Public Library Requests 20% Funding Increase From City Of Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Public Library is requesting an additional $364,000 in annual funding from the City of Tuscaloosa for the coming budget year, marking a 20% increase from its request during the current fiscal year.

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TPL Executive Director Jennifer Pearson, who was named to the position by the TPL Board in July, was on hand at the Council's Finance Committee meeting Tuesday to present the request as the library looks to continuing innovating its offerings.

"I personally do not think that the city has seen the true financial outlook or overall picture for the public library in the past several years," she said. "Obviously, this funding will help us offset increases in operational expenses and services to our residents."

Here's a quick look at the numbers provided by Pearson during her presentation:

• TPL reports that approximately 50% of its visitors are from the City of Tuscaloosa, while 20% are from Northport and the remainder come from outlying parts of the county.
• There are currently 28,000 Tuscaloosa residents with registered library cards.
• For its 2022 Summer Reading Program, the library saw more than 36,000 books read by just over 9,000 participants.
• Circulation of library materials has increased 62% for the year-to-date.

"We like to say that no other place in Tuscaloosa County except for Bryant-Denny Stadium has that sort of attendance," Pearson said of the more than 444,000 visitors recorded at the library during the last year.

One of the biggest changes in terms of its funding model — a fine-free Tuscaloosa Public Library — was introduced earlier this year to much acclaim.

"We're very pleased with what this has done," Pearson said. "One of the things that, nationally, they have determined, is that [fines] sort of create barriers for those who need the library the most. And so this is just a step at making the library more inclusive and welcoming."

District 3 Councilor Norman Crow expressed his support for TPL's decision to drop its late fees and fines, particularly when it comes to the increased prevalence of eBooks cutting down on materials not being returned to the library.

"That really cuts down on a lot of these fines," Crow commented.

While overall support for the library was evident in the comments of the few officials who spoke during the presentation, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox once again took up a position that has become a regular one for the longtime public servant during his time in office.

First, he cautioned council members against agreeing to bear the largest share of funding for every outside agency that requests it or else risk potentially having less funding on hand in the future for discretionary issues in their districts.

"And this is not just the library," the mayor said, "but every one of these organizations that come in here and ask for more money — want you to fund the Delta — which means then you take away from the things that you want to do, like drainage projects and all those other things. And so, at some point, you can't have countywide services without countywide participation."

Maddox, citing data provided by TPL, explained the City of Tuscaloosa is paying approximately $17 per citizen with respect to funding the library. He then praised Tuscaloosa County for paying $14 per resident, but went on to mention that the City of Northport contributes only $4.

Indeed, Pearson said the library had requested an 80% funding increase from the City of Northport for the coming fiscal year. As Patch previously reported, if this request is granted, the public library would receive $228,500 from Northport in 2023, compared to $128,500 during the current fiscal year.

"I know it's taboo and I know I always get in trouble for saying it, but it's where we are," Maddox said. "And it's not fair to the library to have to come in and sing for its supper like this ... I'll make my point. It wouldn't be a budget year if I didn't."

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