Opposition builds quickly and county commissioners stand fast, forcing Mayor Gimenez to revise his budget targeting local branch closings.
Looming pension failure rallies officials to come up with recovery plan.
Not many of us listened to our parents when we were growing up, but we always listened to the words we read in books. I remember my own childhood through the novels I read?Encyclopedia Brown More...
LJ explores how the library that once set the bar for innovation nationwide is moving forward, cautiously envisioning its own recovery.
Amid a bitter political climate, punctuated by the rise of a virulent antitax group, last year voters overwhelmingly entrusted their libraries with their tax dollars in referenda.
At LJ , we may never have had so many budget-focused news stories as in this past year. We?ve chronicled cuts to individual libraries in funding, hours, services, staff, and buildings around the country. The More...
In tough times or good, libraries need librarians at the helm.
Exciting developments even as budgets stay at rock bottom.
The overall trend in FY10: a brutal grasping by money-starved government officials for the low-hanging fruit of library budgets?72 percent of survey respondents said their budget had been cut, and 43 percent had staff cuts.
Remembering Ron Shank It is with great sadness that we announce that Ron Shank, former group publisher of Library Journal, School Library Journal, Library Hotline, Críticas, and The Horn Book, passed away on Saturday, December More...
The public library is a high priority in Chicago government.
FOUR BRANCHES MAY STAY OPEN IN BOSTON The Boston Public Library is still facing unprecedented challenges, as the country?s oldest municipally funded library struggles to avoid the closure of four branches. Amy Ryan, the library?s More...
Andy Woodworth calls for those in libraries of all types to rally together and act on behalf of any and all libraries.
Passage of Proposition D could alleviate service cuts.
IMCPL struggles to close projected $4 million budget gap; reduced hours and 35-40 layoffs to come by end of year.
In Colorado, and elsewhere, saving on taxes trumps saving services.
From LJ's September 15 issue: John Berry describes public officials, from Fayetteville, AR, to Boise, ID, who've gone to bat for their libraries.
As budgets tighten, the pressure is on to introduce fees or develop new revenue streams. An LJ survey shows such efforts mean little to the bottom line but can boost community connection and more.
News highlights from LibraryJournal.com Anti-tax Ballot Measures Alarming Coloradans Public services in Colorado, including library services, could be devastated if three seemingly simple-and, to critics, complex and deceptive-tax rollback measures pass in the November 2 More...
News highlights from LJ's continuing online coverage
Sometimes we have to know what is at risk before we can engage in saving it. The website www.losinglibraries.org was designed to capture stories from across the nation to create a snapshot of library cuts
Five years of raises mandated in contractUnion did not set up meeting on concessions42 employees laid offThe Las Vegas/Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), NV, faced with a $5.5 million shortfall over the next fiscal year, More...
Now 24 locations, it could be 20, or eightTermination costs could hit $4 millionWaiting to see if county, municipalities respondThe Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, faced with a recommended $17.7 million county contribution for FY 011-a nearly More...
Six locations too many for 63,000 people compared to peer librariesFlat budget for three yearsBeyond the bookmobile to mobile services andnew spacesFaced with three years of flat funding and the closure of two of five More...
Salary freeze; part-timers lose hoursOverdue fines go up30 positions lost over two yearsFacing flat revenue and $838,000 in increasing costs, the Lexington Public Library, KY, Board of Trustees has passed a $13.9 million budget for More...
Severe cutbacks for upcoming fiscal yearAward-winning library in relatively affluent cityFriends to plan for another millage in NovemberThe Troy Public Library, MI, which serves a city of 80,000, will close its doors on June 30, More...
$3 million loss must be made upBacklash against spending on arenaCommenters support library,butshow ignorance about operationsIn April, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) Board of Trustees said it was considering closing four to six branches More...
State aid was cut last yearMost first-time levies succeedLosers must reduce servicesOhio citizens demonstrated their support of libraries yesterday, as 86 percent of library levies passed. Out of the 29 initiatives, 25 were successful; 18 More...
