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Budget cuts takes toll on public libraries |
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Pennsylvania libraries are cutting materials and operating hours to meet the budget set by Governor Rendell. By
ELIZABETH WINGATE |
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HARRISBURG, Pa. - The next time you drop by your local public library to check out a book, take your child to story hour, or use the Internet, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise. As of Feb. 1, 2004, patrons will find fewer research materials, reduced staff, and restricted usage hours. Governor Ed Rendell’s 2004 budget cut the funding for public libraries in Pennsylvania by 37 percent, which translated into a $750,000 loss for the Dauphin County Library System. The governor’s budget initially cut state aid to Pennsylvania libraries by 50 percent, a figure that was reduced by the legislature after considerable public debate. While the numbers may seem daunting, it is the day-to-day effect of the cuts that is most troubling to local libraries. Pam West, a librarian at the East Shore Area Library in Lower Paxton Township, cites the cuts as an increasing source of stress in her job. The East Shore Area Library elected to close one extra day per week to cut costs, and chose Friday, the library’s least busy day. Many libraries are closing one extra day per week as a result of the loss of funding, and the East Shore staff hoped that customers would patronize other libraries that were open on Fridays. This was not the case. By West’s account, patronage of the library on Saturday more than doubled, and the already taxed facility and its staff are straining under the pressure. In addition to reduced operating hours, the East Shore Area Library has found it necessary to cut back on the services it offers, including the number of employees on staff. According to DCLS spokeswoman Karen Cullings, DCLS has eliminated all programs except those that support childhood and adult literacy, adult learning and job seeking, and those that are funded by endowments or through sponsorships. “DCLS has already cut the materials budget by $160,000 and expects to cut it further. The World Book and GaleNet and other online databases have not been renewed” said Cullings. The library has eliminated a total of 14.5 positions in the county system, and as further budget cuts are instituted, that number is expected to rise. Additionally, renovations to aging DCLS facilities will require extensive private fund raising, and will take significantly longer than the five years previously estimated to complete. The impact of the budget cuts this year was lessened by an increase in funding from the Dauphin County Commissioners. “The library system has not requested an increase in county funding for nearly 8 years and expenses have been rising much more rapidly than income.” said Cullings. The county funds have cushioned the blow of the cuts, though many expenses loom in the future. “The library system must replace its catalog and circulation software, which dates to the 1980s, because the software vendor will no longer support it. Purchase and installation of this software is very expensive, but we cannot operate without it” said Cullings. Since the budget was announced in Feb., library patrons have shown their support through donations and appeals to their legislators. Nancy Wingate, a Susquehanna Township resident and loyal library patron visited the library recently, and was saddened by conversations she had with library staff. “They don’t know where the money will come from,” Wingate said, “All they can do is hope they’ll get by.” All stories in this magazine are the intellectual property of the individual authors. You may email comments about this story to: eaw191@psu.edu
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