Library Transparency 

“The budget is the bane of corporate America. It never should have existed…. Making a budget is an exercise in minimalization. You’re always trying to get the lowest out of people, because everyone is negotiating to get a lower number.” (Libby & Lindsay, 2003).

Offering open communication forums for libraries can be a slippery slope. Libraries want to be open to change, yet the bureaucracy of making changes can feel daunting. Should libraries have a concrete budget for specific programs, events, training, makerspace events, book clubs, etc? Any wiggle room?  In the article Lessons from Seattle’s Failed Bid to Rebrand its Public Library, Kenney (2015), Seattle Public Library surveyed the community, and patrons did not agree with what they thought to be as a wasteful expenditure of hiring an expensive firm to rebrand. It was almost too late; they had already spent $365,000, and that was on the primary costs. The Seattle Public Library received backlash due to the disconnect between the community’s needs, wants, and suggestions. In their attempts to rebrand the library, it would have cost an additional $1.7 million, equaling approximately $2 million,  without considering the library staff, patrons, and the demographic that are utilizing the library’s resources. The community’s outcry was that it could have funds allocated to other programs, and the needs of the patrons via services and infrastructure. 70 % of those who were surveyed did not think a rebrand would make the library better (Kenney, 2015).  Instead, the survey should have included different options for revamping the library’s image. One recommendation is to bring the patrons/community into the decision-making process. Who knows more than the patrons using the library and the staff working in the library, what is lacking, and what would bring the people into the library? An underused resource is the patrons who are utilizing the library. 

How can you learn to provide a transparent environment?

• Being open to new ideas in collaboration with the community and staff
• Continuing education
• Open Communication policy
• Participating in outreach programs
• Attending Conferences
• Attending governmental meetings, such as town hall meetings

(Stephens & Casey, 2007)

The emergence of new technologies requires libraries to reallocate funds from outdated materials, subscriptions, and other materials. “Creating an information budget that allows for the financial management of all resources for scientific information is essential in fostering transparency of the financial flows from research-performing organizations to publishers” (Pampel, 2022). In these ways, libraries can add and minus budget funds by the offset of donations, sponsorships, community businesses, and vendors. Including brainstorming sessions may produce great ideas that can be implemented at your local library. With the involvement of the community in the discussions, libraries can offer resources and materials that the community would like to see in their libraries. 

We need to offer a collaborative space to bring the patrons together to make libraries feel like a second home, one that provides friends, family, and community.

References