Gen: public library system vs. the mayor

[Laura Palmer <llpalmer@BELLSOUTH.NET>]

FYI, I checked with Peter Milbury and received permission before posting =
this opinion.

Jacksonville Public Libraries in Jacksonville, Florida has recently had =
at least two front page articles in the Florida Times Union indicating =
that there will be a temporary hiring freeze and freeze on new materials =
purchases until further study is completed regarding the issue of =
overspending from the city budget.

I want to know what you all think about this situation with the =
Jacksonville Public Library. Of particular interest to me, as well as =
others, was the insistence that JPL did not really need to hire =
librarians to perform the librarians' jobs, with their expensive =
advanced degrees, but that to simply
hire "smart college graduates" would be a major cost saving measure.

O.K., first of all to imply that librarians are NOT smart college =
graduates is degrading to say the least, and secondly the public library =
is part of the city, therefore a civil service position, and as far as =
I'm aware all positions are based on either length of service to the =
city or passing the
required civil service exam NOT any particular advanced degrees or lack
thereof.

In all honesty, I would rather not be inundated with messages concerning =
this although I appreciate the thoughts. Instead, I would be interested =
in people sending ideas, suggestions, and opinions to the Florida Times =
Union
or the Mayor.

Here's the link to the article.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010904/met_14496784.shtml

Laura Palmer
Media Specialist
Lake Lucina Elementary
Jacksonville, FL
llpalmer@bellsouth.net

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