Public Library Funding Updates
Contact Us
Members of the media may contact the following for more information:
Macey MoralesManager, ALA-PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org
Jennifer Petersen
PR Coordinator, ALA-PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-5043
jpetersen@ala.org
For other inquiries, please contact:
Mark Gould
Director
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-5042
mgould@ala.org
BREAKING NEWS
Madison moves ahead with new central library
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 11/13/2009
Madison, Wisconsin - While many libraries are cutting back on their operating budgets, the city of Madison, WI, is moving ahead on a $37 million new Central Library for the Madison Public Library. The Common Council on Tuesday passed the capital budget, which anticipates $17 million in borrowing, $6 million in federal tax credits (set to expire next year), $4 million from the sale of the existing library site and $10 million in private contributions ($5 million per year).
The 45-year-old current Central Library needs replacements for costly mechanical systems, including the roof, elevators, front doors, HVAC system, and security system. The building is not designed for computers, and it is cramped, with 40% of the collection in storage.
The new library, a six-floor, 105,000-square-foot standalone structure, would be only 10,000 square feet larger than its predecessor, but it would have a much larger percentage of accessible public space, allowing for flexibility in programming.
It would be part of a much larger new development, too. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that a second phase would include a 380,000-square-foot mixed-use project slated for an upscale hotel, retail space, and 425 parking spaces. Construction of the new library could begin next year, with an opening in 2012.
Library in Calif. in "fight for survival"
Submitted by Lisa Maddalena, Senior Librarian, Pacific Grove Public Library - 11/15/2009
The Pacific Grove Public Library is in a fight for its survival. On November 3, 2009, voters in the small town of Pacific Grove, California (population 15,000) were asked to approve a parcel tax measure, Measure J, to provide the library with a stable, dedicated source of funding to keep the library open in years to come. The tax measure would have taxed homeowners $96 per parcel to ensure the future of the library. Election results posted November 13 were 2,747 votes for the parcel tax; 1,421 votes against. As the measure needed 66.67% to pass, the measure failed by about 31 votes.
The Library's budget woes began approximately three years ago when the City of Pacific Grove experienced a severe budget shortfall. Two years ago the library's yearly budget was cut from almost one million dollars to $450,000 and its staff cut in half. In June of 2008 voters approved a general sales tax increase of one cent for all city services, including the library, but the increase was absorbed by the effect of the nation-wide recession on local businesses. The City Council has considered closing the library completely several times but hoped this parcel tax would keep it afloat. Now the library's future is uncertain.
The Pacific Grove Public Library is a Carnegie Library built in 1908. John Steinbeck and Doc Ricketts used the library in the 1930s and it is still heavily used today by both the community and visitors.
Library Funding News
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 10/26/2009 - A plan to reduce costs and protect the quality of library services for the citizens of the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has been approved by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees. The plan includes reducing library service hours, closing and merging locations, reducing staff, and increasing fines and fees. In conjunction, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) system will expand outreach efforts through partnerships, technology and other programs that deliver critical library services throughout the community. The plan was reached after a year of independent studies and community input. As of October 26, Government officials are working to pull together $1.2 million in local and state funds to cover the library system's budget shortfall next year, which could give the Carnegie time to reconsider its proposal, Ravenstahl said. – From Reuters/PR Newswire and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Boulder, Colorado – 10/25/2009 - There might be money next year to keep Boulder's popular library branches open six days a week after all, following a second look by city budget officials. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday will be asked to approve the 2010 city budget, which includes several options to fund the daily operating costs of both the Meadows branch, 4800 Baseline Road, and Reynolds branch, 3595 Table Mesa Drive. Under the previously proposed budget, both library branches would be forced to close one extra day each week to save a total of $60,500. The main library branch downtown would cut its Sunday hours from 1 to 5 p.m., for an additional savings of $42,500. But public outcry and concerns expressed by some City Council members have led City Manager Jane Brautigam to go back to the drawing board. – From Colorado Daily
New Hartford, New York – 10/21/2009 - The town of New Hartford has proposed a cut in library funding of $135,000 in the 2010 budget. Responding to the proposed cut in a recent op-ed, library board president Mary Duross said "As president of the board of trustees for the library, I feel it is critical that residents realize the impact such a funding cut would effect. There are few items in the library budget where such a decrease could be taken." Among the items at risk, Duross cited, closing of the library for two full days each week, no new collection additions in 2010, eliminating some public computer terminals, increase copy fees, eliminate programs for adults and seniors, cut back on magazine subscriptions, charging a fee to use facilities such as meeting rooms, and laying off staff. – From the Utica Observer-Dispatch
