Chicago government and CPL

John Berry's editorial calling for more cities to follow Chicago/Daley's example and to place an emphasis on public libraries. CPL's budget increased for FY11!

"Mayor Daley, LJ’s inaugural Politician of the Year (LJ 11/15/97, p. 28–30), sees each branch as a community 'anchor' crucial to Chicago life. Branch use is heavy, and the local branch is often the only library a citizen uses."

"When cultural institutions such as libraries are run by business managers, they are forced to adhere to the simplistic methods and measures that ignore their importance as public goods. In terms of economics, a public good is a service most efficiently provided to all people through taxation. Schools, libraries, public health, and police and fire departments are public goods. When anyone uses them, everyone benefits. It is more efficient to provide them through taxes than to levy a charge for each use."

"Commissioner Mary Dempsey and her team know CPL is a true public good and that when any Chicagoan uses it, everyone in Chicago gains. The United States will be a smarter, stronger nation when more elected officials follow the Chicago model and give the highest priority to their public libraries, recognizing them as the government agency that serves the needs of all the ­people."

LJ January 2011