To mark “National Library Workers Day,” three City Council members visited the Main Library Tuesday to present a resolution recognizing the contributions made in the community by the Jacksonville Public Library.
Council members Doyle Carter, John Crescimbeni and Jim Love presented a framed resolution to Jim Selzer, chairman of the board of library trustees.
Selzer accepted the framed resolution on behalf of everyone who works at the Main Library Downtown and at the 20 neighborhood branch libraries.
“We think the library is the best value to the citizens of Jacksonville of all of the services available,” said Selzer. He cited statistics about the public’s use of the system, including that every 1.5 seconds, a citizen of Jacksonville uses one of the available services.
Selzer said librarians answered more than 1 million reference questions last year, that three times as many people use the public library as attend sports events in Duval County and that more than 7,500 people received job training and placement assistance at the public library through the state’s WorkSource program.
The public library’s slogan, “start here, go anywhere,” has never been more relevant than it is today, Selzer said.
The public library has 2.9 million books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs in its collection. Library materials were checked out 8.7 million times in 2011 when 4.9 million people visited a public library.
Crescimbeni is a member of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, a volunteer group that has advocated for the libraries since 1956.
The public library staff includes some of the most dedicated City employees, Crescimbeni said.
“They are the folks that make it work,” he said.
“The Jacksonville Public Library is pleased to serve the community as a center of education and entertainment and as a destination,” said library Deputy Director Carolyn Williams.
Crescimbeni said funding the public libraries is an issue that comes up every year when the City develops its budget.
“We fight the budget battle every August and September. Some people say we don’t need the library, but if Jacksonville is going to be an education city, we have to have the libraries,” he said.
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