Berkeley, California – 10/5/2009 - Students studying for midterms this semester have found that some study locations they have counted on in the past are no longer available on Saturdays, due to the effects of campus budget cuts. Unlike past semesters, Doe Library and other branch libraries are no longer open on Saturdays, a change that began this June and may continue until at least June 2010 in attempts to offset the library's budget deficit. Gardner Main Stacks and Moffitt Library will still operate regularly, according to library officials. As a result of the closures, some students said they are looking to new places to study, such as local cafes, restaurants or study lounges in the residence halls. – From the Daily Californian
Naperville, Illinois – 10/16/2009 - The Naperville Public Library is facing $1.1 million in budget cuts next year, putting library hours and programs on the chopping block. The city has asked the library and Naper Settlement to come up with the cash to help it fill a $6 million shortfall in its general fund next year that is part of a larger $14.1 million budget hole. The library board voted this week to ask city councilmen to reduce its $1.1 million request by $150,000 to help cover pensions and health insurance premiums. Library officials argue they already include these costs in their operating expenses while the city has a separate fund for them.If the city approves that move, the library's property tax levy next year would be about $12.9 million, down from $13.8 million this year. Roughly 90 percent of the library's budget is from property taxes. The library has been setting aside some of its fund balances during the past few years to cover the shortfalls it has been anticipating. It is already using $500,000 of its fund balances for next year's budget. – From the Daily Herald
Chicago, Illinois – (September 9, 2009) – Unable to get the union that represents library workers to agree on budget cuts, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley fired half of the 279 pages in the Chicago Public Library System. Without the help of the pages, who stock books in the library’s branches, books have been piling up unshelved, preventing patrons from getting books as readily as before. The cuts came as a result of a recent standoff between the mayor and the library employees’ union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who along with the Teamsters, were the only two unions in Chicago that did not take pay cuts. – From the Chicago Tribune
Dayton, Ohio – (September 8, 2009) - The Dayton Metro Library released its schedule of five furlough days designed to help meet the budget shortfall caused by $4.9 million in state cuts. Starting September 17, ten of the branch libraries will be closed every other Thursday until November 12. The Main Library and the other ten branch libraries will begin the furlough days the following Thursday, September 24, and close on alternating Thursdays until November 19. Programs scheduled on furlough days will be canceled. Book drops will be open and due dates have been adjusted so nothing is due on furlough days. – From whiotv.com
Annapolis, Maryland - (September 6, 2009) - Just as circulation has hit a record high, Anne Arundel County's public libraries are seeing shorter hours, smaller staffs and fewer programs because of budget cuts caused by the recession. Recently released circulation figures show a nearly 4.8 percent increase in the fiscal 2009 year over 2008 in books and materials checked out by patrons. In fiscal 2009, which ended June 30, circulation hit nearly 5.7 million. But the sour economy led to cuts throughout the county's budget. Effective July 1, the library system's budget took an 11 percent hit. In July, the nine smaller branches ended Monday morning hours. The system will have three large branches, down from five, open on Sundays during the school year starting at the end of September, and part-time work was trimmed by 20 percent. – From the Baltimore Sun
Springfield, Illinois – June 12, 2009 – Seeking to compensate for a $7-9 million projected budget shortfall, the city of Springfield is considering drastic spending cuts. In addition to eliminating jobs in the fire and police departments, the Lincoln library and its two branches may be closed altogether. This latest crisis comes only three months into the fiscal year and follows a previous series of service cuts in Springfield’s library system, including elimination of hours. – From the State Journal-Register
Toledo, Ohio – May 18, 2009 – Due to a provision in Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed budget allowing money to be taken out of the state public library fund, which affects all 250 of Ohio’s public libraries, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library stands to lose more than $200,000. The loss of state funds comes in addition to a recent 10% budget cut, would mean a cut in services and collection development, according to Rhonda Sewell with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. – From WTOL-TV.
Woodbine, Georgia – May 19, 2009 – Following a series of county-wide budget cuts, Camden County Commissioners have stated a need to trim an additional $100,000 to balance the budget. Under consideration is the elimination of three paid positions at the Bryan-Lang Historical Library, and running the facility on an appointment-only basis with volunteers, saving about $80,000. In addition, the commissioners are considering cutting $25,000 from the Camden County Library in Kingsland that was slated for the purchase of new books. – From the Florida Times-Union
Greensboro, North Carolina – May 11, 2009 – Despite record use, The Greensboro Public Library has cut $353,000 so far in its budget, as part of a wider initiative to address the city’s budget shortfall, by suspending bookmobile services and leaving job openings unfilled. Despite these large cuts, the county wishes the library to cut an additional $400,000, and the State of North Carolina is expected to decrease funding also. – From MyFox8.com
St. Paul, Minnesota – March 10, 2009 - More than 100 people came to the Hamline Branch of the St. Paul Public Library to listen to Mayor Chris Coleman and library director Melanie Huggins talk about the city's budget woes and the proposed closure of the facility, as well as to voice their concerns to Coleman and Huggins over the potential loss of a vital community institution.
