FARK.com: (6862535) Rahm Emanuel's latest cost-saving measure: having all Chicago-area libraries closed on Mondays. BOOK IT, DONE

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		Rahm Emanuel's latest cost-saving measure: having all Chicago-area libraries closed on Mondays. BOOK IT, DONE (suntimes.com)		68
		More: Followup, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, alderman, deputy mayor, Chicago, public libraries, Jennifer Hoyle

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thomps

2012-01-05 11:55:25 PM

this is a funny headline, but i feel bad by all those affected by the decision. isn't it bad enough that they're already homeless?

GAT_00

2012-01-06 12:10:13 AM

The mayor's plan to reduce library hours and impose draconian job cuts that would impact library services at all hours fast emerged as the most controversial element of the mayor's 2012 budget.

Huh. Maybe all hope isn't lost in this country.

coco ebert

2012-01-06 12:37:55 AM

GAT_00: The mayor's plan to reduce library hours and impose draconian job cuts that would impact library services at all hours fast emerged as the most controversial element of the mayor's 2012 budget.

Huh. Maybe all hope isn't lost in this country.

If it were up to some people, we wouldn't have "public" anything in this country. I remember reading a while back that a Texas (I think it was) public library took the word "public" out because it was deemed too negative. Sigh. I have so many good memories going to the library as a child with my dad. I hope they're still around when/if I have kids.

FirstNationalBastard

2012-01-06 12:48:21 AM

What are you reading for?

Fark Me To Tears

2012-01-06 01:11:16 AM

Why is this a big deal? When I was a kid, I lived in areas where public libraries were closed on Mondays. Nobody questioned it. We just didn't go the library on Mondays.

joshiz

2012-01-06 01:15:35 AM

...people of the city who want and deserve access to their libraries at all times.

"All times"? Chicago libraries are already closed on Sundays and all night every night. We need to balance the budget. Having them closed on Monday is not that big of a deal.

picodenico

2012-01-06 02:21:41 AM

Fark Me To Tears: Why is this a big deal? When I was a kid, I lived in areas where public libraries were closed on Mondays. Nobody questioned it. We just didn't go the library on Mondays.

Not everybody lived where you lived...

Adolf Oliver Nipples

2012-01-06 03:09:44 AM

There is nothing that you can get in a library that can't wait until Tuesday. Not even Internet access. It's not like people are lined up around the block waiting to check out the new flavor-of-the-month book, and if it's job-related and you need Internet access, there are a gazillion non-profits and state agencies that would love for you to show up on their doorstep since relatively few people do.

Much ado about nothing. In fact, I'd like to see numbers on library utilization. When I was younger libraries were fairly busy, but not overwhelmingly so. Now there is almost as much staff as customers when I go in for my once-yearly visit. It's almost as if people look for something to object to on principle, even if it all makes sense. Mustn't give in too easily to the opposition, dontchaknow.

WhyteRaven74

2012-01-06 05:12:42 AM

joshiz: We need to balance the budget. Having them closed on Monday is not that big of a deal.

It's a piss poor way to try to save money.

rev. dave

2012-01-06 06:40:04 AM

Well sadly libraries today are only used by old scary dudes looking at porn.

Dalek Caan's doomed mistress

2012-01-06 06:42:17 AM

The libraries in my area have been closed on Sunday and Monday for years. How is this news?

KrispyKritter

2012-01-06 06:44:23 AM

hotlink

Hawnkee

2012-01-06 06:46:01 AM

How DARE they deny Americans their rights to play Farmville?! I mean, that's what the computers are there for, right?

/Heh.

astralan

2012-01-06 06:46:15 AM

what if my book is due on a monday?

Sid_6.7

2012-01-06 06:48:22 AM

astralan: what if my book is due on a monday?

You drop it in the book return slot.

WhackingDay

2012-01-06 06:48:47 AM

Dalek Caan's doomed mistress: The libraries in my area have been closed on Sunday and Monday for years. How is this news?