Seven-day servicealready reduced in AprilUnion, advocates, library leaders argue against cutsCap on retirements would mean young librarians get laid offLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed what seems to be a stable budget for the More...
Library aid almost axed last year60,000 messages in six weeksAlliance with counties also helped Riding a legislative roller-coaster similar to that in 2009, Florida library advocates have successfully staved off proposals to eliminate Florida's State More...
The board of the Boston Public Library, as LJ reported earlier this month, has decided to close four branches to cope with budget deficits largely caused by a decline in state aid. Now, however, some More...
$82 million over two yearsHours could be cut nearly in halfPotential closingsHundreds of layoffsBudget endgame hasn't yet arrivedFor libraries in New York City, it's waiting time, as potentially devastating cuts in Mayor Mike Bloomberg's proposed More...
No silver bulletGive elected officials opportunities to shineFoundations may helpWhat's the best way to ensure public support for a library? Consistent advocacy, in good times and bad, according to Tom Galante, CEO of the Queens More...
Part of $193 million via USDA$2.6 million for library in North Carolina$1.5 million for library in TennesseeLibrary services in rural communities will receive more than $7.2 million in loans and grants, thanks to stimulus funding More...
Library recently absorbed mid-year cutThree scenarios for FY11Budget will be decided in JuneNext year may be much, much tougher for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC, which could see its budget cut by more than half, More...
What a split personality of a PLA! Those of us from LJ who attended the Public Library Association conference in late March in Portland, OR, ricocheted from news about budget cuts, layoffs, and shortened hours More...
Materials cut six percent42 positions to remain unfilledWeekend hours especially affectedNext year could be much worseHouston Public Library (HPL) will implement substantial service cuts beginning April 17, as it must reduce its current Fiscal Year More...
Save Ohio Libraries acts as levy clearinghouseSophisticated advocacy effortsMore first-time levies emergeSince state support for Ohio's public libraries was cut 30 percent this last summer, many library systems have launched local levy efforts for operational More...
Scenarios summarizedBump of one percent in city fundingDecision now goes to MayorUpdated April 9: The Boston Public Library Board of Trustees hasendorsed the plan to close four branches. Updated April 12: Sam Allis, columnist for More...
The municipal budget proposed for the fiscal year starting July 1 recommends the closure of three branches among six locations (five branches plus main library) of the Portland Public Library, ME, according to the Portland More...
Audit requested by funding agencyWill be considered by task forceStill, major funding needs for capital projects remainThe Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) may be in better shape than it professes, according to an audit report More...
Programs on reading and classicsLincoln at the librariesDigitization and preservationLibraries are getting a small slice of the recently announced $16 million in grant awardsfrom the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which is funding 286 More...
All branches open eight hours a day for five daysFewer job lossesRemaining staffers face 5-20% pay cutA week after announcing that they had no choice but close branches in the wake of a $2 million More...
Brooklyn asking for $10 via textUses mGive, which raised $40M for HaitiMosio aims to link libraries and firms that can helpThe recent earthquake in Haiti proved that the time had come for donations via text More...
Major planned cuts in state funding for libraries in New Jersey and Florida, and a closure of half the branches in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC, are being met with spirited resistance. After the Public More...
State funding cut by one-third since 2001Branches would closePossibility for funding to be restored in committeeIn big red letters on its web site, the Florida Library Association (FLA) warns, "We Have Another State Aid to More...
Database initiative would be axedCuts hit libraries disproportionatelyBroadband funds jeopardized For FY 2011, the state of New Jerseyhas proposed a drastic cut of74% in library program funding from the FY 2010 appropriation, which State Librarian More...
Worst situation since the Great DepressionFour criteria for closingsNext year's cut may be even greaterFaced with cutting $2 million from its budget within the last three months of the current fiscal year, the Public Library More...
Despite the grim economic circumstances in 2009, voters delivered an overwhelming vote of confidence to their local libraries. In fact, 84 percent of all operating referenda passed nationwide.Just a few of the successes: in Michigan, More...
