LANCASTER, PA, December 7, 2010: The Lancaster Public Library is urging patrons to protest Lancaster City Mayor Rick Gray’s proposed 2011 library funding cut from $100,000 to $50,000.
Due to prior state and municipal government reductions in funding, the Lancaster Public Library has made deep cuts in staff levels and reduced it hours of public service. If Mayor Gray’s proposal to drastically reduce library funding is passed, the library will be forced to institute severe cost reduction measures such as:
- Limiting Internet Computer Access
- Charging for Access to DVD Collections
- Imposition of fees for many library services and activities
- Reduced Adult and Children Programs
- Closing on Fridays
Since the residents of Lancaster City represent 40% (?) of the Library’s active users, they will be the most severely affected by these reductions in public library services.
This funding loss represents a cut of 75% of the City of Lancaster’s total “Community Involvement” budget reduction. City Council will discuss the proposed budget on December 11th from 12-5pm. The budget will be voted on at the December 14th City Council meeting.
The Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street Library, Leola Library Branch, and Mountville Area Library Branch) provides direct service to almost half of Lancaster County’s population of 480,000 while serving the rest of the county’s independent libraries with interlibrary loan and professional reference services.
The Duke Street Library is located at 125 North Duke Street, Lancaster. The library hours are Monday through Thursday, 10am to 8pm and Friday & Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For more information about the library please visit www.lancaster.lib.pa.us.
Because of no raises….and everything going up..I have made the library my source of escape and fun. I go often because it is a place where I can dream….While there, I see many people that are less fortunate that need a place especially now to go. Don’t take away something so valuable.
Lancaster City has narrowly avoided a tax increase in 2011 – for now. ANY additional expenses (such as an arbitration award) would guarantee higher real estate taxes; this includes restoring library funding. ALL Lancaster City departments are currently understaffed, some desperately so (like the fire department).
Eliminating the “Library System” (except for centralized Information Technology and the Bookmobile) would provide the Lancaster Public Library with more than enough funding to continue its current mission.
Instead of begging Lancaster City for a tax increase, the Lancaster Public Library should be heavily lobbying Harrisburg for its fair share of funding. After all, State unfunded mandates are the single biggest reason that local taxes are so high. Unfortunately, with an incoming governor and legislature sworn to slash State government spending, both Lancaster City and the Lancaster Public Library will soon be dealing with increasingly desperate funding issues.