How Will Library Budget Cuts Affect You?
It’s not official until the County Commissioners approve their budget in July, but here’s what I’m expecting for the library for the coming year. I have hard news and I see signs of hope.
In response to the tough times we’re all facing, the Library Board and I made some tough decisions earlier this year about the library’s budget. Most difficult were our decisions to forego filling staff vacancies and to trim a few of the library’s open hours. I recognize that these decisions have had impacts to patrons.
The good news is that I can see where these choices are already paying off for the long run. The library achieved significant savings in this fiscal year that are helping to ease the impacts of our anticipated budget reduction for the coming fiscal year. So, even though the Commissioners will need to trim the library’s property tax revenue by 14%, the library will be able to keep its current hours without any further reduction. That’s good news for all patrons! There’s more good news in that funding for purchase of new library materials will remain stable in the next year.
On the flip side of the library’s budget reduction, patrons can expect that some services will take a little longer than in the past or be missing while the library is short-staffed. New books may be a little slower in getting on the shelves; some databases have had to be cut for now. I’m also anticipating that overall there will likely be fewer programs because all staff members are having to pitch in to cover front-of-house services.
But core library services are still fully functional. There are still plenty of books, DVDs, books-on-CD and magazines to check out. Public computers are available everyday. Early literacy offerings like Toddler Time and Storytime are scheduled every week. And of course, patrons can always rely on great customer service from library staff.
Here’s to better times ahead,
Deb
