Metro Libraries Eliminate Sunday Branch Hours
Alternative content
Metro Libraries' Cuts
The Columbus Metro Library system decides on steps to balance its budget.
NBC 4
The Columbus Metropolitan Library system’s board of trustees take action to make up a 31 percent reduction in state funding.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The city’s library system met Wednesday in an effort to balance its budget after the Ohio budget slashed library funding by 31 percent.
NBC 4’s Tom Brockman reported with the FAST FACTS.
The Columbus Metropolitan Library system’s board of trustees met at the Main Library to discuss how to make up a 31 percent reduction in state funding.
That translates to an $8.5 million cut in annual funds.
The board decided to take the follow actions:
1. Cuts to the workforce will save around $3 million:
- That includes the elimination of 60 vacant positions (on top of 100 eliminated in last five years)
- Implementation of a 10 percent reduction in hours for hourly workers
- Five percent pay cut for other employees
- A pay freeze will be implemented through 2010
2. The trustees also agreed to use some $2.6 million from the capital projects fund for operational needs, which will put some maintenance projects on hold or cancels them all together.
3. Sunday operating hours will be eliminated at its 20 branches. Those employees will be offered opportunities elsewhere. That move will save some $450,000. The Main Library at 96 S. Grant Ave. will operate from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
4. The trustees also reduced annual operating hours by 18 percent. The alternative was closing six or seven regional branches.
“The staff is going to feel some compromises—taking pay cuts—and I think the biggest compromise is really to the community,” board President Amy Milbourne said.
No library system employees will lose their jobs, and no branches will close.
The changes will take effect Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009.
Go to http://www.columbuslibrary.org/ for more information.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail
.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
It will never cease to amaze me of how our government fails to take care of us Americans (especially the children of our future), yet manages to attempt to educate, give monies/businesses and save every immigrant that reaches our soil. And they wonder why the crime rates are on the rise and Americans are out here losing thier minds.
Gov Strickland has cut so many programs for the disabled, elderly etc..it shouldnt surprise anyone that he doesnt care about the library system. (Regardless that they are #1) As to the comment that the library is out-dated…should we forget how to use a pencil and paper cause we now have keyboards? Its that attitude that makes me cringe when this new generation isn’t able to count back change without a calculator.
The Columbus Metro Library does not get any money from the City of Columbus, or any other city in Franklin County. As Pete noted, contact the state legislators, as their money comes from the state of Ohio.
CC Rider—Both Hilliard and New Albany are part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library system so they will also be closed on Sundays starting in September… I completely agree with you that the city and the state have both been mis-managing money for years! I just don’t understand how the people in the community can think it’s possible to keep adding greater services and greater programs without ever increasing taxes. It just isn’t possible.
While CC may be disappointed with the performance of Columbus’ Mayor Coleman, it is her state legislators she should be directing her ire toward as they are responsible for the library budget cuts. The CML system is the best in the country and we all lose as a result of these reductions. Our advocacy prior to the budget being passed was a great act of civil responsibility. If the library system is important to you continue to let your state legislators know that you want those funds restored in future state budget approval!
You can thank Mayor Coleman for running the city budget into the ground. You can also thank the Columbus citizens who keep electing this worthless fool!!! All you’ve done now by closing the librarys is overburden the library’s of other cities like Upper Arlington, Hilliard, New Albany, etc.. Can’t wait to see how our librarys in UA become overcrowdeed due to this situation. Next time Columbus citizens vote you may want to remember how Coleman is running us into the ground!!!
I’m very saddened by these cuts. Not only because I am the mother of a small child who loves the library, but I am also the wife of a library employee. I believe they made the right choice in not doing lay offs, however it is going to be very hard for my family to maintain our everyday life.
And from what I understand, they chose not to increase fees and create more fees for things, for the fact that they have a levy coming up, and don’t want that to have an impact on the outcome of it.
I wish the best for all of the other families out there who are dealing with this, not only as patrons, but also significant others and children of these workers who are seeing a pay decrease and hours cut.
Start charging for video “rental”. In recent years the libraries have become a free alternative to Blockbuster.
A modest fee for a library card would be reasonable. A 20 oz bottle of Coke costs $1 and a mobile phone more than $1 a day so don’t tell me the poor people won’t be able to pay for a library card. Everything can’t be “free” via being supported by the taxpayers.
I don’t agree with the assessment that business are open on Sunday for greedy purposes. You wouldn’t say that about a Bible Study or other not-for profit organization that operates on a Sunday. That’s a very judgemental and somewhat old-fashioned train of thought. Just because a business is open on Sundays, you’re assuming the people taking advantage of this isn’t spending time with their familes? As for the workers, not everyone works Monday-Friday. You’re making a judgement call based off of what exactly? Your own opinion? Ridiculous.
As for the library, the weekends are a very important time for the library to be open. I was once in high school and spent a great deal of time there on the weekends doing homework; heck I have a master’s now and I still spend time there. I do not think eliminating reference materials are a good idea. While they can be found online, many schools are STILL not accepting online references as crediable references. Plus, there needs to be a back up in case the power goes out or the computers are all in use, etc. I’m saddened to see the cuts in the library system. I know it’s necessary, but it is still a shame.
Here are other ideas that libraries can use to increase their revenue:
Close on Monday as well. Be open Tuesday through Saturday
Have their PC lab/area be sponsored by say “DELL” or “Microsoft” Apple, etc and have them provide free computers. The Columbus City library computer lab sponsered by “name of sponser” have them pay for naming rights, etc
Charge for checking out books ( small fee), increase late charges, lost library cards, use of pc, etc.
Eliminate all Reference material. Most reference material can be found on the PC or online.
Charge for printing of anything off the pc
Work with publishers to see if they would provide free books (if not already)
We have to start changing our way of thinking and really demand from government efficiencies and self-supporting programs that can operate within the realm of the public good.
While I think libraries are good, they really have outlived there usefulness in todays world of online instant access to material.
Advertisement