Libraries officials across the commonwealth are pulling at their hairs as they read Governor Ed Rendell’s budget.
With the governor’s signature on Thursday, all state funding for libraries across Pennsylvania will be cut 50 percent – totally devastating for a library that has embarked on a $625,000 building project.
“This could not come at a worse time for Tyrone-Snyder Public Library,” said Chuck Banas, director of public relations and publicity for the library. “Not only are we clawing at every piece possible to get into the new building and raise funds, but now, we’re facing a possible 50-percent cut in funding used to operate the facility. It could be a tragedy.”
Last year, the library used an operating budget of $146,845 to keep the library in full motion with all its programming. Approximately one-third of that, or $49,832, was supplied by the state. The other percentage is gained through local municipalities, fundraising organizations and fundraisers themselves.
According to Lynne Nearhoof, the problems the library will face if this proposed budget is passed, are immense. These include staff cuts, limited library hours and cuts for purchases of new materials. She said government sponsored programs, such as PA Power Library, Access Pa and the Family Literacy Annual Grant, used for the Summer Reading Program, have already been slashed from the budget.
“The problem here is that we have to go into our campaign for operating expenses in May,” said Lynne Nearhoof, director of the library, noting the cuts would not directly effect the building project because state-funding is mandated for operational expenses and programming. “We have already been canvassing the town for the building project, so we’re concerned and wondering if people will be able to give both times. We just don’t know what’s going to happen there.”
Nearhoof said the scene was different for the past three years with Tom Ridge in the governor’s chair.
She explained that Ridge gave libraries a “great infusion of money” after a Philadelphia Inquirer journalist did an extensive piece on the state of the Pennsylvania library system compared to that of other states. The results were staggering.
“What the writer found was that we ranked near the bottom in almost all the categories he investigated,” said Nearhoof. “When Ridge saw this, he decided it was time to get the Pennsylvania system up to higher standards.”
She said Ridge gave libraries a three-year plan.
“At the same time, he gave us money and put restrictions on it so it would be used properly,” said Nearhoof. “He made all the libraries increase their hours of operations. We went from 40 hours a week to 47.
“He also insisted that we had to hire additional staff,” she continued, “so we added two part-timers.”
Nearhoof said Ridge also required libraries who received an increase in funding each year, to increase the number of books and material available to the public by five percent over what was spent the previous year.
“So all that allowed us to keep on growing,” said Nearhoof.
But now, officials must wait until a decision is made on the budget before deciding what to do next. Most are hoping the 50 percent cut is reduced to a smaller percentage.
“Tuesday, this is all going to be looked at again,” said Nearhoof. “Nobody thinks it’s going to stay at 50 percent. We’re just waiting to see how it shakes down. Even if it’s ten percent, it’s still going to be hard for us.”
Nearhoof said the state Library Association, which oversees all public-funded libraries in the state, feels Gov. Rendell is pro-library because of his efforts in the Philadelphia system. She said that although he did not get them money, he did help them overcome their roadblocks.
In a letter over the signatures of District Center Libraries Executive Director Deborah A. Weakland and District Consultant Amy M. Horell and addressed to Rep. Larry O. Sather, it states that Rendell’s proposed budget “would cripple those entities that have empowered your constituents in many ways.”
The letter states that services provided by the libraries include tools for job searching and educational research tools, Internet access, literacy programs, story hours for children, interlibrary loans and personalized reference service would be effected.
“Public libraries play an integral role in the education of our youth,” the letter reads. “Pennsylvania public libraries have become increasingly important places (and sometimes the only places available) where ever-growing numbers of your constituents come to change their own lives.”
In an effort to curtail Rendell’s proposed budget cuts, libraries and the PLA have embarked on a letter-writing mission asking the governor to veto the budget, and asking state representatives and state senators to support the local constituents’ desire to keep the libraries operating full steam ahead.
Postcard-sized letters, like the one accompanying this article, are available at the library. Nearhoof said those interested in showing their support can stop by the library and fill out the card.
“We are sending them out everyday now,” said Nearhoof. “People can also pick them up and take them home to fill out and send on their own.”
The postcards will be mailed to Gov. Rendell at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120; Hon. Robert Jubelirer, 535 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120; and Hon. Jerry A. Stern, 210 Ryan Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020.
