We started the morning with 736 signatures, and our pencil tally (subject to human error--"Did I already mark this person or not?") indicates we had 93 Kingstowne Library patrons sign the petition on-site on the laptops provided by Steph and Alana. (Yes, both computers were almost constantly busy.) The total on the site says 827 this evening (so, yes, there was some human error in the pencil tally--that's my fault), but any way you look at it, that's more than a 10% increase in the signatures collected, and all thanks to a few people's efforts.
We're doing this again the next two Saturdays. If other branches do the same, we'll have an even larger increase.
If your branch's Friends isn't soliciting on-the-spot online petition signatures, please contact me for help. Do you need laptops? Do you need volunteers? Maybe we can share resources to help.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
736 Signatures--Wish Us Luck!
It's three minutes before the libraries open on Saturday, January 16. A Friend of Kingstowne Library has set up a laptop and will offer library visitors the chance to sign our online petition on-the-spot. There are 736 signatures on the site as I type this. We think this might be a cost-efficient method of spreading awareness. Wish us luck!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Letter from Delegate Sickles
Today I received a nice letter from Delegate Sickles (below). I am glad to hear steps are being taken, but I would still like to know whether Virginia Code § 42.1-33 (Power of local governments to establish and support libraries) holds an opportunity for additional revenue to support FCPL.
Blanche,
The Library is required, in order to receive state funding, to not charge
fees for reference services, issuance of a library card, or charge to loan a
book/materials.
However, the library is taking some steps to raise some badly needed
funding. It has raised the daily late fee for both children and adults to
30 cents per day, up from 10 cents and 25 cents respectively. They are also
charging patrons $1 to look up a library card (which staff did 400,000 times
last year). They are also charging $20 to proctor a test. Finally, the FCPL
Board is considering charging room rental fees, something that has been done
in the past, but costs staff time to administer. We stopped charging when I
was on the board because of the hassle.
Best,
Mark
Blanche,
The Library is required, in order to receive state funding, to not charge
fees for reference services, issuance of a library card, or charge to loan a
book/materials.
However, the library is taking some steps to raise some badly needed
funding. It has raised the daily late fee for both children and adults to
30 cents per day, up from 10 cents and 25 cents respectively. They are also
charging patrons $1 to look up a library card (which staff did 400,000 times
last year). They are also charging $20 to proctor a test. Finally, the FCPL
Board is considering charging room rental fees, something that has been done
in the past, but costs staff time to administer. We stopped charging when I
was on the board because of the hassle.
Best,
Mark
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