Salaries to be reduced, fines to be increased.
Deputy Director Tracy Strobel talks with WTAM's Darren Toms
(Cleveland) – Your Cuyahoga County Public Library fines could be doubling. That’s just one recommendation to address a 31% cut in state funding for Ohio’s libraries.
The Board of Trustees of Cuyahoga County Public Library held a Special Meeting Thursday to discuss expenditure reductions.
Board members were informed about reduced budget estimates for 2009 and 2010 which amount to more than $14 million. Library Executive Director Sari Feldman presented the Board with a list of cost-saving recommendations in addition to those she presented at the June 23rd meeting.
The additional reductions include approximately $4 million in salary/benefits, $4.3 million in operational expenses and $2.2 million in the materials budget which includes purchase of books, DVDs, subscription databases, etc.
Feldman also recommended year-round Sunday hours be limited to seven branch locations beginning the Sunday after Labor Day through 2010. Over the next two weeks, a decision will be made about which seven branches will remain open on Sundays.
The Library has offered a one-time resignation/retirement incentive for employees with ten years or more of service to Cuyahoga County Public Library. Other salary/benefit cost reductions will come from the elimination of positions in managerial, confidential and bargaining unit ranks. These positions will be announced in the next two weeks.
“These additional cost-saving measures will allow us to continue providing excellent library services to our generous tax-paying public while acknowledging the need to balance the budget through staff reductions and other operational budget cuts. As our revenue continues to decline in 2010, additional measures will be considered,” said Feldman.
Beyond cost-saving measures, Feldman recommended to the Board that daily overdue fines on materials be increased from $.05 to $.10, and that the fine cap per item be increased from $5.00 to $10.00. Both of these measures would begin on September 1, 2009.
“The current economic reality requires us to reinvent Cuyahoga County Public Library and allow us to fulfill the Library’s mission to provide an environment where reading, lifelong learning and civic engagement thrive,” she concluded.
(Copyright © 2009 Clear Channel. All rights reserved.)
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