Friends Monthly Board Meeting July 21st 7:00 p.m.

at the Library

Brown Deer, Greenfield, Wauwatosa, and West Allis sign 3- year Library System Agreement: System Remains Intact

A July 1, 2005 press release from Jim Gingery, Director of the
Milwaukee County Federated Library System

The public libraries of Brown Deer, Greenfield, Wauwatosa, and West Allis have signed the Milwaukee County Federated Library System's (MCFLS) 2005-2007 Member Agreement, ending many months of holdout over the issue of what was perceived by the 4 communities as inadequate compensation for serving residents of other communities, sometimes referred to as reciprocal borrowing. Membership in MCFLS, for over 30 years, has allowed all citizens in Milwaukee County to make use, not only of their own local library, but the libraries of other member communities as well.

Martin Schreiber, MCFLS Board President, applauded the decision of the libraries to sign. "I am very pleased that the libraries are continuing as members of MCFLS. We value each and every member library. We are all painfully aware of the fiscal challenges facing public library communities. ... flat or decreasing resources while service demands are escalating. This reality made MCFLS decisions regarding fairness and equity ever more difficult."

Schreiber mentioned that the MCFLS Reciprocal Borrowing Equity Grants were a key development toward eventual resolution. The Equity Grants were introduced March 1,2005, by then MCFLS Board President Michael D'Amato and ultimately added almost 500K annually to the overall reciprocal borrowing outlay.

D'Amato expressed his appreciation of the decision of the 4 communities. "Milwaukee County library users are the big winners today. They let their elected representatives know (during public hearings in April) that this wonderful system was important to their quality of life and worth preserving."

Jim Gingery, MCFLS Director, concurred. "MCFLS membership means access to more services at less cost for the individual community. Now that all of the libraries have signed, MCFLS can continue to focus its energies toward the mission of cooperative, cost saving endeavors which benefit all the citizens of Milwaukee County."

How to Read a Book

What, other than our propensity for buying things we don't need, explains the success of Levenger's catalog of "Tools for Serious Readers"? asks Ruth Franklin.
New York Times July 10, 2005

July 4th Quilt Raffle

The Friends and the Works of Heart Quilters are holding a multi-quilt raffle. The quilts are on display and raffle tickets are on sale in the library through July 1st, and on July 2nd-4th at the Library/Books for Soldiers tent at the Franklin Civic Celebration. The drawing will be held July 4th at 4:30 p.m. at Lions Legend Park.

July-August Newsletter

Just published in PDF, the hard copy is being mailed as an insert in the current issue of the Library's own newsletter.