2010-0172
INTRODUCED BY: DENNIS NUSS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
CAROLYN K. SCHEXNAYDRE, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
WENDY BENEDETTO, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III
MARCUS M. LAMBERT, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
RESOLUTION NO. 5745
Title
A "Resolution of Concern" regarding the shifting of public services from Federal and State agencies to public libraries with no compensation for the added space, staff, technology, and training needed for libraries to meet the needs of Federal and State agency clients.
Body
WHEREAS, Louisiana's public libraries have a long and proud heritage of service in providing information, education, and recreation to all; and,
WHEREAS, Federal Government agencies such as Internal Revenue Services, Census Bureau, and Health and Human Services are shifting responsibilities to local libraries to provide online client access points; and,
WHEREAS, State agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Revenue, Department of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Division of Motor Vehicles, and Department of Social Services are recommending public libraries as client access points for agency services; and,
WHEREAS, no compensation has been offered to public libraries to help meet the demand for additional space, additional computers, Internet access, additional bandwidth, additional training, or additional staff to help meet the needs of Federal and State agency clients; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana has repeatedly reduced the budget of the State Library of Louisiana, resulting in public libraries shouldering additional costs for administrative and staff training, Internet access, and research databases; and,
WHEREAS, this shift in the delivery of Federal and State government services to local public libraries is changing the traditional model of public library service and forcing the burden of providing Federal and State services upon the local taxpayers through support of their local libraries; and,
WHE...
Click here for full text