This from an article in the USA Today. It is a sad day when the knowledge acquired from books found in libraries has come to this point in our society.
“Libraries rely on public dollars, and we know there are less public dollars,” says Sari Feldman, vice president of the Public Library Association and executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio.
• Troy, N.Y., is closing two of three branches today because the budget has been cut 16% to $669,000 this year, says Paul Hicok, executive director of the Troy Public Library. Its circulation of borrowed materials increased 16% last year.
• Muncie, Ind., is closing three of five branches, says library director Ginny Nilles. Its $4.8 million annual budget is facing a cut of $2 million over two years. Circulation increased 7% last year.
• In Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter planned to close 11 of the city’s 54 libraries this month to save $8 million, but a judge ruled he did not have the authority. Nutter is appealing. The branches remain open, but their hours will be reduced.
• Phoenix faces a 27% cut in its $40.6 million budget that would reduce hours at its 15 branches from 72 hours a week to 48 and eliminate some children and adult reading programs, says city librarian Toni Garvey. The number of visitors increased 8% in 2008.
• Darby, Pa., expects to close its only library — the oldest continuously operating free public library in Pennsylvania and believed to be the oldest in the nation — next year.
Cities are making tough choices, says Chris Hoene, director of policy and research at the National League of Cities. As people lose income or curb spending, income tax and sales tax revenue falls. Local officials must choose between core services, such as police and fire protection, and services such as libraries and parks.
“Obviously, when push comes to shove,” he says, city governments facing budget cuts “will protect city services considered more vital to the safety of the community.”
It is true that more people are getting their information from the internet, whgich is great, but not everyone has the access to the internet. Now that brings up another post (later) about a promise from Obama about a universal broadband access for the US.