[Nfbf-l] Possible closing of Lee County Talking Books Library!

[Kirk]

I am sorry to have forgot to send the following for review! Kirk Harmon
From: Gunde, Mike 
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:36 AM
To: #$DBS_ALL_USERS
Subject: Lee County Subregional Library Threatened


  Continued budget reductions to Florida's public libraries may put some of Florida's subregional talking book libraries in jeopardy again this year. This time, the subregional library in Lee County (Ft. Myers) may be considered for closure on September 30. I spoke with the Director of the Lee County Library System, Sheldon Kaye, on Tuesday and had hoped that I had convinced him to reconsider. His library system is facing another round of significant cuts, but he does have some options that could be explored, such as reducing the staff of the subregional library from 3.5 to 2.0 FTE, reducing the time that the subregional library is open  from 42.5 to 36 hours per week, etc.

  However, it now appears that the Lee County Library System will move forward with their plan to close the subregional talking book library. But it may not be too late to encourage the Library Director to come up with a plan that results in keeping the subregional library open. Sheldon Kaye can be reached by telephone at (239) 533-4830, or via e-mail (skaye at leegov.com). If the local subregional talking book library closes, all services to residents of Lee County will revert to our Bureau in Daytona Beach. We would do our best to absorb the workload with no additional funding, but in the end the level of service quality for talking book users in Lee County would be reduced.

  Ultimately, the Board of County Commissioners in Lee County would need to approve the closure of the subregional talking book library, so that's where concerned citizens may need to target their concerns.   They are:

  District 1: Bob Janes (dist1 at leegov.com) 533-2224
  District 2: Brian Bigelow (dist2 at leegov.com) 533-2227
  District 3: Ray Judah (dist3 at leegov.com) 533-2223
  District 4: Tammy Hall (dist4 at leegov.com) 533-2226
  District 5: Frank Mann (dist5 at leegov.com) 533-2225

  Thanks.

  MIKE

  Michael G. Gunde, Chief
  Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
  Division of Blind Services
  Florida Department of Education
  421 Platt Street
  Daytona Beach, Florida 32114-2803
  1-800-226-6075, Ext. 6050 (Toll-Free Voice)
  (386) 239-6069 (FAX)
  http://dbs.myflorida.com/library/index.php

  Recipient of the Florida Library Association's Maria Chavez-Hernandez "Libraries Change People's Lives" Award (2009)
Kirk Harmon
1031 Lenmore Ct.
Orlando, FL. 32812

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