This New York Times article is interesting, in light of recent, apparently unfounded, rumors that Knox County might consider outsourcing its library system. The article looks at Library Systems & Services, Inc., a for-profit company that runs 14 library systems around the country, with 63 branches. Its model appears to be based largely on replacing unionized workers with non-union employees, and defined-benefit pensions with 401(k)s. Knox County library employees are not unionized and do not have pensions, which is why a company like L.S.S.I. might be hard-pressed to squeeze a lot of savings out of the system.
Anyway, we'll leave with this bit of wisdom from Frank A. Pezzanite, the CEO of L.S.S.I.:
"There's this American flag, apple pie thing about librarie. Somehow they have been put in the category of a sacred organization."
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