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July 1, 2010

Library officials in Plainfield fear looming budget cuts

Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 6:17 AM
Jeremy Walsh/For The Star Ledger
nj.com
PLAINFIELD — With drastic cuts to Plainfield’s public library looming as the mayor tightens the city’s budget, a recent agreement in Trenton to restore much of the state library funding will have little impact, library officials said.

“We’re still in pretty dire shape, because unless the city restores our funding, that stuff from the state’s not going to matter,” said Mary Ellen Rogan, Plainfield library’s assistant director. “Because we’re not going to be able to keep our doors open.”

State legislators have restored $4.3 million of library money that had been cut from the upcoming state budget, but Rogan said this would only bring back the Plainfield facility’s interlibrary loan program and other secondary services.

Last week, library director Joseph Da Rold turned to the city council to preserve municipal funding he believes Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs is planning to cut in next year’s budget.

Da Rold said he was told in a meeting with city administrator Bibi Taylor that the library would get $1.2 million, down from $1.5 million this year. It would be forced to lay off 12 of its 19 full-time employees and six of its 12 part-time workers and close Mondays. It would also end the library’s volunteer, local history and literacy programs.

“There is a movement afoot to disenfranchise the library from the city government,” Da Rold said. “This goes against 130 years of a relationship with the city and the library.”

Da Rold is requesting $1.9 million to stem the layoffs and add library hours on one additional evening and on Saturdays.

Taylor and Robinson-Briggs did not return phone calls, but the city will likely face a difficult budget year with municipal aid from the state expected to be reduced by $1.5 million.

The council passed a $72 million budget for the current fiscal year in February. The new fiscal year begins July 1, but the council does not anticipate introducing a budget for several months.
Council president Annie McWilliams said the governing body would discuss the issue with the administration.

Last year the library’s one branch lent materials to 17,563 people, including 5,500 children. Library users borrowed 126,000 items — 33,000 more than were borrowed in 2008.
Plainfield resident Marion Fowler, who said she volunteered for several months at the library, defended the library at the council meeting.

“To take this away from the community would be really very devastating,” she said. “The library is a necessity. Some of our children do not get everything they need at home or at school.”

Posted by tumulty at July 1, 2010 6:57 AM

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