Public Libraries Going Private

Public Libraries Going Private

Very interesting development from the US concerning the privatization of public library. Do you think we can do this here? What is interesting about this is that they have bidders/proposals from their current outsource service providers already. Below are the reasons that gave.

• Private management brings solid corporate business thinking to the table. That means working hard to find the most efficient way to do things. It means looking for innovation and finding ways to get more productivity out of existing resources. It means knowing how to get the most out of every dollar spent. Corporations know how to do this.


• LSSI brings significant library management experience to the table. It already operates four public libraries in Tennessee and about 50 nationwide. It operates some very large public library systems such as in Riverside County, Calif. It also does work for the Library of Congress and for the Smithsonian Institution.


• Corporate management of the library will bring new resources to the library. LSSI has a nationally known advisory board including some of the top library officials and library science educators in the country. These resources will be at our disposal.


• Successful corporations know how to manage change. Change is difficult, but those who don't change with the times fall behind.


• A private management contract would be performance based. Benchmarks and performance standards would be set by the board and agreed to by the contractor. If the goals are not met, a management change could again be made. LSSI has an outstanding record of meeting its performance goals for the public libraries it manages.


• The LSSI proposal is reasonable and includes taking quick action to open a North Jackson branch, something that has only been talked about for too many years.


• Corporations understand the concept of living within their means. LSSI has been successful at finding new non-taxpayer sources of revenue in other libraries it manages

What I am interested to find out is their business model.