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Keeping you up-to-date with what's happening at the Marathon County Public Library. Please join in the conversation!

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

County Board Budget Meeting

The Marathon County Board of Supervisors meet this afternoon, November 11 at 2:00pm. They will vote on the 2011 budget for Marathon County which includes the Library. The Marathon County Public Library Board meeting is Monday, November 15 at 12:00 noon.

As proposed, the 2011 Library budget calls for not filling at least three full-time Library Assistant staff positions and terminating one of the three Customer Service Librarians. The net loss would be 160 staff hours per week.

According to documents furnished by County Administrator Brad Karger, the Marathon County Public Library system (Headquarters and Branches) employed 55.27 full-time equivalent employees in 2006. Should the proposed 2011 Library budget be passed, that figure will be 46.97. The proposed tax rate would remain at $5.17 per thousand of equalized valuation.

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Category: Libraries

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Comments

hausfrau said, on Nov. 9 at 7:32AM
I've heard the Children's librarian will be axed. How can the county be so short-sighted? My kids always used the library; it was a lowcost thing we could do and kept their reading up over summer. Now my grandkids use it for story time and events. Please don't cut this!!

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marge said, on Nov. 9 at 11:21AM
This is terrible news. Our library is important; we use it at least once a week!! County Board, wake up!

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janet said, on Nov. 9 at 4:55PM
I found out about this cutback from the City Pages! I don't recall reading about it in Friends of the Library newsletter! Who has the most "say" of who will be terminated---the gal heading the daily operation, the County Board alone or the Libary Board? I was talking to my family about this and my brother reminded me our taxes will go up if we don't make the change. I'm such a big believer in the public library, I'm willing to pay HIGHER TAXES!!!! Guess this is just a sign of our times....

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Library Director said, on Nov. 9 at 5:52PM
The position to be possibly cut is in the adult area. We will maintain a professional librarian in the Children's area.

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said, on Nov. 10 at 9:07AM
Don't believe everything you read in the City Pages... for the full story, talk to Library management.

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Library Director said, on Nov. 10 at 9:40AM
"said, on Nov. 10 at 9:07AM Don't believe everything you read in the City Pages... for the full story, talk to Library management." My phone number is 715-261-7211 Phyllis Christensen

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marge said, on Nov. 10 at 1:19PM
You say adult services librarian. Is an adult services librarian qualified to direct children's services? Will they want to work with children? Did they have the same schooling as a children's librarian?

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Bookworm said, on Nov. 10 at 5:38PM
Here are the FACTS. There are currently 3 Librarians with Master of Library and Information Science Degrees in the Library who work a public desk on a daily basis. One position is being axed, which based on seniority, will be the Children's Librarian Diane. One of the Adult Service Librarians will move from the Reference area to replace Diane. Diane has numerous years experience assisting children, the 2 Adult Service Librarians work with adults. This move will leave only 1 Master Degreed Librarian to assist all adults and 1 Master Degreed Librarian to assist children. The Library is open 7 days a week for a total of 66 hours. Commonsense dictates this is a poor decision.

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Shelly Graham said, on Nov. 10 at 11:15PM
Bookworm, you must be one of the Degreed Librarians hiding behind a alias, because nothing you say gives any support that this is a poor decision. What does the Masters Degree do to help the library patron? I asked one of the Librarians for a phone number that is in the Wausau telephone directory and 5 minutes later he still couldn't find it for me. I have asked for computer help, and get the best help from the non librarian man who is usually in back on second floor. That doesn't sound like we need more of you. Non librarians give excellent storytimes. At the book store, nonlibrarians give me suggestions of what to read next, help me find books that I'm looking for, music that is like performers that I like. School teachers guide children in what to read without the benefit of being librarians. Many times when I'm in the library, I see the librarian sitting at the desk on second floor visiting with the other person at the desk. I've heard about your kids, your problems with landscaping, your husband, and too much else while you are "working". I've been there enough and asked around enough to know the who you are and the difference between a librarian and a nonlibrarian. I can't tell the difference in the service that I get, except that except that the nonlibrarians are usually friendlier, smile more, and are more energetic. If it is so important to you librarians to have more of you, are you willing to give up your county funded retirement fund that is on top of your 401k? Are you willing to pay more than 5% of your cadillac health care plan? Do you really care about your patrons, or are you just trying to save a high-paying job that could be done as well by someone with out the masters degree? This sounds like another case of overpaid government workers whining because they might have to face the economic reality that many of the rest of us are in.

