Newark Library Copes with Budget Cuts

Beset in recent years with steep budget decreases and staff reductions, the Newark Public Library is facing a possible $1 million budget cut as the institution's board of trustees grappled with the issue during their monthly meeting on Wednesday.

"These are undoubtedly tough times for Newark," said Timothy J. Crist, board president at the meeting, which attracted about a dozen people.

While Mayor Cory Booker did submit a city budget earlier this year that would see a $1 million cut to the library, from $11 million to $10 million, board members during the meeting brought up the figure of $700,000 as a possible number, rather than the higher figure.

"We are facing at least a $700,000 cut," Crist acknowledged during the meeting.

Crist said he could not comment on where the budget cuts would occur or where the figure of $700,000 came from because discussions on the budget are still ongoing and nothing has been truly set.

The council has not tackled the city budget yet, but have talked about it informally in recent meetings.

"Not sure when they are going to introduce," said Claudia Granados, board member, during the meeting. "Things are changing everyday at city hall."

Crist and Granados said they both met recently with Booker, who was receptive to their ideas on future programs and services.

"I thought the mayor responded with considerable interest," Crist said. "We didn't gloss over issues," he added about recent budget cuts and staff reductions.

Other items on the agenda you may have missed:

*All board members were present except for Samuel Delgado.

*Library staff members gave a presentation on the wide array of Latino programs and services at the library such as the New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center and the Sala Hispanoamericana.

*The library will be planning in the next few years its 125th anniversary celebration.

*Next year should see a festival focusing on the novelist Philip Roth that would trace his Newark roots and celebrate his birthday, which falls on March 19. Library staffers are planning for the institution to be part of the festivities.

*The board approved the accounting firm Watson Rice to perform an audit on last year's finances. Price suggested that perhaps the library can ask them to do it pro-bono, which was then approved by the board during the meeting.

*The library plans to enter into the consortium, the Essex County Energy Program, in order to save money on energy consumption.

*The Dodge Poetry Festival is planned for this year in October in Newark and the library is interested in participating in some of the activities.

*A new brochure on how to obtain a library card has been released to the public.