Apparently your mayor and/or city councilmen were penny-pinching assholes in a previous generation.

eltejon

2012-01-06 06:49:52 AM

Brr to have one day closed than branches shunted.

eltejon

2012-01-06 06:51:34 AM

Brr = Better

/ it's not that cold here

Xaneidolon

2012-01-06 06:52:57 AM

FirstNationalBastard: [1.bp.blogspot.com image 460x276]

What are you reading for?

Here's a flag. Go back to sleep.

mynameisdouglas

2012-01-06 06:55:44 AM

Adolf Oliver Nipples: Much ado about nothing. In fact, I'd like to see numbers on library utilization. When I was younger libraries were fairly busy, but not overwhelmingly so. Now there is almost as much staff as customers when I go in for my once-yearly visit. It's almost as if people look for something to object to on principle, even if it all makes sense. Mustn't give in too easily to the opposition, dontchaknow.

The two branches I go to are always busy, as is the main branch downtown.
I won't call it nothing, like so many of you already have done. Or compare it to a different locale, because that doesn't matter.
However, it doesn't really bother me, and most people would agree closing another day a week is better than making it harder for somebody to reach a library by closing branches.

Disgruntled Goat

2012-01-06 06:56:53 AM

Would you rather they cut a few police officers or firemen to save the money?

ongbok

2012-01-06 06:56:57 AM

He is history's greatest monster for managing libraries the way other towns and communities have done for decades.

Dalek Caan's doomed mistress

2012-01-06 07:10:03 AM

WhackingDay: Dalek Caan's doomed mistress: The libraries in my area have been closed on Sunday and Monday for years. How is this news?

Apparently your mayor and/or city councilmen were penny-pinching assholes in a previous generation.

Actually, they're investing heavily in a digital lending network that far exceeds the amount of books they can physically store, and is freely available 24/7 from home. I'd rather have fewer hours but still have the service than risking loosing the service entirely to poor money management.

logieal

2012-01-06 07:10:25 AM

I remember doing the BOOK IT program and getting tons of free pizzas from Pizza Hut.

I was all like, "You mean all I have to do is read a stupid book and you give me free pizza? Hell yah!"
Could be why I'm fat now.

coffee smells good

2012-01-06 07:14:52 AM

Chicago Public libraries will close all day Mondays - instead of Monday and Friday mornings as promised - stunning and infuriating aldermen who thought they had an agreement with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "That's not what was proposed or voted on. It's completely contrary."

A Chicago politician lied? Color me surprised.

Anders Lindall, a spokesman for AFSCME Council 31 representing the 176 library employees, acknowledged that the union is negotiating with the city. But, he categorically denied that the union had forced the city's hand.

A union leader also lied? Wow, two in one article.

patent holder

2012-01-06 07:24:32 AM

coffee smells good: Chicago Public libraries will close all day Mondays - instead of Monday and Friday mornings as promised - stunning and infuriating aldermen who thought they had an agreement with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "That's not what was proposed or voted on. It's completely contrary."

A Chicago politician lied? Color me surprised.

Didn't the mayor work for some politician that was going to have "the most open administration in history?" How's that lie working out for you? It's Chicago - they're all liars.

Sudo_Make_Me_A_Sandwich

2012-01-06 07:25:50 AM

Wouldn't it make more sense to have different days off for different branches so you could rotate staff and patrons could use other locations if their preferred branch is closed?

Jamdug!

2012-01-06 07:26:34 AM

Shouldn't it be, "Book - it done!"?

bugontherug

2012-01-06 07:29:25 AM

Adolf Oliver Nipples: and if it's job-related and you need Internet access, there are a gazillion non-profits and state agencies that would love for you to show up on their doorstep since relatively few people do.

I'm indifferent to Chicago's library hours policy, but this is bullsh*t. Whatever non-profits and state agencies you suppose will open their doors to public internet access don't exist everywhere. People who depend on public internet access will definitely be affected when the library is closed.

I just don't like it when people rationalize away the costs of cutting public services.

