Florida Library Association (FLA) opposes Osceola outsourcing

A damning indictment of LSSI and the privatisation of public library services by the Florida Library Association
http://www.flalib.org/advocacy_documents/Website_Osceola.pdf

The Privatisation of Public Library services

A piece written by me for the 'Voices for the Library' blog

http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/?page_id=53

"At the moment a storm is raging in California over the privatisation of public library services and the proposed introduction of Bill AB 438, a Bill that would require a city/authority to hold a referendum before handing its libraries over to a private firm to run. What has this got to do with the situation here? – well the biggest private provider in the US, Library Systems and Services (LSSI),   just happens to be looking for business in the UK.
LSSI are currently talking to a number of authorities in the UK including Wokingham and Croydon; they have stated that they are looking for a 15% share of the sector but have not to date signed any contracts — as far as we know?   It is also worth pointing out that another private firm John Laing Integrated Services currently runs Hounslow Libraries which have latterly suffered significant staff cuts and threats of closures .
Clearly the issue of privatisation is one that polarises opinion, especially in the US where most commentators are pro-privatisation with the counter-protest coming from places like Santa Clarita and the ‘Privatisazation Beast’ campaign set up by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
In the UK there is evidence that the majority of opinion is “anti”.  Reasonable people of all economic backgrounds and political colour do not welcome the piecemeal destruction of their valued public library service.  Some of my own reasons for opposing the privatisation of public libraries are listed below :

• Private companies are accountable to their shareholders.  They exist to make profits and this, to me, in relation to running a public service is a fundamental conflict of interests. (LSSI are majority owned by the private equity firm ‘Islington Capital Partners’)
• There is always a real risk that a private company could fail, leaving the service and users high and dry.
• Public Libraries are perceived by most to be a ‘haven in a heartless world’ that offers a ‘neutral’, ‘public’, ‘non-judgemental’ and ‘safe’ environment.  Privatisation introduces a commercial element into the equation which radically changes this status.
• LSSI, the main player, has a reputation in the US for using non-unionised staff, not paying pensions, cutting terms and conditions, deprofessionalising the workforce and paring the service back to the bone.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA456252.html
http://www.ila.org/pdf/0111pg4-7.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/business/27libraries
If the reader does not find the above arguments persuasive,  then the following quotes from LSSI’s founding father, Frank Pezzanite, and Jim Lynch, Vice President LSSI UK, might be a wake-up call :
“A lot of libraries are atrocious,” Mr. Pezzanite said. “Their policies are all about job security. That’s why the profession is nervous about us. You can go to a library for 35 years and never have to do anything and then have your retirement. We’re not running our company that way. You come to us, you’re going to have to work.”
The “slacks and trainers mentality” among librarians will be abolished, Mr Lynch says. In its place will be “a rigorous service culture”.
Need I say more?
Alan Wylie
Librarian
www.dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.com

The Croydon Syndrome!

A flawed consultation and a lack of honest and open communication, the Croydon Syndrome!

http://thatwomansblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/outsourcing-real-threat-to-croydon.html

AB438 Bill passes senate vote!

Congratulations to Assemblyman Das Williams, Lori Rivas and all the others who have campaigned vigorously to have Bill AB438 passed.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/08/bill-limiting-local-governments-ability-to/#

Libraries' future is up for debate - Croydon Today

"IT IS looking almost certain that an outside organisation will take over the running of Croydon's libraries"

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Library-bids-backed/story-13298044-detail/story.html

Maryland company builds library empire - Wahington Times

Interesting and fairly balanced article on LSSI published in the Washington times today. It claims that LSSI does not approach authorities but waits to be called, i don't know off any company that sits back and waits for business and as far as I know this was not the case in Croydon and Wokingham?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/5/cash-strapped-cities-and-local-governments-across-/?page=2

AB438 and the battle for public libraries in California!

The battle against Library privatisation and LSSI in California, especially Santa Clarita, is being led by Lori Rivas, she is a passionate campaigner and regularly posts on the topic;
http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/lori-rivas/city-hall-seems-to-be-changing-history-the-signal-9411-footnoted-edition/10150271867536090
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SaveSCVPublicLibraries
Bill AB438 is due to be voted on on 7/9/11 and if passed would make it significantly harder for cities/authorities to privatise their library services without the consent of their local communities.