By Devon Pettengill
for Altadenablog
The Altadena Library District receives 97% of its revenue from property
taxes assessed by Los Angeles County. The economic downturn has resulted
in the devaluation of local real estate, and therefore less tax revenue.
The county assessor notified the library that it should expect 3% less for
their budget than last year, requiring a $174,000 cut in
expenditures to make ends meet.
In order to meet the reduced revenue projections, the library will eliminate 97 part-time staff hours each week. Until now, the library's Sunday hours have been covered entirely by part-time staff. Hours at the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch, which is not open on weekends, will not change.
"The largest cost in any organization is personnel," said Library Director Barbara Pearson. The library let go of four part-time positions, and reduced the working hours of three remaining part-time positions. On-call hours have been cut completely.Pearson says the impact of the changes on staff morale have been mixed, but that ultimately the staff is willing to do anything they can to keep the library viable. "The bottom line is we're here for the public," says Pearson.
A fact sheet about recent changes at the library will be available to the public and included with books that are checked out in the coming weeks. The library has redesigned many of their procedures to be more efficient, Pearson said, and realigned personnel to make sure necessary operations and procedures such as passport services, inter-library loan, and the circulations desks are covered. Expenditures for book-buying, staff travel, and meetings have been reduced too.
The library is able to cover some costs with grants and donations. A Library Services and Technology Act grant was recently awarded to support an online homework program and has helped cover the majority of the library's electronic database expenses, such as the World Book online database for the children's section.
Pearson said that members of the community interested in helping the library in these tough times might consider joining Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization that supports the library with everything from book purchases to sponsorship of special events. The library gladly accepts cash gifts and donations, and those interested in volunteering are always welcome.
Pearson expressed gratitude for the generosity of Friends of the Library, and hopes that their generosity continues so that the library will be able to continue provide the current level of service.
Despite cutbacks, the library also hopes to provide assistance to local schools in the Pasadena Unified School District, which are facing the closure of their school libraries. The Altadena library already strives to have a presence in local schools by arranging visits from librarians who talk to students about the resources the library provides.
In order for the library to return to its previous hours and services, the economy would have to improve enough in the next few years to increase home values.
