“These are tough times for libraries. Last year, Seattle shut down all its libraries and furloughed staff for two weeks after the city cut the system’s budget by five percent. Minneapolis Public Library has eliminated 33 positions and is considering canceling the construction of its new downtown library in anticipation of a $25 million budget shortfall over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, in Queens, N.Y., a 20 percent budget cut led to lay-offs for 100 library staffers and reduced operating hours in many branches to only 30 per week.”
“The situation has become so dismal that the Chicago-based American Library Association launched its Save America’s Libraries campaign in January. The campaign aims to get governments to mitigate funding cuts and even to restore funding.”
“The association faces an uphill battle. Because more than 90 percent of the funding for public libraries comes from local and state taxes, any restored money just means deeper cuts for other services.” (from American City and Country via Library Journal)
Recent Comments