Dawn not Breaking at NYPL

According to this MainStreet post I originally saw on LISNews the book release Breaking Dawn is a pretty big deal.

Sadly, while that's true at libraries in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, and what inspired a long wiki post and discussion list brainstorming session, my own branch of NYPL is sadly lacking. Not that I'm interested for myself in the creative programming, except to say, "You go, Teen Librarians!" I really just want to read the book. Unfortunately, it isn't here yet. According to the catalog, it's merely "On Order." They've ordered 202 copies, and have a 724 person waiting list. I'm number 32.

While this sounds like I'm criticizing NYPL, and to some extent I am, I see this as part of a bigger problem. NYPL pays its staff badly. In fact most NYC workers are poorly paid, compared to their counterparts in local suburbs and in cities with similar costs of living. One can only assume that this problem extends to the budgets of these city entities, as well. This may be a little off topic, but the main question I'm trying to raise here is where does our money go? As a New York City resident, I pay city tax in addition to state and federal, and pay 8.375% sales tax. I suspect the money that should be going toward NYC public libraries, schools, and services, is in large part funding those same things upstate.

But don't get me wrong; although I do think money is the main problem, I think NYPL is not always thinking of its patrons. In fact sometimes I wonder what they're thinking of.

Btw Brooklyn and Queens Public Libraries have begun circulating the book. Though I gotta say I find Queens's fancy AquaBrowser website annoying as hell, mostly because all that flash takes time to load.

Sorry to be such a hater. Maybe I am just pissed that I haven't received my copy of Breaking Dawn yet. I'm struggling with the book I'm reading right now, which makes me cranky!