Summary is: private company is taking over library operations in many towns, and cutting salaries and pensions, because of budgetary issues. Many people are ou

Summary is: private company is taking over library operations in many towns, and cutting salaries and pensions, because of budgetary issues. Many people are outraged by this idea. The company (and cities) claim that they are reducing costs but keeping or improving service levels. The referenced NYT article from 2010 mentions another town (Redding, CA) that has used this company and hasn’t really experienced problems. Santa Clarita (subject in the NYT article) switched back to “local staffing” in 2018. [1] [2]. The city claimed it would be cheaper to run in house: “ City documents also said a 2012 state law known as the Public Employee Pension Reform Act that reduced pension costs for new public employees allows for the city to afford staffing the library with city employees and save money. A city council agenda report said the net cost estimate to operate the library in-house at the same staffing level as the LSSI contract, is $3,388,409, for estimated first-year savings of $393,931.” [1] https://www.santaclaritalibrary.com/a-new-chapter-for-the-santa-clarita-public-library/ https://www.santaclaritalibrary.com/a-new-chapter-for-the-sa... [2] https://signalscv.com/2018/01/council-unanimously-votes-take-back-library-operations/ https://signalscv.com/2018/01/council-unanimously-votes-take...