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Tennessee Judge Rules Library Can PrivatizeA county chancery court has determined that the Jackson–Madison County (Tenn.) Library board is empowered to outsource the library’s management to a private company. In his July 31 ruling, Chancellor James F. Butler said the board has the “authority to enter into contracts relative to the operation of the library,” according to the August 9 Jackson Sun.In an effort to optimize operating expenses, the library board had considered bids in April from two companies—Library Systems and Services (LSSI), of Germantown, Maryland, and Information International Associates, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee—as well as a counterproposal from the current administration. But after LSSI indicated that their bid might involve some cuts in existing staff, Madison County commissioners obtained a court injunction against accepting any offers until a judge clarified the board’s legal right to hire an outside management firm. Library Executive Director Thomas Aud told American Libraries that in putting together the library’s own bid he was essentially attempting to keep everyone’s jobs. “The board set a requirement that 20% of the budget go toward materials,” he said, “but I told them that would result in less qualified staff to help library users find those materials.” Aud said that county commissioners were planning to meet August 21 to decide on whether to appeal the court’s ruling. Board Chair Kathryn Swindle told the Sun, “We’re trying to improve the library for citizens of the city and county. The judge has given us an awesome responsibility.” The library is jointly funded by the city and the county. It has an operating budget for 2006–2007 of $975,200, with 65% spent on personnel. Posted August 11, 2006. |
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