Faced with hard cuts from state funding, Floridian public libraries are making a dramatic effort to prove their worth to their communities.

The libraries are taking part in a statewide event, Snapshot: A Day in the Life of Florida Libraries, coordinated by the Florida Library Association. Other states have conducted similar programs but this is the first one in Florida, said Faye Roberts, the FLA’s executive director.
Libraries will gather statistics on customer usage, take photos of activities and collect comments from patrons. Roberts said her organization will use the results to remind elected officials of the importance of adequate funding for libraries.[Full article here]

This is a great. It has got every piece necessary to give a human side to what’s at risk when cuts to libraries are made.

And, if the most hard-hearted budgetary wonk’s heart won’t melt, they’ve got some numbers to help them:

Faye Roberts cited a recent study that found that libraries have an economic impact of $8.30 in public services for every $1 invested in them.

Is this enough?

When so many demands on state/provincial, municipal, and federal funding compete, public libraries need to show system-wide thinking to find ways to prove their worth. It’s a frustrating cause in the US, where state and municipal budgets are bound by law to not run a deficit.

The outcome is all too often lose-lose… which sucks.

Efforts like the Florida Library Association’s are what’s called for.But, libraries should not wait for Mr. Big Cuts to come knocking. I think most libraries should have something like this ongoing and in their back pockets. Now’s the time. Rally the staff! Rally the users!