Libraries Fighting Back (An Old Submission)

Libraries Fighting Back
By Damon Fillman

PHILADELPHIA-With the economic recession still tightening its grip on state budgets and job security, certain states are proposing cutting library funding to offset their financial woes. Pennsylvania in particular, under the leadership of Governor Ed. Rendell, proposed a contingency plan that would: reduce operating hours from 48.5 hours over six days to 21 hours over three days, staff cuts, and the removal of Tuesday and Saturday evening hours.

But library systems all over the state are fighting back.

Diane Kraus, an adult and child services employee at the Bucks County Free Library System says there is a grassroots effort going on that encourages library members to write to their legislators to support House Bill 1416 which would result in a 14.9 percent library cut instead of the 53 percent cut previously proposed. A list of legislators for each district is available at the front desk.

House Bill 1416 was introduced because library members and employees directly called their legislators expressing discontent, which resulted in Senate Bill 850 getting voted out by the House Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 850 is the Republican proposed state budget, which Governor Rendell says cannot be feasible without a tax increase. The bill is still flailing around Harrisburg.

The Democratic House members proposed House Bill 1416, which provides for a General Fund budget of $27.8 billion and will benefit libraries in the following ways: $68,000,000 for the Public Library Subsidy, $2,396,000 for Libraries for the Blind/Physically Disabled, $7,774,000 for the combined Library Access and Electronic Catalog line items, and $2,396,000 for the State Library.
The current budget includes $94,654,000 for library funding while House Bill 1416 includes $80,566,000, a reduction of 14.9 percent.

According to Glenn Miller of the Pennsylvania Library Association, which sends out a newsletter to The Bucks County Free Library System, House Bill 1416 is the best bill proposed and library employees should support it.

“People take advantage of Public Library services and are more aware of them during a recession, cutting funds for these services would result in a public outcry,” says Kraus.

Kraus says that not only are people utilizing typical library services like books, they are also participating in more leisurely activities which the library now provides because of modern technology; activities like computer games, internet browsing and DVD rentals.

With the recession choking out most family's disposable income, people are seeking library services for other oddities like applying for a job. With free access to the internet, people who cannot afford a computer or internet access at home have the opportunity to seek employment in an economy that has an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent.

Sarah McCormick, a member of the Upper Moreland Free Public Library says that when her father lost his job, they couldn't afford to pay their Comcast bill, which resulted in a loss of internet access, so she visits the library to check her e-mail and spend time on Facebook, a social networking site.

“I like to take advantage of the library's various services. You never realize how much the internet and computers are integrated in your life until you lose them yourself,” McCormick says.

While Pennsylvania's state budget is still being negotiated, other expenses are being cut to make up for additional losses, including funds for Community Colleges across the state. Also in jeopardy are various environmental protection funds like money for West Nile Virus Control.

Still, Kraus and other library employees at the Bucks County Free Library System are hopeful that things will look up.

“I don't understand why Republicans don't want to tap the rainy day fund. The governor insisted on it and so do Senate Democrats. When libraries are in serious jeopardy of losing crucial funds, doesn't that equate to a rainy day?” says Kraus.

The rainy day fund, which is Pennsylvania's emergency piggy bank, currently holds $750 million dollars. Governor Ed. Rendell proposed to tap nearly a quarter of that to alleviate the stress of the state's ailing economy.

David Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME District Council 13, which represents state, local and municipal workers says that he would rather see the rainy day fund tapped than to see his members take a hit.

“I am hopeful that with House Bill 1416 and the persistence of Senate Democrats, we will have a budget that is suitable for our members and for the state. At this point, there really is no alternative than to get the budget finalized.” Fillman says.

Pennsylvania is not the only state facing budget woes. In recent days, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, is pushing proposed budget cuts. Under his plan, major cuts will come out of health services, which have created a public outcry. The proposed cuts largely affect minority communities because it will slash funding for the Rural Health Services Department, which provides health services to underserved communities.

“The only thing we can do is hope for the best and pray for a rainy day.” Fillman says.