The Minneapolis Public Library Board will hold a series of meetings in October to inform the public of potential service reductions due to an expected $1.5 million loss to the library's 2003 operating budget. In limiting the overall levy increase to 8%, the City has set the library's 2003 budget at the same amount as 2002. This amount is not adequate to maintain library service at current levels (due to increases in health insurance premiums, negotiated salary increases, and increased cost of books and other materials as well as utilities).
Therefore, the Library Board will need to enact one or more of the following service reductions for 2003: - Close one or more community libraries permanently - Close Central Library all evenings and close 10 medium and small libraries all Mondays (savings in utility costs and staffing) - Do not fill current staff vacancies (4% of workforce) - Close all libraries the last week in August and the first week in September (staff with vacation balances could use vacation time, others would be on leave without pay) - Reduce the collections budget by 4% - Eliminate Sunday hours at 2 libraries or all 4 libraries - Cut Buildings staff overtime - Eliminate interim operations for Franklin Community Library - Eliminate interim operations for Sumner Community Library - Close Pierre Bottineau Library until new building opens - Miscellaneous other reductions The City Council's Ways and Means Committee will hold a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8 in Council Chambers, 317 City Hall, to hear public comments on the proposed budget. The Library Board's public meetings will be held as follows: - Thursday, October 10, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2511 Taylor St. NE (Lowry and Taylor) - Saturday, October 12, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Washburn Community Library, 5244 Lyndale Ave. S., 612-630-6500 - Monday, October 21, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at East Lake Community Library, 2727 E. Lake St., 612-630-6550 The 2003 operating budget shortfall does not affect the Referendum funds approved by voters in November 2000. The Referendum provides $110 million toward the new Central Library, opening in 2006, and $30 million for a decade of community library improvements. Public comments, suggestions, or questions are always welcome. Options include: - fill out a comment form available at any Minneapolis Public Library - leave a message on the Library comment line at 612-630-6263 (or 630-6003 TTY) - submit online at www.mplib.org/suggest.asp - send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - write to Minneapolis Public Library, 250 Marquette, Suite 400, Mpls., MN 55401 Kristi Gibson Public Affairs Minneapolis Public Library _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
