[Baynet] Infopeople's webcast "Inside an Outsourced Library"

[Linda Rodenspiel]

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who might be interested in this webcast.

Title:  Inside an Outsourced Library: Fact and Fiction

Date and time: October 15,2007, 12pm - 1pm

This webcast will last approximately an hour. There is no charge for 
Infopeople webcasts.  Pre-registration is not required.

For more information and to participate in the October 15 webcast, go to
http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/218/index.html


--Does the word "outsourcing" scare you?
--Do you wonder what has happened in communities that have outsourced 
library services?
--Would you like more information about outsourcing so that you can 
better answer questions and challenges?

Then you should tune in to this upcoming Infopeople webcast!

Since the federal government began "privatizing" federal libraries in 
the 1980's, the concept of outsourcing library services has stirred 
strong opinions within the library profession. Outsourcing specific 
services such as facility and equipment maintenance, security, or 
book repair/binding has been more accepted than the outsourcing of 
core library functions. Public library managers remain concerned 
about the outsourcing of public library services, yet according to 
the Public Library Association (Outsourcing: A Public Library 
Checklist, 2000), "It is clear that public library outsourcing will 
not diminish in future importance." In California, over the last few 
years several communities including Redding, Moorpark, Calabasas, and 
Hemet have opted to outsource library services using Library Systems 
and Services, Inc. (LSSI). Is outsourcing a good thing or not, and for whom?

The Riverside County Library was the first and is still the largest 
public library to use a private management company to operate its 
library. Since LSSI began providing daily management services to 
Riverside County in 1997, library services have grown in many ways, 
including the opening of 17 new libraries (8 of which are 
non-replacement facilities), successful application for over $2 
million in grant funding, and the addition of many new countywide 
programs such as an extensive early literacy program, outreach to 
Latino populations, and ESL classes. What makes Riverside County such 
a successful example of outsourcing? Are there downsides to the 
Riverside experience? What lessons does Riverside County provide for 
other libraries?

Speakers: Riverside County Librarian Nancy Johnson and Mark Smith of 
LSSI will discuss outsourcing library operations from the perspective 
of a library system that has used contract management services for 
over 10 years.

Nancy Johnson.  Nancy has been the County Librarian in Riverside 
County since 2004. In this capacity, Nancy oversees the entire budget 
and operations of the RCLS, including the LSSI contract that provides 
daily staffing and operations in the 33 libraries in that system. 
Nancy was formerly the director of the Hemet Public Library and has 
also worked in positions with the Upland, Anaheim, and Riverside 
City-County libraries.

Mark Smith. Mark is the Vice-President for Public Library 
Operations/West, for Library Systems & Services, in which capacity he 
oversees LSSI staff and operations in the Riverside County Library 
System, Shasta Public Libraries, and the Moorpark Library. Mark 
received his MLIS at the University of Texas in 1983 and has worked 
as a library director in New Jersey, at the Texas State Library, and 
as the Director of Communications for the Texas Library Association. 
Mark is the author of three books on library topics and was the 
recipient of the 2003 California Library Association Member of the Year award.


Infopeople's funding limits attendance at live webcasts to anyone in 
the California library community.  If you are outside California, 
please do not register for the live event.

However, you are welcome to see the archived version the day 
following the webcast.  Check our archive listing at:
http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived

Please do not cross post this announcement to any national list.

Webcast: Inside an Outsourced Library: Fact and Fiction
Date: October 15, 2007
Time:  12pm - 1pm
Speakers: Nancy Johnson and Mark Smith