Mitch Mitchell

2012-01-06 07:32:35 AM

Sudo_Make_Me_A_Sandwich: Wouldn't it make more sense to have different days off for different branches so you could rotate staff and patrons could use other locations if their preferred branch is closed?

If you want to re-program a computer program that was written in 1777, then, How You Doing?

ongbok

2012-01-06 07:39:48 AM

bugontherug: Adolf Oliver Nipples: and if it's job-related and you need Internet access, there are a gazillion non-profits and state agencies that would love for you to show up on their doorstep since relatively few people do.

I'm indifferent to Chicago's library hours policy, but this is bullsh*t. Whatever non-profits and state agencies you suppose will open their doors to public internet access don't exist everywhere. People who depend on public internet access will definitely be affected when the library is closed.

I just don't like it when people rationalize away the costs of cutting public services.

So not being able to get internet access at the library on Monday is going to affect their lives that greatly? If they need public internet access that badly on a Monday they can jump on a bus or the EL and head to the library in one of the suburbs that border Chicago that have library hours on Monday. Or they can go to one of the many public colleges in the city and use their computer labs that are open to the public.

YouPeopleAreCrazy

2012-01-06 07:42:39 AM

Disgruntled Goat: Would you rather they cut a few police officers or firemen to save the money?

How about we start with cutting out some of the corruption, graft, kickbacks. Or even just simple wasteful spending.

/not just Chicago, either

superdude72

2012-01-06 07:42:57 AM

OK, just so everyone's clear on this, the library's hours are as follows:

MON Closed
TUE 10am-6pm
WED 12pm-8pm
THU 10am-6pm
FRI 9am-5pm
SAT9am-5pm
SUN Closed

It might help you to remember that the hours on T,Th are 10am-6pm, W 12pm-8pm, and F,Sa 9am-5pm.

If you work at the library and show up at the wrong time, just tell your supervisor you forgot what day it was. This is completely plausible. And odds are, they will have showed up at the wrong time also.

Fear the Clam

2012-01-06 07:44:36 AM

Dead voters don't read.

mynameisdouglas

2012-01-06 07:45:42 AM

superdude72: OK, just so everyone's clear on this, the library's hours are as follows:

MON Closed
TUE 10am-6pm
WED 12pm-8pm
THU 10am-6pm
FRI 9am-5pm
SAT9am-5pm
SUN Closed

It might help you to remember that the hours on T,Th are 10am-6pm, W 12pm-8pm, and F,Sa 9am-5pm.

If you work at the library and show up at the wrong time, just tell your supervisor you forgot what day it was. This is completely plausible. And odds are, they will have showed up at the wrong time also.

One of the weirdest things ever coming from college back to Chicago was the library being closed on Sunday. It completely makes sense, but I thought that is when everybody did their homework.

starlost

2012-01-06 07:49:47 AM

bugontherug
People who depend on public internet access will definitely be affected when the library is closed.

around here 99% of the people i see using the internet at the library are playing around. i'm there almost every week day morning and most everyone on the 20 or so puters are under 30 and may have one or more kids in tow and they are in facebook, chat rooms, a music or celebrity web site, or giggling while reading email and there is often a wait to get a puter.

PsiChi

2012-01-06 07:54:23 AM

Rahm is an evil slug. Start cost cutting at the place that brings everyone up, that provides information, which is power. Oh, wait, I'm sure there weren't other programs or areas that could have been sacrified.

Moron. And whoever defends him is also a moron.

rico567

2012-01-06 08:00:18 AM

The money's got to be saved, so that all the graft can be paid. Bad news for the libraries, the chief irony being that there's probably NO payoffs or kickbacks involved there....

Any time you think of anything in Chicago, think of the previous sentence. That is the first commandment of the economy. None of this will change until the people of Chicago take control of their own destiny.

/Who said dat? Not me. I don't know nuttin'.

ongbok

2012-01-06 08:01:20 AM

PsiChi: Rahm is an evil slug. Start cost cutting at the place that brings everyone up, that provides information, which is power. Oh, wait, I'm sure there weren't other programs or areas that could have been sacrified.

