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#LibrariesAreEssential

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The Madison Public Library made a tool to estimate the value you get out of your public library: madisonpubliclibrary.org/about

I guess it's specific to the Madison library, but I think the estimate is good for any US-based public library.

For my own usage, it tells me that for every tax dollar I pay that goes to the library, I get $10.63 in value. What a deal!

(Coincidentally, my family does a monthly donation to the Friends of the Verona Public Library fund...of $10!)

www.madisonpubliclibrary.orgLibrary Value Calculator | Madison Public LibraryWhat is your library worth to you? We know you value the services and resources provided by your public library, but just how much are those services worth? How much would you pay out-of-pocket if the library didn't exist, or if these services and resources weren't available at no cost?

Welcome to the library! 🐔📚 The place were chickens and birds all sizes come to wander to faraway places with no flying involved (using their imagination, just like you!) Come on in, keep your chirps low, and get to the books on the highest shelves by asking the staff or using your wings. 📖 Open all Fridays 📖

It's incredibly frustrating how we allow corporations to use digital tech to replicate physical systems, but way worse. Especially since EVERYONE, including them, would be better served by embracing the benefits and possibilities of technology.

But the courts seem far more concerned with protecting companies over the interests of the people, and even basic fairness.

technologyreview.com/2024/09/1

MIT Technology Review · Why a ruling against the Internet Archive threatens the future of America’s librariesBy Chris Lewis

[Gift article] #Maine interlibrary loan [#ILL] system on hold for weeks because of contract dispute

#Library directors throughout the state say temporarily losing the book sharing will be a challenge going into their busiest time of year.

by Gillian Graham
June 6, 2024

"On any given day, the Scarborough Public Library receives up to a dozen crates packed full of books borrowed from other libraries across the state and sends out nearly as many. Over the course of a year, nearly 60,000 books come and go from the town library through the statewide #interlibrary loan program, which allows patrons to borrow books from other libraries at no cost.

"But that borrowing is on hold at more than 200 public, school, academic and special libraries across Maine – and is likely to be unavailable for most of the summer – while the state navigates a legal appeal over its contract for the delivery of those books.

"Chip Schrader, director of the Scarbrough Public Library, stands next to crates on Wednesday that are usually full of interlibrary loan books. The interlibrary loan service could be on hold for much of the summer because of a legal dispute over the contract for the service that delivers the books. Schrader says that they typically receive about eight crates of books a day through the interlibrary loan service.

"'We feel like we’re trying to thread the needle a little bit. We’re trying to be understanding of all sides of this issue, and our patrons are as well,' said Chip Schrader, director of the Scarborough library. 'But it’s a big hiccup in services for us. It’s definitely going to interrupt the natural flow and is making our staff a little anxious.'

"The current state contract had already been extended for a year and ends on June 30. The #MaineStateLibrary, which is in charge of arranging this service, went through a competitive request for proposals earlier this year and selected STAT Courier to take over delivery starting in July. But an unsuccessful bidder filed an appeal and the state library cannot sign a new contract until that appeal is settled.

"Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher said she could not name the unsuccessful bidder or talk about the bids because the attorney general’s office has advised her not to. Fisher also would not disclose the amount of the winning bid because of the pending litigation. In a post on its website, the state library said all bids came in 'considerably higher' than current costs and that the annual cost for libraries to use the service is still being calculated.

"Maine InfoNet, which coordinates library systems statewide, notified all libraries on Monday that it was turning off all new requests the following morning, and it could be offline for at least six weeks."

Read more:
pressherald.com/2024/06/06/mai

Press Herald · Maine interlibrary loan system on hold for weeks because of contract disputeLibrary directors throughout the state say temporarily losing the book sharing will be a challenge going into their busiest time of year.