the public library's duties. The work session would likely include a presentation from Library Systems and Services, a Maryland company that runs library operations for some cities and companies.

Source: By Sylvie Belmond, Moorpark Acorn (CA), Nov. 3, 2006

Moorpark city officials are earnestly preparing for the opening of the municipal library in January. They've already voted to extend hours and upgrade the collection.

........ The hours may increase in the future, but a schedule needed to be set now so the city can finalize an agreement with Library Systems and Services LLC. The consulting firm will staff the library for the first 18 months of operation, maybe more.

Source: By AETNA SMITH, Jackson Sun (TN), October 5, 2006

At the end of an often contentious Jackson-Madison County Library Board meeting and amidst opposition from several audience members, the board signed a contract Wednesday with a private company to manage library operations.

Library Systems and Services LLC (LSSI), based in Maryland, and the Library Board will enter into the contract effective Monday, and management services will commence Nov. 1, according to a draft obtained by The Jackson Sun.

........ The contract signed Wednesday notes that if the appeals court finds the board does not have authority to privatize, the board will have the right to terminate the agreement with LSSI.

Source: By AETNA SMITH, Jackson Sun (TN), September 28, 2006

Several library patrons calling themselves Citizens Against Privatization said Wednesday they'd like to stop the Jackson-Madison County Library Board from outsourcing the library's management. Group leaders also said they hope to dissolve the present board.

...... So far, Doss said he's collected 1,000 signatures from residents against outsourcing, which the committee plans to present to the board and other elected officials.

Source: Library Journal online, September 29, 2006

The Jackson-Madison County Library Board, has agreed to negotiate a contract with Library Systems and Services LLC (LSSI) to manage the library, but not everyone at a recent meeting was on board. Library Board Chair Kathryn Swindle asked LSSI president Frank Pezzanite about the benefits package. "In a commercial sense, there are fairly rich benefits," he said, according to the Jackson Sun. "But it falls short in that there is no pension system. But we do have a 401(k) system."

Thomas Aud, who will retire next month as library director, asked Pezzanite about the company's management fee, in either percentage or dollar terms. Pezzanite said that the company, which is private, chooses not to make that public.

Source: By Scott Mobley, Record Searchlight (CA), September 7, 2006

Top brass for Library Services and Systems LLC (LSSI) met with Shasta County Library employees Wednesday morning, less than 12 hours after the Redding City Council agreed to take ownership of the system and turn over its management to the private, Maryland-based firm.

........ LSSI must grant current employees job interviews and automatically give them 5 preference points out of 100 possible, under the agreement transferring library system ownership from Shasta County to Redding. Library employees not wanting to work for LSSI are guaranteed other jobs with the county -- although likely at lower pay.

Source: By AETNA SMITH, Jackson Sun (TN), September 7, 2006

Library Board votes to enter contract negotiations with Maryland-based bidder. About a dozen audience members stared in disbelief as the Jackson-Madison County Library Board decided Wednesday to enter contract negotiations for library management with private bidder Library Systems and Services LLC. The vote surprised those at the meeting because board members recently had said they would not take action toward privatizing library management until after a court has heard an appeal by Madison County.

Source: By Tim Hearden, Record Searchlight (CA), August 23, 2006

Shasta County supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to hand off library services to the city of Redding.

........The city would notify the county by Oct. 31 whether it will run the system or contract with a private firm. Redding has been negotiating with Maryland-based Library Systems and Services (LSSI), and a final agreement could go before the City Council within the next month.

Source: By Scott Mobley, Record Searchlight (CA), July 19, 2006

Redding will explore hiring a private firm to manage the library system in hopes of buying more operating hours and better service for fewer taxpayer dollars. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to start negotiations with Library Systems and Services LLC (LSSI), despite concerns among some residents about privatizing management of a public institution.