Librarians to Albany: Stop Shelving Our Funds!

The story of public libraries in recent years might be found in the Gothic literature section – the struggle for funding creates a gloomy atmosphere of melodrama and, looking at the numbers, even a bit of horror.

Cuts, bloody cuts, has been the main plot for most of the Westchester Library System, but on Friday librarians from around the county came out to protest the state's fifth budget reduction since 2008 that promises to slash 18 percent of the system's funds.

The leadership from 13 district libraries stood with State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) in the courtyard of the White Plains Public Library to demand a full restoration of Albany's most recently proposed budget cuts, which reduced library funding by $2.5 million from 2009-10 levels.

Since 2008, the public libraries have lost $18 million in state budget cuts.

Any cuts made to the Westchester Library System would have a trickle-down effect locally, said Katonah Village Library Director Van Kozelka. What would be worse is if the town of Bedford reduced funding levels, she said.

That is a proposal now under consideration. No cuts have been made yet, but at a June 15 town board budget work session, Supervisor Lee Roberts noted that they have kept the library funding at the same level for the last three years while making cuts to other town departments.

"I'm not sure we can give the same allocations next year," she said.

Each local branch receives approximately 75-80 percent of its annual budget from the town. For the Katonah Village Library, that amounts to about $630,000; the Bedford Free Library receives about $355,000 and the Bedford Hills Free Library close to $400,000.

All additional funds to keep the libraries operating are raised through events and appeals, according to their directors. Funding cuts from the town could lead to reduced hours or services, though none of the directors were sure where they'd look to make adjustments yet.

Among the WLS services used by local library patrons that may be cut or diminished is the operation and maintenance of the county's largest online network (which provides free Internet service through 600 computers, plus wireless network service at all member libraries, and the Interlibrary Loan System, which allows libraries to individually purchase less books by sharing with the offering of other libraries.

"Given the state's fiscal woes, reductions in state spending are unfortunately unavoidable – yet funding for our libraries cannot be further compromised," said Oppenheimer.

Calling the library system a "great equalizer" she noted that libraries serve the greater community in a way so few organizations do: "They are places where individuals of any means can find answers to their questions in a very calm sanctuary."

"No one wants to cut library funding," said Ann Cloonan, director of the Bedford Free Library. "But we've come to the point where something has to happen. Unfortunately, with the economy the way it is, we have more people using the libraries than ever."

The adopted budget may or may not be passed, but we can't give you a date when there will be a vote. Keep reading Patch for your local library's denouement.