Ann Seidle’s documentary Hollywood Librarian premiered on opening night of the recently held annual conference of the American Library Association in Washington, D. C.
5,000 librarians packed the Washington Convention Center to watch the film and hear from the director. There was a red carpet, there were people in gowns and tuxedos and there were people taking pictures. The opening was also covered in the Sunday Style section of the Washington Post with an article by Monica Hesse, The Modern Library: A Role Worth Checking Out .
After the screening Seidl unveiled her distribution plan for the film. The plan is not your ordinary one. Seidl wants to partner with the libraries eliminating the need for a distributor. The film would be shown in the libraries and they would a charge an admission to see it.
The deal:
1/3 of the money goes to the library, 1/3 goes to the library and 1/3 to distribution costs.
After opening night Seidl spent her time on the conference floor “manning a booth, persuading her colleagues to screen “Hollywood Librarian” at their own branches and spread library awareness to patrons.”
In many ways this not a bad plan. There are probably more libraries out there than movie theaters. The movie also notes that there are more libraries out there than McDonalds (let’s hope this is true).
It’s an interesting proposition to say the least. And I trust it is coming from a good place and not a last resort distribution play. I do not know if the movies has been shopped.
Either way, the model does present an interesting challenge.
Can a Public Library, whose primary mission is to provide its contents free of charge, cross that boundary without negative consequences?
Or is it time that the libraries offer some fee-based services to capitalize on their assets?
In the last four years library funding on the local level has decreased by $188 million.
Why can’t they try and get some of that back? If we are not providing them with enough resources how long must they wait until they can try and raise their own money.
I don’t think; however, that Seidl’s plan can fly. Too much would have to be done at the political level before you can start making the popcorn.
But there is another way that it might work. Let the Friends of the Library do it.
Most of the larger libraries already have these groups in place. They are a separate entity and not subject to the “public” constraints. The success of the library is their ultimate goal. Let them sponsor the event, find the venue if necessary, charge the admission or the “suggested donation,” and then divvy up the proceeds.
And in areas where there are no FOL groups let the organizing begin. If the town or the city is too small do it by county. If not by counties than by state. The point is to get people who love libraries helping libraries.
Libraries are no longer book repositories they are community centers and their success is a community success .
Just how much have they changed?
“Some days I don’t even see a book.” says Susan Turrell, a librarian who stars in the film.
Andrea Mercado review of the film “The Hollywood Librarian World Premiere” over at the Public Library Association blog is worth a read
Ann Seidl’s blog
Previous Book Patrol post The Librarian: Hollywood Style