About Losing Libraries

Public libraries in the U.S. are in trouble.  A LOT of trouble.  We hope this map will help raise public awareness about the devastating cuts to libraries and assist libraries in similar circumstances counteract cuts.
 
A little history
 
LosingLibraries.org is loosely based on a similar idea that reports cuts and layoffs in the newspaper industry, called Paper Cuts.  Cindy Orr, a librarian in Cleveland, Ohio. pointed out this site to Francine Fialkoff, the Editor-in-Chief of Library Journal, and suggested that LJ might want to undertake such a mashup.  Francine, in turn, called 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shakers Laura Solomon and Mandy Knapp, whose digital advocacy helped alleviate some of the planned major funding cuts at the state level in Ohio.  Laura and Mandy agreed to undertake the project, in partnership with Library Journal. Laura puts together the site and the map, and Mandy works on verifying reports and generating map files.
 
 
What's being mapped?
 
The maps represent various types of cuts, staff layoffs and furloughs, reduced services and hours and more that are happening to public libraries in the U.S.  We are attempting to track not only recent cuts, but cuts that go as far back as 2008.  If you look at the map by year, you will see that there are more and more markers on the map.  For links to how libraries are responding to cuts, check out Success Stories and the Link Roll (on the right side of the site).
 
 
What about special/academic/school/non-U.S. libraries?
 
We know that nearly every kind of library everywhere is being hit hard.  We have nothing against any other kind or type of library anywhere, except we are only 2 people.  We have a constant backlog already for just the kind of mapping we're doing.  If you are interested in undertaking additional maps, 1) Be aware, up front,  that this is a lot of work, and 2) contact us at contact@losinglibraries.org.
 
UPDATE:  It has come to our attention that there is a somewhat similar project, called A Nation Without School Librarians.  Although hundreds of studies show the impact that School Librarians have on student achievement, these school districts believe otherwise and have eliminated or overloaded them. 

 
Why is this site called "Losing Libraries?"  That's so negative!

 
This question has come occassionally via Twitter, and is understandable when no additional context is available.  There are two reasons this name is what it is:
As mentioned in "A Little History," above, this site was inspired by the Paper Cuts site, mapping the losses in the newspaper industry.  The main and origiinal focus of this site was similar--to map the losses of libraries and library services across the U.S. Several Twitter commenters have suggested that the name should be changed  to "Saving Libraries."  This brings us to Reason #2:  There is already a very active Twitter account and website with the name "Save Libraries" (very similiar)--these are certainly related, but their purpose is somewhat different than what Losing Libraries is aiming to achieve.