Privatizing Libraries

This timely special report from ALA Editions provides a succinct but comprehensive overview of the "privatization" of public libraries. It provides a history of the trend of local and state governments privatizing public services and assets, and then examines the history of public library privatization right up to the California legislation introduced earlier this year to restrict cities in the state from privatizing library services.The book also examines what happens when a private, for-profit organization takes over essential management tasks and decisions of a public library, including the effects this can have on services, patron satisfaction and staff, as well as legal issues. It provides in-depth recommendations for librarians who want to retain control of their own institutions. Complete with case studies, statistics, and a valuable checklist of to-dos for libraries that are facing partial or complete privatization.

This timely special report from ALA Editions provides a succinct but comprehensive overview of the "privatization" of public libraries

This timely special report from ALA Editions provides a succinct but comprehensive overview of the "privatization" of public libraries. It provides a history of the trend of local and state governments privatizing public services and assets, and then examines the history of public library privatization right up to the California legislation introduced earlier this year to restrict cities in the state from privatizing library services.The book also examines what happens when a private, for-profit organization takes over essential management tasks and decisions of a public library, including the effects this can have on services, patron satisfaction and staff, as well as legal issues. It provides in-depth recommendations for librarians who want to retain control of their own institutions. Complete with case studies, statistics, and a valuable checklist of to-dos for libraries that are facing partial or complete privatization.

AcknowledgmentsForewordPatricia A. Tumulty, Chair, ALA Committee on Library Advocacy and ALA Task Force on PrivatizationMarci Merola, Director, ALA Office for Library AdvocacyIntroduction1 Privatization of Public Libraries: An Overview2 How Privatization Works: RFPs, Contracts, and Data Analysis3 A Closer Look at Privatization: Five Case Studies4 Key Issues for Libraries Facing PrivatizationAppendix: ALA ChecklistsBibliographyIndex