Better Budget News!

At this evening's City Council Meeting, the Council voted unanimously to increase the Library's budget for FY 2010/11! Yes, that's right, an increase in General Fund monies was allotted to our budget!

Councilperson Lisa Bennett gave an impassioned plea for greater support for the Library, and made the motion to raise the General Fund allocation from $550,000 to $600,000. After thoughtful discussion among the six Council members, the motion was passed unanimously.

Will this allow the Library to be open more hours? Not yet. However it will allow more part-time staffing - which will help us catch up on the backlog of routine tasks and special projects that have been on hold during the severe budget cuts of the past three years.

Also, as Councilperson Bennett emphasized, increased support by the Council sends a strong message to Pagrovians that together we can rebuild the Library to be strong and vibrant once again. She painted an inspiring scenario that with General Fund support and a successful Library ballot measure, the Library's budget could be restored to its previous funding level of $1.1 - $1.2 million.

The recommended changes are contingent on a second reading and final approval of the Budget on June 16th. Meanwhile, you may want to drop your City Council members a Thank You.

Budget News....

It's that time of year at City Hall - "Budget Season." On Wednesday, March 25th, the City Council will review the Recommended Budget for FY 2010/11 in a Special Meeting designated specifically for that purpose.

The 138 page document is available for review at the Library, and online.

How does the Library fare? Better... and worse... than hoped for last year at this time.

Because Measure J narrowly lost the election, (approximately 30 votes shy of the needed 67%), the Library will not receive an influx of new funds.

However, due to solid citizen support, new leadership at City Hall and a concerned City Council, it is recommended that the Library continue to receive funding from the General Fund. In fact there is a slight increase in General Fund monies, (that essentially replaces a generous gift towards operating funds received from the Friends of the Library last fiscal year).

If the Recommended Budget is passed, the Library will remain open the same number of hours and days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 am - 6 pm. Fridays and Saturdays noon - 5 pm.

The meeting commences Wednesday at 6 pm. All interested persons are encouraged to attend.

Council Removes Library from List of Budget Cuts & Recommends $95 Library Parcel Tax for November Ballot

The Council Chambers were packed Wednesday night - with passionate and patient Library supporters. It was after 10 pm when the Council began discussion on The Plan for Closing the Long-Term Budget Gap. When it was time for public comment, library advocates of every age lined up to speak. And they spoke eloquently.

Author, Michael Katakis opened comments with a tribute to libraries as the place in a town "where dreams and wonder are stored."

Others echoed his comments. “The library is not just a big building with books…” It’s a place “where children embark on magical trips.” It’s a place for "people who understand the love of exploring.” "People are using library computers to look for jobs." "It's an anchor for families." It’s practically my 2nd home."

Every speaker expressed, in their own unique way, that “the Library is not an extra. It is essential.” “It’s a basic need.” "People need it to nourish themselves."

A 10 year old observed, “What is a city without a library? It’s a disaster.” Older PG residents made similar comments. “When you get down to closing your library, you’re saying, ‘this a is failed city.” “When a town loses its library, it loses it soul.”

Linda Bailey Smith, chair of the enormously successful Read-a-thon spoke for all Library supporters when she addressed the Council. “Sometimes unseen solutions come from taking a stand….I’m asking you to take a stand…. draw a line in the sand….No more cuts to the Library.”

You spoke up. And the Council listened. In a 5-1 vote, they agreed to remove “Close library/Eliminate General Fund support for library” from the Plan for Closing the Long-Term Budget Gap.

Later in the meeting, after midnight, the Council voted to place a $95 Library Parcel Tax on the November ballet. Designated specifically for the Library, this measure would require a two-thirds (66%) majority to pass. The second reading on this resolution will be August 5th. Stay tuned….

"Close Library/Eliminate General Fund support"

As part of the "Plan for Closing the Long-Term Budget Gap", the following strategy is being presented to the City Council on Wednesday, July 15th.

"Based on City Council priorities established in March 2009, library services is of secondary priority, to be pursued upon resource availability after public safety and infrastructure maintenance are secured. Given the minimal hours of operation and staffing levels in place already, we must consider elimination of General Fund support altogether. If this option is adopted, staff would work to determine whether there is an effective model that relies heavily on volunteers to keep the library open at a fraction of the current cost. If such a model appears feasible, the savings from this strategy could be reduced. The City Council will also consider a special tax to continue library operations as a separate agenda item on July 15th. If a tax measure is approved by voters and the City Council wished to keep the library open until special tax revenues would be received in December 2010, this savings option may not be available until the spring of 2010, with full effect not realized until FY 2010/11."

This strategy would save the City $400,000 per year, (out of a $15 million dollar budget).

To express your views on this topic, contact your City Council Members and attend the City Council meeting on July 15th at 6 pm.
(We have been informed that Agenda Items pertaining to the Library may not be discussed until 7:30 or 8 pm due to the lengthy agenda.)

Getting By With Less

On July 1st the Library entered a new phase of reduced funding. Changes include:

• The Library is now open only four days a week, for a total of 24 hours. (Click here to see the new schedule.)
• Late fines will increase to 25 cents per day for children and young adult materials; 50 cents per day for adult materials.
• The Thursday morning Storytime program has been cancelled. (See The Children's Calendar for the new storytime schedule.)
• Interlibrary Loan Service may not continue, (due to reductions in part-time staff). It is temporarily limited to 1 request per person, per week. And the fee will soon be increased to $3 per request.
• The Reference Desk will no longer be fully staffed. (The recently hired part-time Librarian position has been cut.)
• Lines may be longer at the Circulation Desk. (A full-time Library Assistant retired and was not replaced.)
• No money was allocated for books and other materials, so there will be fewer new purchases, and longer waits for best sellers and high interest materials.