Coleman and Huggins said that while they didn’t wish to close the library, tough decisions would have to be made in order to trim $2.1 million from the library system's budget in the face of a projected $44 million citywide budget shortfall. They suggested, however, that it could be possible to keep the building open for the rest of the year, with the goal of getting a community process going that would result in finding partners to enhance services at the building.
Aside from closing the Hamline branch, other proposed cuts include the elimination of 29 positions, reducing operating hours, and slashing the collection and materials budget. – From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Bayonne, New Jersey – March 10, 2009 – Two branches of the Free Public Library of Bayonne are to be closed, with the employees to be transferred to the main library. The budget cuts are part of a city-wide $5.7 million in overall budget cuts. – From the Hudson Reporter
Dade City, Florida – March 11, 2009 – In the face of a staffing shortage caused by the layoff of 17 employees and a hiring freeze, the manager of Pasco County's library system won approval cut operating hours to 40 hours a week. The cuts come at a time when demand for the library’s services is increasing during the current recession. Like all other agencies in the county, the library system has been asked to cut 18 to 20 percent from its budget for next year, which could force even more hour cuts, or even closures. – From the Tampa Tribune
South Deerfield, Massachusetts – March 9, 2009 - As a result of a 14 percent cut in the budget of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System instituted by Gov. Deval Patrick, the system may cut its bookmobile service. The bookmobile, a small truck, has served 60 libraries in 4 counties in Western Massachusetts since the 1940s and enables smaller libraries to expand their collections with DVDs and books about every 11 weeks. – From abc40.com
Brooklyn, New York – March 6, 2009 – Facing a $14 million cut in the budget from the city, a $1.4 million cut in state funding, and the added prospect of further reductions in operating hours, the Brooklyn Public Library launched a fundraising campaign. Compounding the library’s problems are unfunded maintenance costs for its 65 aging buildings – 18 of which are over 100 years old – which are estimated at $375 million. – From the New York Daily News
Westbrook, Maine – March 6, 2009 – Following a unanimous decision by its board, the Warren Memorial Library will cease operation no later than May 1st. The closure of the facility is due to large losses of the library foundation’s endowment, its main source of funding. The facility’s collection will be distributed to other municipal institutions in the area. – From wmtw.com
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – February 13, 2009 – Outlining the city’s final budget cuts during a recent meeting, Mayor Michael Nutter and Free Library of Philadelphia President and Director Siobhan Reardon stated that the library system would operate with a $2.44 million cut in the budget and the loss of 67 positions. Last year, the system faced the closure of 11 branches, and the elimination of 111 positions, which included 25 full time librarians or librarians-in-training. – From the Philadelphia Inquirer
Lebanon, Pennsylvania - January 5, 2009 - Facing a variety of budget impacts including increased costs, a deficit left over from last year, and a six percent cut in state funding, the Lebanon Community library will be reducing hours, cutting some programming, and eliminating two part-time positions. In addition, the library is also affected by lower returns from its endowment as well as increased health insurance costs. - From PennLive.com
Los Angeles – November 21, 2008 - Los Angeles city officials -- facing an expected $110-million budget shortfall -- on Thursday were urged to act quickly to cut funding to libraries, among other city services. The cuts, if enacted, would amount to $1.45 million. – From the Los Angeles Times
Newark, Ohio – November 14, 2008 – Despite increased use of library facilities, the 2009 spending plan passed by the Newark Library Board of Trustees will see the elimination of 22 full-time-equivalent jobs and reduced hours. – From the Newark Advocate
Phoenix – November 10, 2008 - As part of severe budget cuts, Phoenix libraries could be closed one day a week, according to city officials. In addition, there would also be less money for new materials, like books and DVDs. Phoenix residents will be able to comment in January when the city unveils a final proposal, and some are already bracing for steep cuts and fewer library hours. – From the Associated Press
Philadelphia - November 6, 2008 - Facing a $1 billion gap in Philadelphia's 5-year budget, Mayor Michael Nutter has announced drastic steps to rein in spending , affecting all city departments. The Free Library of Philadelphia's share of the cuts will include a 20 percent reduction in its budget, and closure of 11 of 54 branch libraries. - From the Philadelphia Inquirer