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ENLARGE
Retired county librarian Madelyn Helling speaks Tuesday morning to a crowd protesting the proposed outsourcing of library services.
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People sign petitions at the rally against privatization.
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Local resident and retired minister Don Baldwin speaks to protesters Tuesday in front of the Rood Center in Nevada City, all of whom were against outsourcing county library services to a private firm.
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With placards and grinning camaraderie, 100 protesters picketed the Nevada County Rood Center Tuesday to dissuade the Board of Supervisors from outsourcing management of Nevada County's six libraries.
“Why send our tax money to another place?” asked retired librarian Annabel Straus, referring to the sole proposal from a Maryland firm.
“Public libraries should be exactly that: Public, not private.”
“This is the foundation of democracy,” protester Mark Sherwood said. “It's not for sale or rent.”
“Why send our tax money to another place?” asked retired librarian Annabel Straus, referring to the sole proposal from a Maryland firm.
“Public libraries should be exactly that: Public, not private.”
“This is the foundation of democracy,” protester Mark Sherwood said. “It's not for sale or rent.”
“I believe local control of our library is very important, said Susan Jakubik. “I plan to volunteer at the library when I retire, but I think volunteerism would go down if it's privately run.”
“We have the talent right here to balance the (library) budget,” said Joan Girdler. She said County Librarian MaryAnn Trygg has the expertise to do it and her ongoing attempts to find cuts within the system should be heeded.
The protesters then packed the Board of Supervisors meeting with signs that read, “Local control, local accountability” and “Carnegie is crying,” among other slogans.
The crowd had gathered because of the supervisors' October decision to consider outsourcing library management to avoid a $400,000 deficit for the current 2009-10 fiscal year.
With property and sales tax income plummeting, County Executive Officer Rick Haffey suggested the outsourcing idea as a cost-saving alternative.
The library deficit could rise to $2 million by 2012-13 if nothing is done, Haffey has said.
On Tuesday, supervisors listened to about 20 minutes of comments on the matter, but could not comment it was not on their agenda.
Friends of Nevada County Libraries board member Michele Schiro said the supervisors were on a “fast track” toward outsourcing and implored them to look at all alternatives.
Bill Thomas, who had founded a large company, urged the board to heed what he called “the golden rule of business.”
“If you screw your customers, they'll never come back,” Thomas said. He also suggested the county was looking to outsourcing as a way to escape long-term pension payment obligations.
Nevada Union High School Librarian Jill Sonnenberg said there wasn't enough brainstorming about a situation.
“We have a history in this county of being free-thinkers. I'm surprised this even came to the table,” Sonnenberg said about outsourcing. “This is not us and does not represent us as a county.”
Former Supervisor Jim Weir made it personal for Supervisor Hank Weston — the former Grass Valley fire chief — and for Supervisor Ed Scofield, past CEO of the county fairgrounds.
If he were still a board member, Weir said he would not think about outsourcing fire service or the fair's management.
Supervisors will now have two committees look over the single proposal from Library Systems of Germantown, Md., to run all six libraries, Board Chairman Weston said.
They probably will take up the matter again in December, Weston said. Earlier in the week, Supervisor Nate Beason predicted it would be more like January.
Two more committees — a library proposal committee and the standing Citizens Oversight Committee of the library — also will look at a second proposal. It came from Friends of Nevada County Libraries to run the Doris Foley Historical Library in Nevada City two days per week. It does not include running any other facility.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
“We have the talent right here to balance the (library) budget,” said Joan Girdler. She said County Librarian MaryAnn Trygg has the expertise to do it and her ongoing attempts to find cuts within the system should be heeded.
The protesters then packed the Board of Supervisors meeting with signs that read, “Local control, local accountability” and “Carnegie is crying,” among other slogans.
The crowd had gathered because of the supervisors' October decision to consider outsourcing library management to avoid a $400,000 deficit for the current 2009-10 fiscal year.
With property and sales tax income plummeting, County Executive Officer Rick Haffey suggested the outsourcing idea as a cost-saving alternative.
The library deficit could rise to $2 million by 2012-13 if nothing is done, Haffey has said.
On Tuesday, supervisors listened to about 20 minutes of comments on the matter, but could not comment it was not on their agenda.
Friends of Nevada County Libraries board member Michele Schiro said the supervisors were on a “fast track” toward outsourcing and implored them to look at all alternatives.
Bill Thomas, who had founded a large company, urged the board to heed what he called “the golden rule of business.”
“If you screw your customers, they'll never come back,” Thomas said. He also suggested the county was looking to outsourcing as a way to escape long-term pension payment obligations.
Nevada Union High School Librarian Jill Sonnenberg said there wasn't enough brainstorming about a situation.
“We have a history in this county of being free-thinkers. I'm surprised this even came to the table,” Sonnenberg said about outsourcing. “This is not us and does not represent us as a county.”
Former Supervisor Jim Weir made it personal for Supervisor Hank Weston — the former Grass Valley fire chief — and for Supervisor Ed Scofield, past CEO of the county fairgrounds.
If he were still a board member, Weir said he would not think about outsourcing fire service or the fair's management.
Supervisors will now have two committees look over the single proposal from Library Systems of Germantown, Md., to run all six libraries, Board Chairman Weston said.
They probably will take up the matter again in December, Weston said. Earlier in the week, Supervisor Nate Beason predicted it would be more like January.
Two more committees — a library proposal committee and the standing Citizens Oversight Committee of the library — also will look at a second proposal. It came from Friends of Nevada County Libraries to run the Doris Foley Historical Library in Nevada City two days per week. It does not include running any other facility.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