The staff deeply regrets any inconvenience these changes may cause you. We are committed to serving you as well as we can, considering the limitations of a reduced staff and budget.

Reduced Hours Begin July

Due to budget cuts, the Library's hours are being reduced from:

• 31 hours to 24 hours a week
• 5 days to 4 days a week.

Effective July 1, 2009, the new schedule is:

• Monday             closed
• Tuesday          11 am - 6 pm
• Wednesday     11 am - 6 pm
• Thursday           closed
• Friday             12 pm - 5 pm
• Saturday         12 pm - 5 pm
• Sunday               closed

The new schedule is based upon patron input gathered from the Library Hours Survey.

Council Approves Budget Cuts

Last Wednesday evening, the City Council approved the Recommended Budget for FY 2009/2010. What did they approve for the Library?

• Hours cut to 20-24 hours per week.
• Days open per week cut to 4.
• One full-time position cut.
• Part-time Librarian position cut.
• Part-time Staffing cut.
• 1-2 Storytime programs per week cut.
• Book budget cut.
• Magazine subscriptions cut.
• Databases cut.
• Supply budget cut.
• Overdue fines increased.
• ILL fee increased.
  

This is the best case scenario... The worst case scenario is to simply close the Library, if the State "borrows" money from cities (as anticipated).

If you're unhappy about the proposed cuts, NOW is the time to speak up. Write, email, (or forward this blog post with your comments attached), to individual City Council members. And/or attend the next City Council meeting on June 3rd. After that, it will be fait accompli.

Library Budget Cut - Again

Pacific Grove's Recommended Budget for FY 2009-2010 has been released. For the third consecutive year, the Library's budget has been substantially reduced.

As summarized on page 89 of the Recommended Budget:

• FY 2006/07 $1,080,361
• FY 2007/08 $ 994,976 (Staffing: FTE 15.25)
• FY 2008/09 $ 696,810 (Staffing: FTE 7.50)
• FY 2009/10 $ 610,389 (Staffing: FTE 6.50)

Reductions in Library services, caused by these cuts, will include:

• Operating hours reduced from 31 hours to 20-24 hours per week. (A 22-35 percent reduction.)
• Library open only four days per week.
• Elimination of one full-time position.
• Reduction in part-time staffing, including the elimination of the recently approved Librarian I position.
• Increased fines for overdue books.
• Increased fees for Interlibrary Loan.
• Elimination of one or two storytimes per week.
• Reduced coverage at the Children's and Adult Reference Desks.
• Reduced funds for books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. (The Friends of the Library donation will be used for operating costs rather than for new books and materials.)
• Fewer online databases. (The online World Book Encyclopedia, Oxford English Dictionary, and Litfinder database have already been cut for next year.)
• Inability to implement objectives outlined in the Library Services Study, (commonly referred to as "The Strategic Plan").

On Wednesday, May 20th, the City Council will hold a public hearing, as well as introduce and hold a first reading of an ordinance to approve the recommended budget for FY 2009/10. This is an opportunity to share your comments, requests, needs, ideas, and insight with your elected representatives. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. We encourage you to be there to support YOUR Library.

Library Blog Resumes

It has been almost a year since the last post in the Library's Blog . The lack of activity has not been due to a lack of noteworthy news and events. It was a direct result of the reduction in Library hours and staffing that began last July.

It has been a challenging year. Even though we've been open fewer hours, the Library has welcomed as many visitors as the previous year. Almost as many books have been checked out. And more questions have been asked at our public service desks.

As noted repeatedly in national news, during an economic downturn, people turn to their local libraries. They come for information, a recommended book, DVDs, storytime.... They come to write a resume, to read the latest issue of their favorite magazine, to logon to the Internet. Sometimes they come to meet a friend, or to study in quiet surroundings. Othertimes they come because it's a safe place with a friendly helpful staff. They come because they can find what they want, and get what they need. Whether we open at 10 am or noon, people are lined up outside, every day, waiting to get into the Library. It's happening on the East Coast. It's happening in the Midwest. It's happening in Pacific Grove.

Business is booming at the Library. But for the third consecutive year, the Library is facing major budget cuts.

Iimportant decisions will be made during the next few weeks that affect every library patron. We thought you would like to know since it is YOUR Library. And so the Library Blog resumes......

Library Hours Reduced, Again...

Due to budget cuts, the Library's hours will be reduced beginning July 1st.

In March, Library hours were reduced from 52 to 40 hours a week, due to staff attrition and a hiring freeze. In July the hours will be further cut back to 31 hours a week.

The new schedule, effective Tuesday, July 1st is:
Sunday closed

Monday closed

Tuesday noon - 7 pm

Wednesday 10 am - 5 pm

Thursday 10 am - 5 pm

Friday noon - 5 pm

Saturday noon - 5 pm

Originally, the City's 2008-2009 Budget indicated that Library hours would be cut to 20-25 hours a week. It is only due to the generous Clausen bequest that the hours have been extended to 31 hours a week.

It is not yet known if the successful passage of Measure U will result in additional Library hours.

Library Budget Cut 50%

The library's budget was cut 50% at the city council meeting held 2/20. The cut will be implemented with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008. The Library general fund budget will shrink from $961,000 to $480,000. Since the majority of this money funds personnel, there will be layoffs and downsizing of the library's services and programs. To prepare for this cut and manage with a vacant librarian position, the library is reducing open hours from 52 to 40 hours/week effective March 3, 2008. The new schedule will be:
Monday 1-5
Tuesday 10-7
Wednesday 10-5
Thursday 10-7
Friday 10-5
Saturday 1-5