Flights of fancy: can a library win when nature vs capitalism?

Citation

Boese, K.C. (2005), "Flights of fancy: can a library win when nature vs capitalism?", The Bottom Line, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2005.17018caf.001

Flights of fancy: can a library win when nature vs capitalism?

One of the most significant news announcements at the end of April and beginning of May 2005, was the discovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) in Arkansas. Last seen in 1944 in Louisiana, it was long considered extinct. Outside of Arkansas, I’m sure that this announcement is seen as nothing more than an interesting sound bite by many in the world, and of little significance. For those that have little regard for either birds or nature in general, it probably does not even merit that. But, I assure you, that whenever an event like this happens, it changes the local, and at times the state and federal, economy, which then impacts businesses … and whether we think of them in this way or not, libraries are business.

Endangered species, protected nature reserves, or anything that impacts the use and resources of public lands, all impact local businesses financially. Sometimes these effects on the economy are positive, and sometimes they are negative. Two examples of endangered species that have been embroiled in controversy over capitalism vs environmentalism are the snail darter (Percina (Imostoma) tanasi) and the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina).

In the case of the snail darter, it has survived and been upgraded from a status of endangered to threatened despite the completion of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Tellico Dam project on the Little Tennessee River, which when begun in 1967 was thought to be destroying the only known habitat of the species. Because the dam would destroy what was believed to be an entire species, it took Congress, with the blessings of the Supreme Court, to pass legislation in favor of the dam and not the fish. Fortunately, the snail darter was again discovered in other streams in 1973.

The importance of the TVA and its dam building program is that it has helped a large portion of eastern Tennessee raise both the standard of living of its inhabitants and the level of industrial development. Begun in 1933, by far the two biggest boons from the project are hydro-electric power and flood control, which provide both land and energy for development. The improvement of the standard of living and industrial development, naturally, increases the tax base, and that can mean more available library dollars – which may come from local jurisdictions, industrial philanthropy, or individual citizens.

The story of the spotted owl is not so happy when taking the economy into account. It was placed on the endangered species list in 1990, which began a series of federal-lands logging policies. These well meaning policies aimed at protecting the owl all but decimated the Pacific Northwest’s regional timber industry. Loved by some, hated by others, the owl is seen as the chief cause of significant layoffs in the timber industry, and responsible for the recession that was seen in many of the communities that supported that industry. While protecting the forest that sustains the owl is still seen as key to its survival, the owl is still far from safe. Not only must it compete with the rival barred owl, but now it is also threatened by both the West Nile virus and a mysterious plant disease – sudden oak death – that may attack its preferred tree, the tanoak.

In this case, the government sided with the owl. The result is that there are fewer local dollars to support civic activities, which makes it harder for a library to operate.

Fortunately, in the case of the ivory-billed woodpecker, the economic forecast is a happy one. According to the Associated Press (2005), the discovery of the woodpecker is hoped to bring new life into an otherwise depressed area of Arkansas. Both the Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, and David Goad, the deputy directory of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, predict an increase in tourism that could bring “millions of dollars” to the region. Even though peak bird watching season is over for now, vacationers have already begun to filter into the area, some altering travel plans en route.

Perhaps one of the largest reasons that the discovery should be positive for the area is that the woodpecker was discovered on land already protected, the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. It is possible that some new lands could be added in the future, but nothing of that sort needs to happen now. The most negative impact of the woodpecker’s return was the closing of 5,000 acres of popular hunting and fishing areas within the refuge. In addition to closing some land for the bird’s protection, the federal government has pledged $10 million for the preservation of the bird.

So, where do libraries fit in to the picture. As indicated above, these events all impact local, and sometimes federal, economies. In order to save an animal, resources are taken out of the economy. To protect the woodpecker, the government is reserving $10 million – which is being taken away from some other program unless there is a tax increase or the government goes deeper in debt.

When money becomes scarce, as in the logging region of the Pacific Northwest, there are fewer pieces of the financial pie to compete for. Even if all the interested parties are worthy, there simply will not be enough to go around. Where our woodpecker is concerned, it appears that there will be more funds available, but they are not going to find their way into any library budgets if library administrators do not become involved in their local governments to argue the case for supporting – or increasing support for – the library.

Libraries are more than just books, buildings, and staff. They can be used as a resource in reeducating people who are faced with a mid-life career change, centers of research, and tourism information centers. What is important is this: When events like these occur, it is imperative to get involved. Go to town, city, and county meetings on the subject. Take notes about the key issues, and link them to core services that the library provides, or could provide. Think in the broadest possible way on what the library can do to be positively involved in any actions that are being planned in connection to the local responses. By doing this, you are illustrating the value of the library to those that are paying for it, and justifying why it should be funded, why it is essential, and why (when possible) it merits increased funding, or at the very least, should not have funds cut. Library administrators will never waste their time by being aware of the local issues facing their community.

Kent C. BoeseCataloging Services Department, Smithsonian Institution Libraries,Washington, DC, USA