Last-minute cut in current year's budget; branches will be named tomorrow; Library Journal, 3/17/10

Lynn Blumenstein, Library Journal; Last-minute cut in current year's budget; branches will be named tomorrow:

"Faced with cutting $2 million from its budget within the last three months of the current fiscal year, the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), NC, will lay off at least 140 employees, resulting in the closure of at least 12 out of 24 library locations, pending final library board approval.

While many libraries announce closures as an apparent act of brinksmanship, PLCMC, also known as Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, said that the timing of the cut means "it is no longer possible for the Library to defer lay-offs and location closings."It could get worse. For FY10-11, PLCMC was told to prepare for a huge "target reduction" of $17 million out of a $31 million budget, PLCMC spokesperson Cordelia Anderson told LJ, though she noted that such preliminary numbers are negotiable.

The library gets about 92% of its funding from Mecklenburg County. It was the 1995 Gale/LJ Library of the Year.

Meeting tomorrow

The library board will announce the specific branch closures after a March 18 meeting. They are to be determined by four factors, said Anderson—cost, usage, proximity to other branches, and size. [3/18 Update: the branches to close are Beatties Ford, Belmont, Carmel, CheckIt Outlet, Cornelius, Hickory Grove, Independence Regional, Mint Hill, Morrison Regional, Myers Park, Scaleybark, and Sugar Creek.]

The award-winning ImaginOn library, devoted to children and teen services, isn’t exempt, said Anderson. It is located one block away from the main library. There are 22 branches.

Layoffs, closures in April

Branches will close and staff will be laid off as of April 3, at 6 p.m. Leased facilities will shutter, as per individual lease agreement.

PLCMC will determine layoffs by its Reduction in Force policy. The criteria include job classification, job performance, and seniority. Decisions won’t be location-specific.

In addition to fewer locations, hours, and staff, patrons will be dealing with other budget impacts, including less frequent building maintenance, more limited technology resources, and longer wait times for books and other materials.

Speaking out

PLCMC has publicized ways for customers to voice their opinions and offer support, said Anderson. County commissioner contacts, a link on its home page to the ongoing budget process, and information on how to financially support PCMC are all part of its communication efforts.

Said Director Charles Brown, "The decision to cut library staff and close library locations was extremely difficult. We value the contributions of our exceptional library employees…. I’m heartbroken for what they face and for what we face as a community with the closure of almost 50% of our libraries…. These are difficult times. Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven’t seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression when it had to close its doors completely""

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6723200.html