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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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Miami-Dade County, Florida (August 1, 2008) - Attendance in Miami-Dade's 44 public libraries are on the rise in the face of the slowing economy. Library officials site that year-to-date attendance is roughly 5,000,000 - up 200,000 from the same time last year. Patrons are using the library for catching up on the news, job searches, surfing the Web, and children's programming. Where neighboring Broward County libraries have cut hours due to budget cuts, Miami-Dade is expanding, opening a new library in June with two more scheduled to open their doors in September. Click here to learn more. From cbs4.com.
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St. Joesph County, Michigan – (July 29, 2008) Due to severe budget cuts, the St. Joesph County Public Library will reduce operating hours as well as cut staffing hours. In an effort to avoid layoffs, employees will be asked to volunteer to reduce their hours. Click here to see video story. – From WNDU.com
Aurora, Illinois – (July 29, 2008) The Kaneville Public Library District, located in the far West suburbs of Chicago, enters its 75th year of continuous operation facing a tenuous budget situation that is forcing it to cut back on book purchases for the upcoming year. Also under evaluation are magazine and database subscriptions. Click here to read more. – From the Beacon News
Washington, D.C. – (July 28, 2008) The District of Columbia Public Libraries has announced a plan to close all library branches on Fridays starting this fall. In addition to the Friday closures, the district has lost 74 full-time positions, amounting to about 14 percent of the system’s staff, as well as additional reductions in operating hours. – From nbc4.com
Glendale, California – (July 24, 2008) Libraries in Glendale will see reduced operating hours this year in the face of a 5 percent cut in the budget. Taking effect August 4, nearly all libraries in the Los Angeles suburb will reduce hours to bridge an estimated $427,000 shortfall. Also included will be reductions in hourly staffing and reorganization of existing full time wortkers. – From the Glendale News-Press
Athens, Georgia – (July 22, 2008) The University of Georgia is planning to slash $600,000 from its journal and new book acquisition budget, a 10 percent decrease, as well as shutting down a computer lab in the library. These cuts are not among the first that UGA libraries have had to endure, as the library emerged from state-ordered budget cuts from 2003-05 with 36 fewer staff. Click here to read more. From OnlineAthens.com
Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2008) – In the face of economic hardship, visits to libraries and circulation are on the rise in the United States. But budget pressures are forcing many libraries across the country to scale back hours or close. Between 1999 and 2003, 134 libraries shut their doors for a variety of reasons, ranging from according to a study by Florida State University's GeoLib research program. – From Gannett News Services
Nashville, Tennessee (July 17, 2008) - Tennessee has some of the worst-funded, least-visited libraries in the nation. The average public library in the state is housed in a building that's far too small for the community it's supposed to serve, has far fewer materials in circulation than other libraries around the country and is understaffed by underpaid librarians and dogged community volunteers. Many libraries aren't able to meet the minimum state standards they set for themselves. In short, Tennessee has gotten what it paid for. The state ranks almost dead last in the nation for local spending on public libraries, according to a new analysis by Gannett News Service. The average U.S. community spends $31.65 per resident on the local library. The average Tennessee community spends $16.32 the fourth-lowest funding level in the nation. – From the Nashville Tennessean
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Portland, Maine (May 20, 2008) - Portland Public Library officials would close the Reiche Branch under the 2008-09 municipal budget proposal before the City Council, the library's director said May 20th. A handful of residents and library employees protested the planned closure during the council's final public hearing on the $185 million city budget, which would eliminate 98 municipal jobs to offset rising costs and failling revenue. This is despte the fact that demand for library services is increasing. In 2006-07, the libary loaned nearly 743,000 items ranging from books to magazines to videos. The number of items borrowed for 2007-08 is expected to exceed 800,000. About 620,000 people visit Portland Public Library branches each year, making it the most-used cultural institution in Maine.
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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 |
