RCA Board of Directors opposes Library "Beta Project;" calls for a new plan involving community inputs, August 26, 2013

At its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 26, 2013, the RCA Board of Directors approved by a vote of 10-1 the following resolution after a lengthy discussion.  The counter-themes in the discussion were whether the "Beta Project" was being driven by County budgetary concerns or by technology advances.  Virtually all of the Board members believed the "Beta Project" was merely an extension of the substantial decreases in the FCPL's budget share of the County's budget over the last six years, especially in the face of continued County population growth.  The County's decision to destroy in large numbers books paid for by County taxpayers rather than sell them or give them away was especially objectionable to all RCA Board members.  


 

Resolution of

The Reston Citizens Association regarding

Library Operations and the Proposed “Beta Plan”

August 26, 2013

Whereas, world-class libraries are essential to Fairfax County’s economic competitiveness and attractiveness to potential residents and businesses, and,

Whereas, Fairfax County spending per capita on public libraries dropped over 30% between FY 2007 and FY 2012, and library spending as a share of the County budget has dropped by one-third over the same period, and,

Whereas, per capita usage of County libraries, both online and in person, has dropped during the period that library budgets have been cut, and,

Whereas, the number of items in the library system’s collection had declined from 2.5 million in 2005 to 2.24 million as of August 2013, and,

Whereas, the proposed “Beta Plan” under consideration by the Library Board would:

• Reduce the staff positions at Reston Regional Library, the County’s largest and busiest library, from 20.5 to 13.5;
• Remove specialized positions dedicated to children’s literature;
• Eliminate the Master of Library Sciences (MLS) degree as a requirement for librarian and branch manager positions; and,

Whereas, the Library Strategic Plan approved in September 2012 proposes a transition from print books to digital “e-books,” and calls for a reduction in the proportion of library floor space devoted to books in favor of expanded space for computers, Internet access, and meeting rooms, and,

Whereas, there has not been adequate time for community input on either the Beta Plan or the Library Strategic Plan approved last year,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The Reston Citizens Association –

• Strongly opposes the proposed Beta Plan, and calls for it to be cancelled.

• Calls for a new Library Strategic Plan to be developed with full participation of all library stakeholders, including citizens, staff, volunteers, and members of library Friends groups, that includes metrics and standards for success that are agreed to by the community.

• Calls for library funding as a share of County expenditures to be restored to at least FY 2007 levels.

• Endorses the position that libraries should be considered a core responsibility of the County.