The library says its mission can best be met with a digital library, and only a few ancillary walk-in services used by very few people - like access to print newspapers - will be lost. Detractors say the library is moving too fast and isn’t ready for the switch.
A state employee told the Montana State Library Commission at a meeting that the decision to close walk-in access to the resources was “hasty” and asked them to not “simply slam the doors in our face.”
The commission reviewed a delayed timeline that shows many of the current walk-in features being eliminated a few months later than originally envisioned. The board said it will review the plan at a February meeting after library officials seek more feedback from users.
Arroues said many people in Montana don’t have Internet access, and should have the option of browsing library materials if they want to visit in person.
Chairman Donald Allen of Billings told her the library is trying to make best use of its resources. And currently only people in Helena get to use the walk-in features, such as public computers and access to a magazine rack.
Library officials say such services are not part of their mission and are better offered by the local public library.
Allen said the library can’t necessarily cater to people who don’t get online. And he said few people use the library’s reading room and other traditional walk-in resources.
“Quite frankly, it’s like a mausoleum back there,” he said.
One patron reading a newspaper Wednesday said the library is wrong to talk about shutting down the traditional library space. Brian Maly said he visits often and it only takes one employee at a desk to monitor the area.
“I think it’s wrong to talk about shutting this down,” he said. “This is a taxpayer-funded facility. I don’t know how you can justify shutting it down.
Allen said he doesn’t know how much more it would cost to keep current walk-in access features open along with digitizing library documents.
The library says digital access to its archives will allow everyone to look at documents it has stretching back to Montana’s early history.
State Librarian Darlene Staffeldt envisions walk-in access would be preserved by making the information available at computer kiosks located in the lobby to the library’s administrative offices.
The governor’s budget director, David Ewer, said he met with library staff and understands their desire to focus resources on a new digital library. He said he understands the library may look different, but the public will still be able to get at the resources in some way.
“It’s open to the public,” Ewer said. “It’s going to be open to the public.”
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