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Members of the media
may contact the following
for more information:
Macey Morales
Media Relations Manager
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org
Jennifer Petersen
Public Relations Coordinator
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-5043
jpetersen@ala.org
For other inquiries, please contact:
John Amundsen
Administrative Assistant
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-5041
jamundsen@ala.org
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Bridgeport, Connecticut (May 12, 2008) –As part of its approved overall budget recommendation, the City Council’s budget committee unanimously reinstated $900,000 in funding to the Bridgeport Public Library. While the funds would prevent branch closures, hours may still be cut. The original budget submitted by Mayor Bill Finch called for $1.1 million cuts in library funding and the elimination of 25 staff positions. – from The Connecticut Post Online
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Fitchburg, Massachusetts (May 8, 2008) – The director of the Fitchburg Public Library has said that budget deliberations currently under way may result in a 75% cut in the facility’s approximately $1 million budget. If the cuts take affect, the library is prepared to cut its staff down to seven from its current staffing level of 24 part-time and full-time employees, cut operating hours to only a few days a week, and possibly close the facility altoghether. Mayor Lisa Wong has indicated that the cuts are not finalized as of yet, but the city is facing a projected $5 million deficit. – from the Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg)
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Modesto, California (May 2, 2008) – The Stanislaus County Library issued layoff notices to 94 of its 138 part-time staffers on May 1, to take effect June 30. The cutbacks were instituted due to a projected $1 million shortfall due to a slowing economy and a $291,000 drop in state funding tied to local contributions. The system receives 85% of its revenues from a dedicated one-eighth-cent sales tax, instituted in 1995 to prevent the system’s branches from closing altogether. In addition to the layoffs, the system is also considering a reduction in service hours that would see the Modesto branch closed on Sundays and other branches an additional two days a week. – from American Libraries
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Loudon, New Hampshire - (March 29, 2008) Loudon's public library will cut hours and staff following a town meeting vote that slashed its budget by 30 percent, or $58,000. Surprised by the reduction, the library's trustees said that the 140 people at the meeting did not represent the prevailing opinion in the town. Since the vote, 200 of the library's patrons have signed a petition asking the selectmen to restore the budget, but the board is unlikely to do so. According to Library Director Nancy Hendy, the exact effects of the cuts are still unknown, but the facility's operating hours are likely to be slashed by 10 hours a week, and local college students who assist with summer programs may not be rehired. Hendy is not yet sure of how the cuts may affect other staff, including Hendy, a children's librarian, and a handful of part-time workers. In addition, the planned purchase of two new computers will also be difficult.
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Boston, Massachusetts - (March 27, 2008) In the face of ever-rising operating and health insurance costs and dwindling revenues, the towns of Dartmouth and Tewksbury are considering privatizing their public libraries. Dartmouth's system, faced with losing its state certification for failure to maintain requirements for library funding, has already seen two of its branches closed. If a tax override which could add $250,000 to Dartmouth's library budget fails, the system could wind up cutting hours and staff. In Tewksbury, the Board of Selectmen have issued a report in January outlining possible cuts, including privatization and a 10% hike in employee health insurance contributions. - From the Boston Globe |
