Why the Library is Expendable
City residents are clamoring about the potential closure or reduced services of the Troy Public Library in upcoming months. The library and all of its supporters reinforce the need for the library by stating it is a community resource, good for kids and great for seniors to congregate and a valuable necessity. The question is, is it really?
Let’s compare Troy’s library to other adjoining communities that could adequately support Troy residents should the library face reduced services or elimination. Bloomfield Township spent the better part of the last 8 years renovating and updating their library system to the point that buildings were completely transformed and renovated. Birmingham’s library which has routinely supplied neighboring communities, library resources at a very high standard with exemplary facilities and electronic capabilities could easily take Troy residents and is in close proximity. Rochester’s public library, although a bit north to the Troy, is also a state of the art facility with newer building and above average electronic services.
When we look at the services against those of the TPL, we see an old facility, in need of updating and modernization, less than ideal size and on a cost basis should be folded into another area library system rather than supporting the costs to “catch up” to neighboring community’s library systems already in place with the budget funds being able to be spent in other more important areas. Area libraries are all looking for funding sources and would love to accept Troy residents on a community based overall fee or on a “utilization” paid system or “membership style” program. Troy needs to consider the closure of the library let’s be real about this from a proper management assessment. I know this is an unpopular decision but one that is in the best interests of the residents who would gain better resources and services elsewhere and assist the budget bottom line.
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Troy Public Library TPL Troy Budget Cuts
just put parking meters in city/library
parking lots .
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The public libraries in the communities you mention have the obligation to look out for THEIR residents first. They probably have little interest in taking on a huge new group of users who may take library resources away from their own residents.
If the Troy Public Library closes, neither Baldwin Library, Bloomfield Twp Library nor Rochester Library will sell Troy residents a library card. Those libraries do not sell cards to non-residents.
Public libraries are not obligated to sell library cards to non-residents. In fact, the Supreme Court upheld Bloomfield Twp Library’s decision NOT to do so a few years ago.
Therefore, the only option for Troy residents who wish to use those libraries—if the Troy Public Library closed—would be for the City of Troy to enter into a service contract with one of those libraries. To give an example of the possible cost for that service contract, the general rule of thumb is to charge non-residents at least as much as the residents of the community, and on a per capita basis. The cost a Bloomfield Twp resident pays for library service is approximately $450/year. (The cost for a Troy household is about $60/yr). The resident population of Troy is over 80,000.
The Baldwin Public Library charges the city of Beverly Hills $459,763 per year for library service. The city of Beverly Hills has a much smaller population than the city of Troy, so the City of Troy would probably be charged more for a service contract.
Do the math! You will, however, be able to pay $100 per person per year to use the Clawson Library.
It is shameful that people don't appreciate what their City has to offer and don't even bother to find out the facts, not even when it's too late.
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@ Concerned Resident
I agree the library is important but priorities are also important.....If it needs to go in these financial times then maybe it should, but the thing you must also realize is that as funding dollars continue to drop for the arts, organizations are going to be forced to abandon their protective isolated mentality when the reality of sustainability and fiscal reality enter into the equation....While I respect your love for the library, as funding faulters for other libraries, they will be willing to take members wherever they can get them from after all 100% of nothing is still nothing......Just a thought!
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I am a longtime librarian at a neighboring suburban library and am very aware of this library situation. The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed that libraries DO NOT have to sell non-resident cards. Baldwin, Bloomfield Township, and Rochester Hills Public Libraries, the 3 libraries sited, DO NOT sell non-resident cards. When TPL closes, Troy residents and school children will be able to come into the libraries and use any resources in the building that are not restricted to residents only. You will NOT be able to check out material, attend registered programs, use study rooms, download media, or use online databases from home. There will be time limits and other restriction on computer usage. Even wireless capabilities will be restricted. Do not delude yourself in thinking that you will have open access to most other libraries. In difficult economic times, public libraries are at their busiest....serving their own taxpaying residents. With layoffs and unpaid furlough days for staff, shrinking budgets, and reduced hours, these area libraries are stretched to just serve their own taxpayers. Why would they take on non-residents who are not willing to support their own community library? As all libraries are grappling with severely reduced funding, taking on communities who do not support their own libraries, is simply NOT going to happen. Dream on.
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