The Library of Congress is cutting almost 10% of its workforce after having its budget cut by by $53 million. It is the largest cut to any legislative branch agency. In order to cut its staff, the LOC is offering early retirement to eligible workers over the age of 50, or about 1,000 of its 4,000 employees.
That’s just depressing.
Perhaps I should buy some literature inspired sneakers to cheer myself up? I’m kind of liking the Scarlet Letter and Animal Farm ones.
Off to unwind. The 1Ls are having orientation this week so the library is suddenly very busy. We are still moving books in the library. Then I come home and move my own books so we can have our floors installed. We are waiting for confirmation that the floorboards will be delivered next Friday and then the following week will be noise and dust and chaos resulting in beautiful floors. We got the carpet out of the living room and have to look at a dirty plywood floor. Now we get to pull up the vinyl flooring in the kitchen. Fun times! I should get myself those sneakers as a reward for surviving the floor project!
That is a worry Stefanie … there is so much that needs to be done in major libraries these days to get their collections out to people that cuts like this are likely to have a huge impact.
BTW I think I agree with you re the sneakers. But why isn’t there Pride and prejudice one.
I just LOVE those sneakers. If I had $65 to spend on a pair of Keds I would totally get a pair, either the Catcher in the Rye ones or the Animal Farm. An item for the Christmas list, perhaps.
That is very sobering about the Library of Congress. At least it’s good to know our government’s not spending money on anything unnecessary, like, I don’t know, a couple of wars.
Can’t go wrong with a bit of retail therapy. I’m having a bit of a down day myself and hate to hear the news of yet more cuts to essential libraries. We’ve just got to hope that the pendulum starts to swing in the right direction again soon.
I moved a wall of French books around yesterday and it was exhausting! So I feel for you having a double dose of it at home and at work!
Whisperinggums, of all the libraries I would not have expected the LOC to have received such a huge budget cut. It sends a very bad message. P&P sneakers would be awesome!
Emily, I was thinking Christmas list too. My mom always gets frustrated when I tell her I don’t need anything. So maybe this year I need some sneakers
Your LOC comment cracked me up!
Litlove, Yeah, since I’m not buying books anymore I should buy book inspired shoes!
And with you moving around all those French books, well I think you deserve a little treat too!
And I thought our budget cuts were bad. Sheesh. It IS depressing. Of all the libraries in the US you would think at least the LOC would be safe (and sacred)–apparently nothing is. Good luck with the floor removal and replacement. You’re going to get your exercise this coming week!
Poor LOC! No doubt that is the last thing they need right now. And I guess it means you will soon have some top-notch competition for library jobs. :S These are dark days for libraries everywhere!
I had not heard about LC. Oh my. Library jobs are hard to secure indeed.
I’m waiting to see how the RDA implementation will go.
~Mrs. Chupchake
Danielle, I can understand a 1-2% cut but yeah, I would have expected the LOC to be immune to cuts so large. And thanks for the floor good wishes. It is coming along and definitely we are getting our exercise!
Sylvia, dark days for libraries indeed. And even before now there has been top notch competition for library jobs. The government bureau of labor and statistics and the American Library Association have been saying for years the outlook for librarian jobs was sunny and growing but they lied
Mrs. Chupcake, library jobs are definitely hard to secure I can say from experience. It seems like the RDA implementation is going well so far, at least in my neck of the woods. I know the catalogers aren’t thrilled about having to change their records, but I am looking forward to the interesting things that RDA will allow.