Moron. And whoever defends him is also a moron.

Ease up lady. It's not like there aren't 15 or more other publicly funded libraries in the city of Chicago people can go to on Monday besides the Chicago Public libraries. People can even got to the suburban libraries that are open on Mondays if they really need to. It's not like he is completely cutting off people's access to information, there are other easily accessible alternatives.

DarkVader

2012-01-06 08:08:51 AM

Disgruntled Goat: Would you rather they cut a few police officers or firemen to save the money?

This is Chicago we're talking about.

Of course it would be better to cut about 90% of the police department. They're just street thugs anyway.

But yeah, if it's a choice between cutting the library or cutting the police, the answer should ALWAYS be to cut the police.

stebain

2012-01-06 08:11:55 AM

I'd much rather see all libraries close one or two days a week to save 15-30% than have 15-30% of libraries closed permanently.

Jim_Callahan

2012-01-06 08:17:23 AM

coco ebert: GAT_00: The mayor's plan to reduce library hours and impose draconian job cuts that would impact library services at all hours fast emerged as the most controversial element of the mayor's 2012 budget.

Huh. Maybe all hope isn't lost in this country.

If it were up to some people, we wouldn't have "public" anything in this country. I remember reading a while back that a Texas (I think it was) public library took the word "public" out because it was deemed too negative. Sigh. I have so many good memories going to the library as a child with my dad. I hope they're still around when/if I have kids.

Do most of them actually have "public" in the name of the building? Most of the ones I've seen have just been "[neighborhood name] library". While private libraries exist, I don't think all that many of them advertise their presence or location on a regular basis.

bmihura

2012-01-06 08:19:07 AM

Why even have libraries when there is the Internet? They made sense in 1970 and even 1980, but not anymore.

fat_free

2012-01-06 08:20:27 AM

I live in Chicago, getting a kick, yadda yadda ... My printer conked out, so I use the library's printer if I'm not at work. What kinda pisses me off is that there are so many people in the City of Chicago/Cook County that have bullshiat jobs with useless government departments.

For example, what the hell does the Assistant Deputy Director for the Chicago Department of Housing do? Why does the city even have a Department of Housing when it has the Chicago Housing Authority? Why does the City Treasurer need a 24/7 security detail? Just stupid stuff that ultimately cost millions that could have been used for cool stuff....

I_C_Weener

2012-01-06 08:22:18 AM

First, how much is he gonna save by closing the library for one day? Still have to heat the building, pay rent, etc... And its not like the books cost anything after you already bought them.

Second, how will all the hot librarians make back the money they are losing?

Lsherm

2012-01-06 08:22:37 AM

Oh noes! The library is going to be closed two days a week! It's still open Saturday.

And I'm getting a tickle out of this: The Democrats can't afford the services, and they can't spread the extra day off across two days because of the union:

"We budgeted for two half-days," O'Connor said. But, he added, "It would require the unions to agree to it."

This is what it looks like when the snake starts eating itself. I wonder if anyone actually did a study to find out how many people use the library.

Milk D

2012-01-06 08:23:05 AM

ronaprhys

2012-01-06 08:25:04 AM

I wonder how much angst there'd be if this was Romney or any of his buddies proposing it...

Tom_Slick

2012-01-06 08:25:50 AM

Jim_Callahan: Do most of them actually have "public" in the name of the building? Most of the ones I've seen have just been "[neighborhood name] library".

In Georgia it is almost always [County Name] Public Library I think this goes back to the days when most of libraries in the southern towns were Carnegie Libraries.

fat_free

2012-01-06 08:30:13 AM

Our librarians at the Beverly branch are really biatchy most of the time, even though most do nothing but sit at the front desk, give change and release print jobs. They got super p.o.'d because their library page got laid off, meaning the LIBRARIANS WILL HAVE TO RESTOCK THE SHELVES THEMSELVES. OH, THE HORROR!

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