"Some of the books are in really bad shape, but they're still here in the library," Odeh said, Sarah nodding at her side. "My husband used to come to read the magazines - Money, BusinessWeek, others - but they're gone now. The parties and programs for kids, for Halloween or other things, they've been scaled back. They're much smaller now, if they do them at all."
At county libraries, shelves are getting sparse. Books are becoming...
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School furloughs - 2010-05-11 16:30:02
BOE employees were furloughed three to five days during the current school year. County employees were not furloughed at all during the current budget year. I understand that there are budget issues; however, saying that teachers should be furloughed 12 days makes no sense whatsoever. Teachers are only paid to work 191 days per year. Students are required to be in school (by this county) 181 days per year. Therefore, if teachers were to be furloughed 12 days over the next year, we would be losing instructional days that students are required by the state to be in school. The county would then be out of compliance with state law. That also does not account for the days teachers need to prepare lessons for those students. If we want to continue to be the #1 state in the union for education, we cannot deprive teachers and students of the resources they need to continue to be the best!
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Avid Reader - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Library Cuts - 2010-05-11 14:54:58
Granted the county is charged with a difficult task, to balance a budget and maintain a quality of life including public safety and education. Our libraries have a huge role in maintaining the quality of life for the county's residents especially now as more and more of our neighbors find themselves facing economic hardships. Surmounting these hardships more and more depend on the ability to access information. The library is key to this. Many jobs require online applications and submittal of resumes. Most businesses and industries only advertise online. The library provides access to these resources as well as word processing for composing resumes and application letters. One can create an email account for job seeking correspondence. Libraries are an essential survival tool in today's world. Our libraries continue to be an integral part of the education process. Students do not spend their time in the school's media centers. They descend upon our public libraries receiving the attention and assistance needed to complete assignments. They use the access to databases to research topics. They rely on the guidance of a professional staff of researchers to show them how to find exactly what they need in maize of available information. Students plan their future by accessing scholarship, college and university sites. Librarians assist college and graduate students connect to their online coursework and proctor many exams. These have been the way libraries assist in the formal education process. The role of libraries in the lifelong learning process is just as significant. From introducing youngsters to reading to providing answers to thousand of questions each week from all ages, our libraries continue the education of our citizens throughout our lives. Using lees than 3% of the total county budget, the libraries are a tremendous bargain. Just as the County found money to add 2% to the huge education budget, the County should be adding to the library's meager budget.
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Skip Booth - Linthicum Heights, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Libraries - 2010-05-11 00:19:16
The library's budget for materials -- not just best sellers, but children's books, newspaper and magazine subscriptions and electronic databases and other reference materials that are heavily used for research in areas of health, investment, career preparation, job search and homework assistance at all educational levels -- has been cut to an amount that has not been seen since 1990, a time when the County Library system was significantly smaller. The funds for the repair and renovation of Library buildings and equipment, including the public computers that have seen so much use of late by patrons looking for work and filling out job applications, has also taken a significant hit. And Library staff are included in County Executive Leopold's recommendation of 12 furlough days, which is equal to a five percent pay cut -- on top of receiving no merit increases or COLAs in FY 2010. Libraries, and the professionals who staff them, play a significant role in the education and enrichment of County residents of all ages and walks of life, especially in challenging economic times. Certainly all entities that receive County funding should share the burden of the current budget woes. But funding for some departments and agencies seems far more woeful than others.
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Laurie Hayes - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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no more taxes. - 2010-05-10 15:29:16
I agree. cut all departments and agencies. not just a few. And no more new taxes. We are already taxed to death in AA county already.
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joe jackson - odenton, md - Karma: Neutral
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dkke - 2010-05-10 14:49:21
Leopold cut funding for new textbooks for AA County Schools. Why would you say schools are not getting cuts.
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Fay Hall - Severna Park, md - Karma: Excellent
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library cuts, furloughs - 2010-05-10 14:06:38
what bugs me is Leopold cuts library funding but not schools. this is BS. if cuts are required to make budget, ALL county agencies and employees must bear the burden of a bad economy, not just some. What makes the schools so special? Why are they immune to budget cuts of a bad economy? All departments must cut back, including fire and police. And schools. And public works. I am all for lower taxes in AA county. If that means cutting some services, so be it. The library can have fewer programs and fewer books. I am fine with that. I hear the library and others are getting 12 furlough days. Schools should do the same.
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dkke dljkedi - , - Karma: Neutral
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