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September 13, 2008
L.A. PARKER COLUMN: We shall overcome this library crisis - someday
By L.A. PARKER 09/13/2008
OK. Everybody take a deep breath before the entire city suffers hyperventilation.
First, let's take care of one major issue regarding a potential closing of four of the five city library branches.
This is a suggestion and by no means serves as a directive to Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer or any other high ranking city official: Release the library system from the 10 percent department reduction requirement that's been enacted to ease the expected multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
Such a decision would save library Director Kimberly Bray $350,000, which would reduce a current deficit of approximately $900,000 to $550,000 (chump change).
While Palmer assures Trenton faces a budget crisis of doomsday proportions unless the Large Hadron Collider puts an end to life first, there is no way in this world of Trenton that he will stand by and let even one library branch shut down.
Libraries represent a lifeline between education, offer refuge for children, provide meeting places for community groups, give senior citizens a place to remain active.
Any day now, the hope here is that Palmer stands up and says "We've got some difficult times ahead, but I promise you that we will never close a city library."
Talk about an opportunity to show some chutzpah, this is when Palmer could seize his moment in time and leave another indelible mark on city history before he retires from local politics.
Bray should disintegrate alternative plans for partial openings of libraries because city residents will not accept that either.
By the way, Ms. Bray is pretty smart and played this closing card with an understanding that any suggestion of library closings would produce a revolution and a fight not seen in Trenton since Gen. George Washington and his troops beat up a Hessian corps near Assunpink Creek.
You can read about Trenton's role in the American Revolution at Skelton, Briggs, Cadwalader and East Trenton library branches.
Bray and the library board must realize by now that serious problems exist within their organization.
The Trenton library system received approximately $3.5 million in city funds last year but is almost $1 million in arrears.
On face value such a deficit seems like mismanagement, but that can be determined only if City Council is allowed an intervention here.
If the library system receives $3.5 million of the city's money then somebody in Trenton should watch every penny.
Residents should not wake up one day in September to discover that four library branches are expected to close on Nov. 1.
If recollection serves me correctly, several members of the Trenton library system appeared before City Council last year and discussed fundraising initiatives.
Nothing.
Then Ms. Bray made her first appearance at City Council, but her visit served only as an introduction.
Maybe Charles Gibson could get Bray to sit for an interview, convince the darling librarian to discuss global warming.
Whoops! My mental state just switched to Sarah Palin for a brief moment.
So how does the city library system survive? With fundraisers, community support, political pulled strings and $3.5 million in city funding.
While New Jersey suffers its own fiscal mess, Gov. Jon Corzine must understand that his administration cannot abandon urban areas.
Trenton needs every library open offering refuge, research answers, Internet access, lectures, books, etc.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian award-winning columnist and reporter. His column appears on Thursday and Saturday. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.
Posted by tumulty at September 13, 2008 4:23 PM
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