State Budget Concerns Result in Freeze of Materials
Purchases and Hiring at Williamsburg Regional Library
Actions taken in anticipation of drastic cuts in library support by the
Commonwealth
The Williamsburg Regional Library (WRL) this week took the unprecedented
step of freezing purchases of new books, videos and CDs and the further
hiring of staff. The actions were taken in the expectation that budget
cuts at the State level will drastically affect library programs locally
and throughout the Commonwealth. "These freezes are a prudent step in
light of the possible elimination of funding being considered in the program of State Aid to Public Libraries," said library director John A.
Moorman at the regularly scheduled meeting of the library's Board of Trustees on Wednesday.
State Aid to Public Libraries is an $18.8 million line item in the
Commonwealth's budget that has been in existence since 1942. Moorman
told the meeting of the library's Board of Trustees Wednesday that he has
received confirmation that state officials are considering significant
reduction or even elimination of the state aid program as part of the Governor's efforts to close the $1.5 billion and growing revenue
shortfall existing in the state budget.
Under the State Aid to Public Libraries program WRL receives $452,000,
which is more than 80% of its annual materials budget. This money is
used to buy books, periodicals, CDs and videos. The freeze announced
Wednesday means that the purchase of all videos, DVDs and music CDs that
have not already been ordered will be suspended. Most purchasing of books, books-on-tape and books-on-CD is also frozen.
"The actions necessitated by the State's proposed measures for balancing
the budget mean that popular works of fiction by authors like Patricia
Cornwell, Maeve Binchy and Tom Clancy, as well as non-fiction like the
next Stephen Ambrose title, may not find their way onto the shelves at
our library," said Mary Ann Brendel, Chair of the library's Board of Trustees. "People need to understand that these deliberations at the
State level have definite local impacts," she said. "We will not be able
to accommodate our patrons' requests for new materials purchases, and the
waiting lines for popular titles will get even longer than they are now,"
she said. "We understand that this situation is disappointing to library
patrons, but we hope they understand the need to take prudent budgetary
actions now rather than wait until we get further into the fiscal year."
The WRL fiscal year began in July. In anticipation of shortfalls in the
state's budget the library Board had previously reduced the library's materials budget 7% at their June meeting. "At the time we hoped that
this action would be enough to cover state reductions," said
Brendel. "We now understand that this process is going to be much worse than we
originally thought."
The library also froze hiring of staff until the state budget situation
is clarified. "We are taking these actions now in the hope that they
will mitigate the need for more drastic action when the Governor announces his budget decisions on October 15, when we will be well into
the second quarter of the fiscal year," Moorman said. "These freezes
will be in place until the library knows what level of state aid funding
it can expect." He said that other libraries he has spoken to throughout
the state are in even more dire straits over the state's anticipated actions. "We're not alone in feeling this pain. Entire programs at the
state level may also be wiped out," he told Board members.
The WRL Board of Trustees emphasized that these actions are intended to
protect the quality of the library's programs, avoid the need for layoffs
and reductions in hours of service. "We value the support we have received from our local funders - the City of Williamsburg, James City
and York counties - and our patrons," Brendel said. "We want them to
know that we are taking these actions now in order to preserve the level
of quality service our patrons have come to expect from their libraries."
The Williamsburg Regional Library system consists of the Williamsburg
Library, the James City County Library and a Bookmobile. Its service
area includes more than 49,000 patrons in the City of Williamsburg, James
City County, and York County. There are more than 335,000 items in the
library's print and non-print collection.
Editor's Note: The Williamsburg Regional Library Board of Trustees also
expressed their concerns in a letter to Governor Warner. This letter is
below.
September 26, 2002
The Honorable Mark R. Warner
Governor of Virginia
State Capitol, 3rd Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dear Governor Warner:
Since 1942, the Commonwealth of Virginia has provided state funding for
public libraries. This funding is declared by law to be a part of Virginia's "provision for public education". The Board of Trustees of the
Williamsburg Regional Library is deeply concerned that this funding is
now being considered for elimination due to Virginia's financial difficulties.
State aid to public libraries currently provides the Williamsburg
Regional Library with $452,350 per year. These funds account for 81% of
our budget for the purchase of materials for our collections as well as
informational databases. This funding is essential if we are to provide
requested materials and information critically needed by our community.
As the Commonwealth of Virginia acknowledged sixty years ago, public libraries play a central role in the education of our youth. Each day,
teachers refer students to us for the completion of classroom assignments. Teachers also incorporate the public library into their
curricula through library visits and the use of library staff to provide
educational enrichment. Public Libraries are the educational center, as
well, for the thousands of Virginia children who are home schooled.
An educated citizenry is necessary if Virginia is to be competitive with
other regions and states for the business and industry essential to economic growth and stability. A viable public library system is
fundamental to the success of public education and state aid to public
libraries is an essential part of the funding mix that makes this viability possible.
We realize that the Commonwealth of Virginia is in severe financial difficulty. We have supported, and will continue to support, your call
for shared budget sacrifices. However, we see no justifiable reason for
public libraries to be singled out for a disproportionate cut in a program of major importance to our institutions and the educational life
of the Commonwealth. We willingly accepted the seven and eight percent
cuts you proposed at the 2002 Session for state programs, and we continue
to be willing to contribute our fair share to address the Commonwealth's
budget challenges. This fair share should be cuts in proportion to those
that you impose on elementary and secondary education.
Sincerely,
/s/Mary Ann Brendel
Chair
Board of Trustees
