Outsourcing management of the library system

Since it seems as if there is some sort of agenda (including looking at sites as real estate development opportunities, which for certain sites, I am not necessarily opposed) beyond creating a "city of learning" in changing the DC Library System, maybe the city should just outsource managing the library system, as is being considered in Jackson-Madison County, Tennessee, according to this article, "What will be the library's next chapter?," from the Jackson Sun.

From the article:

Staff cuts, a north branch, new Sunday hours and a budget with 20 percent allocated to materials are just some of the details of the bid proposals for the Jackson-Madison County Library. Three bids to outsource library services were submitted in March to the Library Board. In the bid proposals, the current management of the library and two private firms tried to meet other board requirements such as short- and long-term plans for a north branch, marketing and programming goals, fund-raising, automation upgrades and a coffee shop...

The two private firm bidders, Information International Associates out of Oak Ridge and the Maryland-based Library Systems and Services, proposed some cuts to the current 26 full- and part-time staff who provide library services. The bid by the current management of the Jackson-Madison County Library led by executive director Thomas Aud offered no such staff reductions. The current management of the library and the private firms all have experience managing libraries. So how do the proposals compare? ...

Index Keywords: libraries