Service point staff cut in halfTwo new branches would still openBranch Friends groups uniting for actionDecision will be made in JuneSan Jose Public Library (SJPL), CA, the 2004 Gale/LJ Library of the Year,is the latest More...
Visitors to the Los Angeles Public Library's (LAPL) web site are invited to take the Los Angeles Budget Challenge, a city-produced interactive survey that encourages visitors to rank potential changes in the budget of various More...
Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesProposed budget cut nine percentThree out of12 regional offices closed; staff maintained for one yearFederal funds provide one-year opportunity for retoolingThe Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has More...
2% food tax passed3.2% employee concessionsBranches will close one day each weekA month after plans surfaced to close six of 15 Phoenix Public Library branches and cut 73.5 positions, a much less onerous solution has More...
Citizens must come up with funds after six monthsTwo part-time branches will cost $164,000BranchLove formed to organize volunteers, fundraisingMarch 1 began a new fiscal year for Evanston Public Library (EPL), one that still includes two More...
Time to apply is nowWisconsin award even helps libraries already with broadbandLessons include collaboration, budgetingAs the application window opened for the second and final round of federal broadband stimulus funds, the American Library Association has More...
State aid once was 18.3% of budgetBoard seems to prefer closing buildings to decimating hoursNewspaper criticizes board for lack of cloutAfter absorbing a major decline in state aid this year and expecting further cuts next More...
Materials in English and MandarinBooks and DVDsLIS graduate student also will be part of collaborationIn an unusual example of collaboration between a local university and a public library, the Cranston Public Library, RI, will be More...
Mid-year cut and proposed cut next yearNYPL branches to average 45 hours open, down from 51Queens Library cut hours in JanuaryNew York City Major Mike Bloomberg's announced library budget cut-a "gap closing" for the current More...
73.5 positions would be lostPublic safety departments cut 11% to 14.1%Closing libraries has public safety impact, some saySix of 15 Phoenix Public Library branches would be closedand 73.5 positions cut under what city officials call More...
Layoffs disproportionateToo soon to estimate impactCity Council often restores budget cutsNew York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has proposed sweeping budget cuts to close a $4.9 billion deficit for FY 2011 with no tax increases. Libraries More...
With the recession, library budgets have been hit hard just as demand keeps climbing, a paradox that creates a resource gap for even the best-off libraries. In their stories, Norman Oder crunches the numbers from More...
It's no surprise that libraries in LJ's annual budget survey reported an overall downward trend, with the expected decline in total budgets some 2.6% and the change in materials budgets 3.5% (see Table 1, below). More...
Most mornings, Terry Ann Lawler arrives at the Palo Verde Library, a branch of Phoenix Public Library, to find a line of over 50 adults waiting for the building to open. She and her staff More...
$1.5 million must be cutNo raises for staffers earning over $30,00014% materials cutHiring freezeWhile a lot of libraries have faced budget pressures, the Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, which faces a 10% budget cut More...
ALA joined by ARL, community collegesMoney could be reallocated from mapping projectIncrease would serve public access, broader economic goalsGiven the huge demand for the Public Computer Centers (PCC) program in thebroadband segment of the federal More...
OR public library gets $300K for humanitiesportion of new libraryLincon traveling exhibit will go to more librariesDigging into Data Challenge boosts digital libraryPublic and academic libraries willreceive a slice of the $20 million in grants More...
More grants announced over 75 daysBoston Public Library, state libraries in AZ, NM get grantsBig focus on extending connections; one "Middle Mile" award includes librariesThe first of many broadband stimulus funds awards have been announced, More...
City funding, plus new state legislation on casino revenueNew fines and feesConcern over closed board meetingsAs washinted last month, the board of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) yesterday postponed for a year a plan More...
For new staffers, "Library 101"Loss of development feesNew virtual interactive roomThe new Prescott Valley Public Library, AZ, which opened in October, is such a stunner that it won an 'On the Boards'; award for design More...
Petition protests State Library closureCuts in state aid around 30%More cuts comingLibrary use is upNearly 3500 people have signed a petition protesting the possible closure of the Massachusetts State Library, part of Governor Deval Patrick's More...
