How do LSSI make a profit?

"In its proposal to run the Stockton-San Joaquin Public Library (a decision that is still pending), LSSI said "professional level hires would typically start around $40,000 increasing to $55,000 or higher depending on education, experience, and level of responsibility."
That is not comparable to current salaries, however.
Under San Joaquin's current system, a Librarian I earns $45,338 to $58,204 a year, while a Librarian II earns $55,362 to $71,082 annually. LSSI's proposal in San Joaquin would also reduce the number of MLS-bearing employees from 19 to 17"

taken from http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/887353-264/lssi_wins_new_contract_in.html.csp

"I've looked at the details of the proposal, and I'm scratching my head as to how LSSI is going to pull this off," Colleen Foster, former director of the SSJCPL, commented to LJ.
"The company claims that service will improve, and yet it also plans to reduce salaries and benefits and eliminate two professionally certified librarians," she said. "It's like LSSI doesn't understand that good librarians are the heart of a successful library system."
"While LSSI asserted that it "pays competitive wages," in a response to questions posed by the county government, there are significant differences, particularly for professional librarians:
Page salaries in the system would stay constant, new clerical hires would make "approximately $10 per hour to more than $15 per hour" and "professional level hires would typically start around $40,000 increasing to $55,000 or higher depending on education, experience and level of responsibility," according to Pezzanite.
In the current system pay scale, shelvers make minimum wage, Library Aides earn $14.44 to $20.47 an hour ($30,000 to $43,000 a year) and Circulation Assistants earn $14.82 to $20.96 an hour ($31,000 to $44,000 a year). While the LSSI proposal includes no positions for Library Assistants, SSJCPL pays a Library Assistant I $35,670 to $45,793 a year, and a Library Assistant II $41,316 to $53,038 a year. A Librarian I earns $45,338 to $58,204 a year, while a Librarian II earns $55,362 to $71,082 a year."
"While every community situation is unique, over the years we have seen that our benefits program is generally comparable to a city's or county's benefit plan. One exception may be the pension program. LSSI offers a 401 (k) plan and matches a portion of our employees' contributions."

taken from http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/887000-264/lssi_controversy_still_brewing_in.html.csp

Libraries future to be debated - Getwokingham - 17/11/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2103536_libraries_future_to_be_debated

If Councillor UllaKarin Clark and her co-horts had conducted a proper consultation process and had facilitated an open and honest debate there wouldn't have been any need for campaigners/users to petition them, but this seems to be the pattern up and down the country, councils flouting guidleines and ignoring the public!

CALIX responses to Library Privatization and LSSI - Pacific Library Partnership

Fascinating discussion on LSSI taken from the Pacific Library Partnership website, you will notice that nearly all the pro-LSSI respondents are library Senior Managers (Directors, co-ordinators, administrators etc), funny that!

http://plpinfo.org/node/24782

Will Your Town’s Library Soon Be Privatized? - Blog For Iowa 12/11/11

http://www.blogforiowa.com/2011/11/12/privatized-libraries-may-be-coming-to-your-city/

"So over the past 30 years beginning with Ronald Reagan, we have watched our government be dismantled as pieces are sold off or leased to the highest bidder. We also see government services be passed out to private businesses never realizing that if the private company does not perform up to expectations or keep prices in line they will probably not be able to bring the service back in house."

Petition forces debate on library sell off - Getwokingham 14/11/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2103304_petition_forces_debate_on_library_sell_off
Well it looks as if Councillor UllaKarin Clark and her buddies on Wokingham Council have underestimated the public protest against their proposals to privatise/outsource the library service, she also seems to be back tracking just a little, I wonder why?

Keep our libraries out of corporate hands by David Atkins - Ventura County Star 05/11/11

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/05/atkins-keep-our-libraries-out-of-corporate-hands/#comments

"Today, sadly, many American cities are abandoning the proud tradition begun by Franklin and Jefferson in a paroxysm of radical pro-privatization ideology. They are placing public libraries in corporate hands, despite strong community backlashes against doing so"

Privatizing public libraries a bad idea - Editorial; Oregon, USA | The Gresham Outlook : 2nd November

http://www.theoutlookonline.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=132019418425840200

"In relationship to county libraries, we fear that privatization would only serve to heap new expenses on the very people least able to afford them.

One of the most attractive components of public libraries is the notion that everyone, from any social and economic strata, has equal and unrestricted access to books, periodicals, movies and online resources."

Thank goodness a voice in the wilderness!