by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
After 29 years of offering government publications to the public, the United States Government Bookstore at Laura and Bay streets is closing its doors Aug. 29.
The Jacksonville store is included in the last round of government bookstore closings nationwide that have occurred over the past few months.
“They’re closing all the bookstores across the country,” said store manager Vickie Batzka. “It was a decision made by the public printer [Bruce James, head of the U.S. Government Printing Office]. His concern was that printing technology is basically obsolete. They’re making everything available over the Internet.”
Although the bookstores were never intended to generate large profits, it was expected they would at least break even. According to Batzka’s estimates, the 15 stores were losing roughly $300,000 a year combined.
The majority of their merchandise is being sold at a fraction of the cost. Those publications requested by the central office in Washington, D.C. have been returned. Local libraries have obtained some publications, but those items not sold by the deadline will be disposed of per Washington’s instructions.
“Everything down to the last stapler, we have to do something with,” said Batzka. They are working with the General Services Administration to unload their office equipment. Anybody need a fire-proof safe?”
Batzka and clerk Pete Weinberg have over 30 years of government service.
“We will be RIF’ed [reduction in force] into retirement,” she said. “We both have been with the federal government too long to be picked up by another agency because we come with too much time, too much grade and too much seniority.”
For those who do a lot of research, and especially for senior citizens, pulling printed government publications from shelves will likely cause them some hardships.
“I believe that, in the rush to make everything available on the Internet, they are leaving behind a whole group of people who are not computer literate,” said Batzka. “It’s amazing the number of veterans we have in here buying books on federal benefits and pensions.
They come down here every year. They’re not going to go online to see how their federal benefits have changed. If you print it, you’ve got a folder of unbound pages. Free is a matter of perception.”