Libraries worry about cash
Although a Senate bill to reduce state aid to public libraries by 50 percent was recently defeated in the House Appropriations Committee, library supporters remain concerned as Pennsylvania’s new budget is being put together. “There is still a lot of room for discussion,” said Peggy Tseng, interim director for Monessen Public Library and District Center, which serves Fayette County. Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell, said, “The governor had proposed a small decrease in library funding for the coming year – from $75,750,000 this year to $74 million. The Senate Republicans proposed slashing it to $37 million. The governor believes during economic downturns, such as we are suffering this year, libraries offer important services to an ever-expanding number of people who use it as a resource to help find work.”
He continued, “The House Appropriations Committee voted against the Senate version of the proposal but we are a long way from reaching a compromise with the Republicans on what a fair amount for the subsidies for libraries should be next year. We continue to believe libraries should continue to receive as much help as possible, even during a difficult budget year.”
Will Dando, chief of staff for state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, said Senate Bill 850 passed in the Senate 30-20 by a party-line vote. He noted Kasunic opposed the bill.
“We felt the cuts were too drastic and that they weren’t targeted at the right programs. There needs to be a discussion over what programs are essential and what is not,” Dando said.
He explained the governor’s proposal was introduced in the House as House Bill 1416 and is in the House Appropriations Committee.
“The next step is negotiations between the Legislature and the governor will need to continue in order to reach a compromise agreement,” said Dando. “We have a $3 billion deficit for this year. We have three options: cut the amount of funding, cut services or raise revenues. If we just took the state budget that was enacted last year and apply it this year, we’re looking at a $6 billion deficit. We have to fill a $3 billion gap first. S.B. 850 was one proposal that was attempted.”
The Pennsylvania Library Association posted a report on its Web site (www.palibraries.org
) about the House Appropriations Committee vote and urged supporters advocate for support for libraries to state senators and representatives, as well as Rendell.
The association noted that libraries are “bursting at the seams serving the unemployed, their families and others most in need” and that cutting state funding means a loss of federal funds.
“Cuts already proposed could cost Pennsylvania anywhere from $1 million to $3.8 million in federal funding,” the association reported. “Level funding will preserve Pennsylvania’s fair share, roughly $5.9 million.”
In Fayette County, four libraries receive state aid, including Brownsville Free Public Library, Carnegie Free Public Library in Connellsville, German-Masontown Public Library in Masontown and Uniontown Public Library.
Both Brownsville and German-Masontown belong to the Fayette County Library System, which also includes six libraries that do not receive state funding. They are Brownfield, Dunbar, Frazier, Point Marion, Republic and Smithfield.
But all of these libraries receive services from the district center, located at the Monessen library. They include support for summer reading programs, inter-library loans with district delivery of these materials and technical support. These services could be affected if state aid is reduced.
Marilyn Miller, president of the Fayette County Library System, raised the subject at the system’s June meeting at Fort Burd United Presbyterian Church in Brownsville.
Tseng gave a report and noted of possible cuts to the district center, “If we are cut, we have to cut accordingly for our services.”
Miller asked representatives from different libraries for comments.
Meredith Hamilton, librarian for Brownsville Free Public Library, said, “I was glad to hear (S.B. 850) was defeated but if we’re cut 40, 30 – even 20 percent – it will be devastating to all of us.”
Louise Durinzi of German-Masontown Public Library pointed to a recently published letter to the editor of the Herald-Standard by Barbara Rhoades of the library’s board of directors that stated, in part, “Senior citizens and families are on tight budgets and are trying to cut back on expenses. Libraries add to the quality of life of all citizens and provide a vital service to thousands of people. Libraries, too, are hurting financially.”
Debra Tidholm of Frazier said, “I don’t want to see any funding cut. It trickles to all of us.”
Bob Ober from Brownfield said, “When economic times get bad, libraries are used more.”
Peggy Rankin from Dunbar said, “Many are using the Internet to find jobs to try to get better jobs. It’s dumb to cut a place where people come for resources.”
Miller urged the members to contact officials to ask support for libraries.
When contacted on the issue, Lynne Tharan of Uniontown Public Library, said, “We stand to lose more than the 2.3 percent initially proposed in the governor’s budget. And there’s that trickle-down effect – we won’t receive as much from federal aid via the Library Services and Technology Grant.”
She continued, “Uniontown Public Library had a record-breaking circulation a week and a half ago. That just shows you how much more we are being used. People tell us they don’t buy books anymore or rent DVDs. They borrow ours. Two people we talked to said they can’t afford the Internet so they come to the library to use our computers or bring a laptop here to connect to our wireless connection. We’re helping more people to do a resume, rework a resume or submit a resume online.”
Tharan added, “I was terrified when the 50 percent (reduction) was talked about. We have no wiggle room. We are barebones staff and barebones budget.”
She shared an e-mail from Margie Stern, coordinator of youth services for Delaware County Library System and co-chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Library Association Legislative Information Committee, that reads, in part, “For more than a half-million Pennsylvania kids, the Summer Reading Club in public libraries maintains and improves their reading skills over summer vacation. But the Summer Reading Club’s future is bleak if state budget cuts become law. You see, the club and numerous other vital library services are supported by federal (LSTA) library funds which require state government to fully fund libraries.”
Julia Allen of Carnegie Free Public Library spoke about the services provided by the Monessen District Center.
“I consider them very important. Inter-library loan could take a major hit if there are significant cuts,” she said. “That assures us that we can get materials for our patrons from any library in the state. We have pretty quick van delivery – twice a week. It takes very little time for our patrons to get an item.”
Allen also noted that people come into the library for help with job hunting.
Asked about the proposed 50 percent cut, Allen said, “I don’t know if they think libraries won’t complain. It’s not fair to libraries.”
While the 50 percent reduction in state aid is off the table for now, library supporters are still worried.
“Until that final budget is passed,” said Allen. “You can’t tell what they are going to do.”