https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Economy


Library funding cuts write new chapter

Library funding cuts write new chapter

An adventure story of marketing and fundraising
  • Written by Jennifer Grzeskowiak
  • 1st March 2005

Called the “great information equalizers,” public libraries help residents find jobs, teach literacy and English as a second language classes, and offer outreach programs to children and teens. In spite of the broad range of services, libraries have suffered funding cuts within the last 18 months that have exceeded $111 million and threatened services nationwide, according to the Chicago-based American Library Association (ALA). To keep their books and doors open, libraries are promoting their services and asking residents to dig deep into their pockets to help cover costs.

“The most important thing is making sure that your community is aware of the library and what the library can do,” says Carol Brey-Casiano, president of ALA and director of the El Paso, Texas, Public Library. “Typically we find there’s strong support, but people don’t know how to show it.”

For the Stark County, Ohio, Library District (SCLD), paring down branch hours, purchasing fewer new books and letting vacant staff positions remain unfilled were not enough to offset the more than 5 percent, or $800,000, reduction in its annual operating budget over the past four years. In 2003 and 2004, two tax measures, which would have provided additional sources of funding, were rejected by voters.

Instead of closing branches, SCLD fought back with a public education campaign promoting a one-mill tax levy on the November 2004 ballot. The $70,000 campaign was paid for by Vote Libraries, a local group supported by donations and fund raisers. “The ability to provide media and print information and explain the reasons for the levy made a real difference,” says Kent Oliver, SCLD library director.

The levy passed by a 57 percent vote and guarantees the library $4.7 million annually for the next five years. In January, SCLD significantly increased its hours for the first time in 10 years.

In Downers Grove, Ill., a Chicago suburb with 48,724 residents, the public library has learned the value of marketing itself. In 1997, the library, located in the central business district, needed $8 million for a crucial building project. Downers Grove had just completed a parking study in the business district to determine which area locations were generating the most traffic. Armed with the statistic that the library was the No. 1 destination, Library Director Christopher Bowen approached the Chamber of Commerce. “All of a sudden, we had huge support from the merchants for a building project, as long as we stayed in the area,” he says. An $8 million library referendum passed in the spring of 1997.

Since then, Downers Grove library has hosted events to raise more money and awareness. The library’s annual auction, for instance, has raised more than $20,000 in the past two years and has become a social event for the suburb. Because downtown merchants are heavily involved in the fund raiser, the library is adding resources and hosting a series of speakers targeting small-business owners, an investment Bowen hopes will pay off in donations when those businesses become more established. Additionally, the library has raised more than $100,000 by selling inscribed bricks for a garden walkway and has set up an area on its Web site for patron credit card donations.

Libraries across the nation have expressed reluctance and a lack of education regarding fund raising and asking residents for assistance. As president of ALA, Brey-Casiano’s initiative for the year is establishing a grass roots network to help libraries mobilize support within their communities. “I think ultimately the community has to take the responsibility for some of the library’s funding,” she says. In short, communities can either help pay for libraries now or suffer later when funding cuts spell the end of library services.

Library bookkeeping notes

  • Libraries serve more than two-thirds of the public with less than 2 percent of tax dollars.

  • Thirty-seven percent of library computer users earning less than $15,000 per year say their only access to the Internet is at the public library.

  • Eighty-eight percent of libraries in communities with less than 1,000 residents have budgets of less than $21,000. In those communities, 42 percent of residents live below the poverty line.

  • President Bush’s proposed FY06 budget includes $221 million for library programs at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a $15 million increase over the previous year.

SOURCES: American Library Association, February 2005; University of Washington, October 2002, “People from Low-Income Families Disproportionately Use Library Computers;” University of Washington, January 2003, “The Impact of Public Access Computing on Rural and Small Town Libraries.”

Tags: Economy

Related


  • Revenue realities for state and local governments in the time of Coronavirus
    The number of citizens a governmental entity is able to serve directly correlates with revenues collected. The economic impact of COVID-19 on state and local government revenue sources may end up being a much more prolonged issue than originally expected. The first revenue impact to state and local governments was, and continues to be, related […]
  • American City & County’s 2020 Crown Communities Awards
    Projects nominated for American City & County's annual Crown Communities Awards are judged on uniqueness, short- and long-term value to the community and effective/innovative financing.
  • Bridging the digital divide by fostering digital inclusion and economic recovery
    The benefits of bridging the digital divide go beyond social responsibility. There are distinct economic returns attached to getting the unconnected online.
  • Are you letting your CARES Act funding go to waste?
    To any grant or public procurement professional in local government, Dec. 30 may seem like an impossible sprint to the finish line. According to the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Grant Guidance, any governments receiving CARES Act funding, specifically those under the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), must ensure those are incurred before that day. […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How local governments designate tax-exempt bonds and tax benefits for affordable housing
  • How 2020 accelerated government reliance on new sources of economic data analytics
  • Report: Many governments facing revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19
  • Federal coronavirus aid stalled, local government leaders dismayed

White papers


Discover How Public Sector Officials are Monitoring and Managing Overtime in This New White Paper

22nd February 2021

How to Assemble a Successful Government Grant Proposal

5th February 2021

The Rise of Procurement’s Next Normal

5th February 2021
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

American City & County’s 2020 Exemplary Public Servant of the Year Award dlvr.it/RtZbX2

26th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

American City & County’s 2020 Crown Communities Awards dlvr.it/RtZbVz

26th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

2020 Crown Communities Awards winner: Rock Hill, S.C.’s My Ride dlvr.it/RtZSFp

26th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Three communities hosting Augmented Reality Developer Challenge competitions dlvr.it/RtZ94D

26th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Using data to improve emergency response resources dlvr.it/RtVSc0

25th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

How small cities are tackling lead service line replacement dlvr.it/RtV9G8

25th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

COVID-19 and pivoting into a new year: It may be 2021, but did we really leave 2020? dlvr.it/RtQRcr

24th February 2021
AmerCityCounty

Six tips for making sure your dispatch is doing all the right moves dlvr.it/RtQBvl

24th February 2021

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X