Jefferson County Public Library, CO, Prepares for "Perfect Storm"
Norman Oder
Aug 31, 2010
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/886567-264/jefferson_county_public_library_co.html.csp
The Jefferson County Public Library has been planning on having cutbacks of around 12%, about $3 million within the next 2 years. This is being thought about even after they have been cutback $2 million this year already. The Libraries board has proposed the following: closing the library on Mondays, getting rid of 22,650 temporary staff hours, cutting the materials budget by about $300,000, and suspending employee merit increases for the second straight year. Earlier this year when they were already cutback by about $2 million, they were still able to get by without changing too much around. However with the new cutbacks coming up they may be in store for some major changes. As for the following year they anticipate that they will have a reduction in their revenue with things such as: charitable donations and support, interest income, and county taxes. Along with an increase in cost for employee benefits, totaling $1.5 million. As of now the future is not looking so bright, and as for the county's decision they must approve the budget before December. But in the mean time the library will hold community meeting to solicit input as well as address public concerns.
I can't see why the libraries have hard times with their budgets like they do, even though they still receive quit a lot of money. I know the economy isn't the best but a library is a place of information and knowledge, it should be a place that anyone can go to at any time for any questions they may have. I am curious as to how all of this will play out. I am also aware of the fact that times are changing and that most information is found on the internet, but if we begin to have "poor" libraries then what about all of the people that have no access to internet? Where would their information come from? I do think that it is an important issue once public libraries start to have trouble. I think that libraries are a place of information for society and as such should never have to worry about cutbacks or even cutting down on their materials.
