When Governor Tom Ridge was in office, Pennsylvania’s public libraries were booming. Employee hours were added. More books and reference materials flooded the shelves. There was a definite plan for the advancement of the public service.
But after Ridge’s stint as governor, state funding to local libraries was cut drastically, leaving libraries still working under Ridge’s plan. Unfortunately, the money wasn’t there to keep them up to speed.
Now, state Representative Jerry Stern is calling for the public to help support the local libraries.
“Libraries are an essential part of every community,” said Stern. “They provide a great selection of reading and reference materials, literacy programs, book clubs and other patron services, as well as a place where residents can go and use a computer with Internet access.
“We need to make sure this important resource is preserved and that its services are not only maintained, but also expanded.”
According to Stern, there may be some state help on the way.
He said the Pennsylvania Library Association is requesting increased funding from the state in order to continue operations at the state’s 625 public libraries. Funding for the libraries was cut by 37 percent in the 2003-04 state budget – from $75.2 million to $47.8 million.
“This was a cut I did not support, but hard economic times led the governor and the majority of the House and Senate members to approve it,” said Stern. “These cuts have been detrimental. Public libraries have been forced to reduce collections, reduce hours of operation, reduce staffing and cut back services.”
According to Stern, public libraries only have three sources of funding, which are state and local government and a category called other sources, which accounts for fundraising, patron contributions, copier services and overdue book fines.
He said about 30 percent of library funding comes from the state, so any cuts have a huge impact on the operation of the facilities and available services.
“In Blair County alone, 63 percent of public libraries have reduced hours, 67 percent have reduced staff size, and 89 percent have reduced collection purchases due to state funding cuts,” said Stern.
“There was also a suspension of all in-house children’s programs from Sept. 1, 2003 to March 1, 2004, and all adult programs not sponsored by a partnering group have been suspended since Sept. 1, 2003.”
Stern said the good news is that the governor is supporting an increase in funding for public libraries for fiscal year 2004-05. However, he said even with the proposed 10 percent increase in funding, libraries are still short 30 percent from their 2003-04 appropriation.
“If we do not continue to fully fund public libraries at the state level, many facilities could close their doors for good,” said Stern. “This would be a terrible loss for the entire state of Pennsylvania.
“I have and will continue to support increased library funding in the commonwealth,” he continued. “However, we also need to contribute individually and as a community to helping our public libraries. This can be done through monetary donations or by contacting your local public library to find out if they need volunteers or if they accept donated books or other material.
“It will take support from every level to keep our libraries open and growing.”
To contact the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library, call 684-1133. The Bellwood-Antis Public Library can be contacted at 742-8234.