Newspaper report: libraries closed for rest of fiscal yearLibrary message: libraries closed "until further notice"ALA president criticizes decisionUpdated November 18: American Library Association (ALA) President Camila Alire issued a statement: "How can Colton combat the More...
Seattle city council restores library hoursDenver branch safe for another yearDwindling sales tax revenue affects SalinasSeveral public libraries are receiving budget adjustments that help or hurt. Below are updates on several library systems facing difficult More...
Similar closure in 1992Union agreed to furlough, cuts$500,000 left to cutRepeating a ten-day closure that occurred in 1992, the 13 libraries in the Sonoma County Library, CA, system will close from 2 pm on Christmas More...
Library has relied on RAD, not cityBranches targeted had fewer visitsFinal budget vote December 14Perhapsfive branches of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) won't be closing, as previously announced. Yesterday, as CLP submitted an updated More...
30 out of 37 ballots successful for PLs"Unbelievable success rate," says OLCCincinnati last major OH city to institute local levySince state support for Ohio's public libraries was cut 30 percent this past summer, library systems More...
City may now charge for in-kind servicesLibrary can now keep up with inflationAdvocates achieved referendum via obscure lawIn a major boost for the long-suffering Bridgeport Public Library, CT, voters yesterday approved a novel referendum that More...
11 of 41 Cincinnati branches circulate more AVCould fee raise $6.9 million?Other libraries face leviesA Cincinnati Enquirer report that 11 of 41 branches of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCHC) circulate more More...
Lower, delayed taxes a problemTown native Dwyane Wade gave $25,000New computers neededThe William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in the impoverished south of Chicago suburb Robbins, IL, remains open, and should do so through November, More...
Library system could lose 13.5 % of already lean staffTech budget could be down more than 76%Support from local newspaperAnchorage Public Library(APL), AK, like many others, faces budget cuts in the next fiscal year. Mayor More...
Three branches, bookmobile to closeMayor meets with schoolchildrenSteady decline in funding, jobs, materialsWhile libraries around the state of Pennsylvania have been hampered by a 20% cut in state support, the Reading Public Library (RPL) has More...
22-year effortLibrary will add auditorium, many more featuresIn contrast to U.S., Canada emphasizes libraries as infrastructure investmentsProject seen as "easy to support"A 22-year effort toward a new central library in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has bounded More...
Federal government sees library construction as stimulusFoundation aims to raise $10 million CADLead gift in May went to just-opened event spaceIn the United States, federal stimulus funds for libraries will focus especially on the expansion More...
At one point, 55% overall cut considered20% cut in public library subsidiesBig hits to stateside card, databasesAfter nearly 100 days of deadlockon the Pennsylvaniastate budget, legislators last week agreedto a compromise, including a 26.7%slash in More...
Library staff resistant to consultant's reportRelatively high salariesExpert questions consultant's conclusionsDispute over library role[Update October 26: This article was originally written under the assumption that the head of technical services had been laid off, which More...
Would allocate 1 mill for the libraryResistance from city officialsNeed to identify likely voters for low-turnout electionIn a pathbreaking effort for urban libraries in Connecticut, supporters of the beleaguered Bridgeport Public Library (BPL) have drawn More...
Proposal to close branch generated protestNew plandesignates three regional librariesSystemwide reduced hours rejectedDacula residents still angryThe board of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL), Lawrenceville, GA, won't close the three-year-old Dacula branch as announced last More...
Central library open all year on SundaysLibrarians, not bookmobile, to visit schoolsDirector urges use of volunteersThe District of Columbia Public Library's (DCPL) FY10 budget cut of nearly 11 percent involves inevitable service cuts. With some More...
Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesWU closes locations more reliant on digital resourcesUNC to rely on ILL, paid articlesToronto charges scholars for accessAcademic libraries are feeling the pinch of budget cuts and adjusting More...
As John Berry points out in "No Villains" (p. 24–25), politics doesn't produce clear-cut heroes and villains in library funding-nor in some other issues, as we've seen with the various versions of the health-care bill More...
