Seattle Library Faces Major Budget Cuts

The Curmudgeony Librarian writes “Fresh from the triumph of their new library branch, the Seattle Public Library faces new budget woes and may have to cut services. Slated for the budget axe are Seattle’s bookmobile services. This function, which serves elderly and homebound patrons among others, will be cut as part of a $2.1 million budget reduction by the library. This reduction was requested, due to the overall $20 million budget gap faced by Seattle itself for the 2005 fiscal year. The library hopes to work around these cuts and is exploring other options to continue servicing these patrons.”

September 27, 2004 by Uncategorized 2

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2 Responses

  1. Daniel says:
    September 28, 2004 at 7:43 am

    Seattle PL might want to look elsewhere for cuts
    “Slated for the budget axe are Seattle’s bookmobile services. This function, which serves elderly and homebound patrons among others, will be cut as part of a $2.1 million budget reduction by the library.”

    It looks like they’re going after the group that votes the most often. I hope it’s a conscious gamble, to irritate a politically powerful group in hopes they will hate the politicians and vote for more taxes to support the library.

    It could wind up backfiring, disengaging senior citizens from the library just when they’re needed most.

    Reply
  2. Lee Hadden says:
    September 28, 2004 at 6:27 pm

    Cut Services First
    I agree with the gamble to cut library services. Herb White always said, and I agree with him, that libraries should not give politicians a pass in hiding the effects of library budget cuts. Hidden savings are never restored. Cut services often are.
    This does give political opponents the opportunities to claim that they will support this group by restoring cut library services, and encourage current politicos to scramble to find alternate means. It also allows them to find out what kind of support libraries have, which means you need to rally your base to speak out (without taking sides). Easier said than done, but that’s why library directors get the really big bucks and their many perks.

    Reply

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