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Bookworm said, on Nov. 11 at 9:02AM
I am not one of the degreed librarians, just a patron who enjoys the service provided by an actual human being. All 3 Master Degreed Librarians have over 20 years experience at MCPL and have earned whatever compensation they are being paid. Their years of service has built the foundation for the library of today. Also, they do not have a 401K and the 5% cadillac health care is county wide. Government jobs are available to anyone...assuming you have the required education.

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Susan said, on Nov. 12 at 9:35AM
The Director says, "Don't believe everything you read in City Pages," but what exactly did City Pages say that was incorrect? It seemed like a very accurate report of the situation.

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MCPL Staff said, on Nov. 12 at 9:48AM
Susan, the Director was replying to the preceding comment, which was posted anonymously. Apologies, but you have mis-attributed the quote.

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sunshine said, on Nov. 13 at 8:17AM
With the loss of 4 full time employees will not the remaining staff be pushed to fill the gap of the lost employees or will hours have to be cut back? Will things just pile up somewhere, or do you expect more untrained volunteers to help? Will the community lose the library as a asset? A computer can not replace a human but only enhance what a human does with the computer. A full librarian can not be replaced by a machine. A human touch and smile makes a world of difference especially in the children department. I would suggest the child librarian is trained in a different area than a reference librarian. I have to question what the board and the administration are thinking.

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MaryJane said, on Nov. 13 at 9:52AM
How sad for the library when they have so much extra money every year! I really don't understand. I want people, real people to help me. How can people be laid off before a new director will be hired soon.

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marge said, on Nov. 13 at 9:54AM
I checked with the finance people about library funds; if I'm reading this right there's still money sitting around for the bookmobile garage remodeling (what bookmobiles?) There's money sitting around for remodeling the third floor. I asked a library employee about that; that person said there weren't any plans that they knew of, and there would have to be enough "staff" to work up there!!! But they don't want to talk. They're afraid to talk to the public. What is going on here? I added some rough numbers from the sheet I was given and it seems there's over $100,000 just sitting there, while the children's library person will be let go. Can we do something on Monday at the trustees meeting????????

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fedup said, on Nov. 13 at 11:09AM
So what can we do? We use the library every week!!! This is so upsetting!!

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Just a Mom said, on Nov. 13 at 11:12AM
When we go to the children's events we see a lot of kids whose parents are, (I'm sorry to say), not too swift. But at least they're there! How can the elected people say they don't care by denying the money for four staff people, no matter what their college degrees are in? And the swat vehicle thing makes me mad. This doesn't help my family in one way. It doesn't help my neighborhood or my community. The sherriff used it as a ploy to get his way. This is terrible.

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marge said, on Nov. 13 at 1:31PM
As to what fedup said, there is a library board meeting on Monday at noon at the Wausau library. We could show up there and say how upset we are. Maybe they will find some money in of their pockets.

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tired of being lied to said, on Nov. 13 at 4:49PM
How many of the comments are really people and how many are staff trying to stir things up. I heard some giggling about what name they should use next. And who could they get to write? Get over it spoiled government workers. We don't care who is degreed and who isn't. You haven't shown me that the librarians do any better than the others. Did it take a librarian to run the game day this afternoon? looked like a bunch of people were having a good time.

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said, on Nov. 13 at 5:22PM
"I want people, real people to help me." I see people standing around talking to each other more than helping me. If I'm in a hurry, I have to use the machines to checkout.