The Minneapolis Public Library will incur an expected $1.5 million
loss to its requested operating budget next year as a result of the City
limiting the overall tax levy increase. This funding gap--coupled with the
rising costs of books and other materials, utilities, salaries, and employee
health coverage--means that the Library Board will not be able to maintain
services at current levels.
The Board has reviewed a variety of options to make up the budget
shortfall while assuring that changes are equitable throughout the city. The
Board aims to continue to provide first-rate library service in as many
locations and for as many hours per week as possible given the financial
realities. In October the Library Board hosted a series of meetings to
inform the public about the impact of potential service reductions in 2003.
Feedback from these meetings was used to help shape decisions on the
specific steps to take in order to balance the budget.
Over the past several months the Library Board has sought to
identify and enact changes that will have the least disruptive effect on
library services. Therefore, the following measures will be recommended for
Library Board approval on November 20 (estimated savings noted in
parentheses).
-Continue to leave vacant 18 staff positions in the Central Library,
Technical Services, and Buildings (equal to 5% of the total staff).
Vacancies in Community Libraries would be filled, as would positions that
are necessary to operate the Library system. ($830,000)
-Reduce hours of public service at four large libraries by 12 hour per week.
East Lake, North Regional, and Walker would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues,
Wed, Fri, Sat 10 am-6pm; Sun (Sept-May) 1-5 pm (reduced from 64 to 52 hours
per week). Washburn would be open Mon, Thurs 1-9 pm; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10
am-6 pm (reduced from 60 to 48 hours per week). ($300,000)
-Adopt a schedule for Central Library Marquette of 9 am-6 pm Mon-Fri and 10
am-6 pm Sat (but offer InfoLine telephone reference service beginning at 8
am Mon-Fri). ($130,000)
-Close all libraries on three additional holidays (President's Day 2/17;
Columbus Day 10/13; Veterans Day 11/11) and close the Saturdays before
Memorial Day and Labor Day (5/24 and 8/31) and the Saturday following
Independence Day (7/5). Staff will use vacation time as available or will
take leave without pay. ($80,000)
-Close all libraries for a one week period, during which time staff would
use vacation time as available or will take leave without pay.
($80,000-$100,000, pending further study)
-Move the cost of the Franklin Library roof repair/rebuilding to capital
funds instead of operating funds. ($80,000)
The 2003 operating budget shortfall does not relate to the
referendum funds approved by voters in November 2000, providing $110 million
toward the new Central Library and $30 million for a decade of community
library improvements. Referendum funds may be expended only on library
building projects, not operations.
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
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Kristi Gibson
Public Affairs
Minneapolis Public Library
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