Price of Service Cuts: One Allentown Library Closes, More Cuts Expected at Other Branch
August 20, 2009
Deep cuts to public services are being considered in Harrisburg as lawmakers and the Governor work to resolve the budget crisis. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) is tracking news reports on the potential impact of these service cuts, as well as the impact of the state's budget impasse on local communities across Pennsylvania.
Today, we look at a report about the south branch of the Allentown Library, which is scheduled to close indefinitely August 28, 2009 due to anticipated cuts in the state budget.
Under a House of Representatives plan, House Bill 1943, the state's support for libraries is cut by one-third, from $75.5 million to $50 million. Senate Bill 850 goes further, cutting the state funding for libraries in half from 2008-09 levels. These proposed cuts are coming at a time where more Pennsylvanians are relying on public libraries as an important educational resource, not only for books and current reference materials, but also for computer and online access.
More information about how proposed cuts will hurt Pennsylvanians can be found at PBPC's 30 Ways in 30 Days Service Cuts Will Hurt Pennsylvanians, which examines proposed cuts to public education, college costs, hospitals, children's health care, senior services, state police patrols, and agricultural programs, among other areas. Read more stories in PBPC's Price of Service Cuts series.
Read the WMFZ 69News article below.
Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Force Library To Close Branch
By WMFZ 69News
August 20, 2009
http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1253506
The Allentown Public Library says cuts in the Pennsylvania budget will force it to close its south branch on West Emmaus Avenue indefinitely next Friday. The library, which has only one other location, says it stands to lose 40%, or $345,000, of its state funding. Officials say that equals 14% of its operating budget.
The library says its board and senior staff decided closing the south branch was the least disruptive of the options it had to balance the budget. The library says it's also left many positions unfilled, has not raised salaries, and has cut other spending.
"More reductions will be inevitable if the state budget situation is not resolved soon," said library board president Don Bernhard. "The board is considering the possibility of employee layoffs or closing the library on certain days. We hope these actions are not necessary."
The library's other location is at 1210 Hamilton Street.
Read more stories in PBPC's Price of Service Cuts series.