Public, staff preferred no closuresBig materials budget cutNo staff layoffsDenver Public Library (DPL), which primarily is funded by the city's general fund, must reduce its 2010 budget by ten percent, or approximately $3 million, given More...
The city of Philadelphia has prepared a "doomsday budget" in case the state legislature doesn't approve a new sales tax, as LJ reported last month, andthe Free Library of Philadelphia is now warning starkly of More...
Some 500 Michigan librarians and library supporters, many of them wearing red t-shirts that said Protect Michigan Libraries, rallied yesterday at the capitol in Lansing against proposed state Senate cuts in statewide support for libraries. More...
$5.4 million sought in savingsAll direct library aid would have been cutStatewide programs would have been axedThanks to strong lobbying, rallies, and positive press coverage, Connecticut legislators have passed a budget that maintains crucial state More...
$21,584 raised will pay for a monthCongressman, state Senator pledge fundingTax revenues not expected until November Thanks to donations from the public, the William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in impoverished Robbins, IL, has received More...
Programs governor now supports targeted by SenateRally September 10State librarian will be designated within the Department of EducationVigorous advocacy by library supporters in Michigan has pushed Gov. Jennifer Granholm to modify her July 13 Executive More...
Fairfax County tweaks established Amazon programSanta Cruz establishes "win-win" with local booksellersLSSI's 1stReads made more customer friendlyFacing budget challenges, public librariesare revisiting ways to enhance their collections through donation programs. They're using tried-and-true methods, establishing More...
Board previously rejected plan to close five of 51 libraries20 percent budget cutMaterials budget eliminatedRather than close five libraries to respond to a 20 percent budget cut, a plan rejected last month by the Hawaii More...
Budget is two months lateBig differences between House and SenateState cuts lead to loss of federal aidPhiladelphia needs approval of sales tax increaseA state budget impasse lasting nearly two months has put Pennsylvania libraries in More...
Weeks of worry that all funding would be cutHope that improved economy will restore serviceProvincial funding supports databases, reference, literacy BC OneCardAfter weeks in which library advocates feared a complete loss of provincial funds-which historically More...
Appeal to ObamaVideo reportsHow to helpWhen, in 2005, LJ visited the William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in Robbins, IL, the library was struggling. Now things are so bad for this impoverished suburb of Chicago, More...
Decision made without advance noticeLibrary faces nearly 10% cut in local supportBoard will consider sharing the burdenMajor protests are causing the board of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL), Lawrenceville, GA, to reconsider its surprise More...
Sales tax revenues plummetAnticipated cut in state aidLibrary supporters oppose closing branchesFacing a decrease in Regional Asset District (RAD) sales tax collections, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburghmay see a loss or consolidation of branch locations More...
Creativity in a place where consultants are costlyLearning experience for students, staffCan there be a new measure of ROI?Prince George, the largest city in northern British Columbia, is isolated, a nine-hour drive from Vancouver and More...
Sales taxes from mall are downLAC hired to recommend $300K in cutsFriends urge temporary cuts, not permanent onesThe affluent Chicago suburb of Oak Brook has long relied on significant tax revenues from its large mall More...
Library hit disproportionatelyProposed cuts would take effect October 1Materials budget would plummetDallas Public Library (DPL) could lose one-third of its funding, a disproportionate cut,if a proposal before city council is approved. The City of Dallas More...
State budget cuts hit homeMost libraries would not have budget to send peopleAlternative methods of education programs exploredIn the wake of budget cuts that have devastated local library budgets, with a loss of up to More...
Third round of hardware grantsPart of $350M in domestic library support$3.7M local match expectedThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced its third and final round of Opportunity Online hardware grants, $6.5 million in grants More...
Expected PL cuts to total 30 percentTax revenues already down 20 percentPublic Library Fund reduced to 1.97 percentTwo weeks into the new fiscal year, Ohio lawmakers have finalized the state's two-year budget and, while libraries More...
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
