Hard Times for Libraries

Tony Pugh of the McClatchy newspaper chain has written a disturbing essay about the troubles nationwide that libraries face because of local and state budget reductions. One of the most disturbing examples of how this is working comes from Troy, Michigan. An anti-tax group promoted the idea that the library could stay open by cutting waste, but when the funding vote lost it quickly became apparent that since the library could not run a deficit, it would have to close (decided by a local court). Patrons who want library services now have to go to one of the neighboring towns and pay from $100 to $200 for a card with borrowing privileges.  Similarly, a new library building in San Jose, California, has not been able to open because there is no funding to run it.

When citizens are asked directly to fund local libraries, they usually accept the idea of taxing themselves to provide an important service.  Even in 2009, when the nation was in a serious recession, 84% of all library budgets passed and more than half of library construction projects received voter approval. The problem seems to be when library funding must come from general revenue that is administered by state or local officials who are not specifically concerned with libraries.

Here from Mr. Pugh is a summary of the current statistics:

...public libraries' critical role as neighborhood information hubs hasn't shielded the nearly 17,000 of them across the country from budget scalpels.  After spurring a surge in public library use nationwide, the tough economy is forcing many branches to cut staff, hours and programming right when many cash-strapped people need them most. As in previous downturns, Americans turned to their libraries during the Great Recession for free children's programming or to borrow books, movies and music. In 2008, when the economy was in free fall, a record 68 percent of Americans had a library card, and library visits and borrowing spiked as well. However, a whopping 72 percent of public libraries reported budget cuts this year; 43 percent cut staff as well, according to a recent survey by the Library Journal.