Library Board to Hear About Privatization
LSSI is expected to present to Board of Trustees.
Photos
Pdfs
The Montville Township Public Library Board of Trustees is expected to hear a presentation in the coming months by a company that provides library outsourcing for communities as a possible way of lowering expenses.
Library Systems & Services LLC, or LSSI, a Germantown, Md.-based company that was founded in 1981, was scheduled to give a presentation at the board's Monday meeting, but had to reschedule to March or April, said library board member and Township Committeeman Don Kostka.
The company provides services to 17 public library systems and 69 branches in the U.S., according to its website.
Kostka said of LSSI "they are in the business of running libraries" and that the company will present on what it can do for Montville.
The presentation would address how the library would change if LSSI was hired, including what would happen to existing staff, what interaction would exist between LSSI and the Board of Trustees, what would happen to union employees and benefits, how LSSI would develop programs and work with different age groups, and how working with LSSI would affect the library's collection, interaction with the community and accounting systems, Kostka said.
Maxim Sapozhnikov
9:23 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I'm usually the first to cheer for privatization, but library?! At layman's glance, the librarians don't seem to be overpaid or inefficient, and I have never had a single problem with how they operate. Can we privatize the schools first?
Dan Grant
11:45 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The residents of Montville Township voted for a Free Public Library in 1989 to replace a well meaning Association Library housed in what was at the time a delapidated building with a couple of trailers attached. It provided for a guarenteed tax to support the library that couldn't be stolen by elected officials. The Board of Education donated the property on which it was built and various groups made donations to support the efforts to furnish the building and provide needed appointmants. These included a $250,000.00 donation from the Pio Costa family and $70,000 from the North Jersey Chinese Association, as well as numerous private donations. I don't say that you can't listen to a presentation of privatization but look long an hard at the questions this will raise and what it will do to the essence of the Library. Someone thinks this is a good Idea or they would not be entertaining it. Who is it and why.
Marion Gingery
6:29 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Glad you reminded everyone of our long history and hard work of many to get us a new library
mark
5:40 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
they tried to do this a few years ago ask Mr kosta he brought them in if this firm gets in they will get rid of he peole working there already union or not get for our town ask mr kosta what he gets out of this
john
9:51 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Mr. Kostka keeps bringing this topic. It makes me wonder if he expects any personal gains form this. He has to understand that a library provides public service and is not supposed to make profit unlike the companies he has worked for in the past. Maybe we should outsource some of the spots on the town committee. I think the library board and the mayor should be elected by the people directly.
Maxim Sapozhnikov
4:31 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Newsflash for all you union folks: non-profit public services can, and occasionally should, be privatized. Ever heard of private jails?
Marion Gingery
6:28 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Will residents of Montville be able to still borrow from any Morris County library. If not does that mean we have to spend our gas money driving all over to get the books we need and Montville does not have?. What about the long-term employees do we just disgard service they have provided? Lastly, if Library has surplus funds they turn over to the town whats that the cost issue. I think We need a vote by residents not the Town Council deciding on an a faculity we worked hard to provided when I first moved to this town, MKG