Budget may eliminate three funding sources for local
branches
The San Benito County Free Library is bracing for potential cuts
to state funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Though a final state
budget has not yet been approved
– with Gov. Jerry Brown vetoing a budget submitted by
legislatures last week – the proposed budget in January called for
the elimination of all state funding for public libraries.
The cuts that have been proposed include $30.4 million to public
libraries across the state through the Public Library Fund,
Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy
and English Acquisition Service, all of which have funded San
Benito County Free Library in the past.
Budget may eliminate three funding sources for local branches
The San Benito County Free Library is bracing for potential cuts to state funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Though a final state budget has not yet been approved – with Gov. Jerry Brown vetoing a budget submitted by legislatures last week – the proposed budget in January called for the elimination of all state funding for public libraries.
The cuts that have been proposed include $30.4 million to public libraries across the state through the Public Library Fund, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service, all of which have funded San Benito County Free Library in the past.
San Benito County Librarian Nora Conte said last year the local library received around $19,000 from the Public Library Fund and $24,000 for California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service.
In addition to impacting the literacy program and other services, Conte said that if the state cuts transaction-based reimbursements it may be harder for the small library to borrow materials from other library systems. San Benito County Free Library is part of a larger cluster of library systems that allow people to request materials between different libraries.
Conte said though they only occasionally mail out materials, they do frequently request materials from other libraries. If those libraries no longer receive reimbursement from the state, they may not be able to provide the same service.
“We can’t afford to do sharing if we can’t get reimbursed,” Conte said. “We have a smaller collection so the opportunity (helps) to be able to select books through interlibrary loans.”
The transaction-based reimbursement from the state helped offset the cost of mailing books between library systems.
Conte described the San Benito County Free Library as offering “basic library services.”
“We are smaller than a bigger system, but we have similar services – just in miniature,” she said, adding that the book budget is limited because of the economy.
Conte did stress many of the services that the library does offer to residents, such as online databases with access to information on literature, history and science. They also have access to a program called Brainfuse, which can help with resumes or homework. Another program, Mango, offers language services. Residents can get access to the resources from computers at the library or online through the Library’s website.
The library offers onsite programming for residents such as story times, adult literacy tutoring and a summer reading program for kids and teens.
“Last year, we had 467 students in the summer reading program,” Conte said.
The program launched June 16, and will continue Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m., through July. Conte said that unlike other libraries, San Benito County Free Library does not have a large community room so the staff often has to break the activities into multiple areas so all the kids can participate.
On the opening of the summer reading program, people overflowed from the children’s area into the main part of the library, as a children’s choir sang to commemorate the start of the program.
In addition to programs at the library, Conte said the bookmobile visits many schools and public events in the community. Since some schools have cut funding for librarians, she said they are trying to fill the gap with visits by the bookmobile.
“I have seen more kids here,” Conte said. “It has to do with doing outreach to schools as well as the bookmobile. We’d like to continue to go out because there is no library service (at some schools.)”
Other funding for the library comes from the county general fund, Friends of the Library fundraising efforts and grants.
“We are approaching 30,000 cardholders and I believe we will probably get there in the next year,” Conte said.
She said that the library was able to get $117,000 in grants last year for such programs as early education outreach and emergent literacy.
“The county does not have these funds,” Conte said. “But we have to have the vitality to meet and provide services that the community expects and needs.”
The Friends of the Library recently received a $40,000 community development block grant to work with preschool children.
“We wanted to reach out to kids on the waiting list who were not able to go to preschool,” Conte said, adding that they worked in collaboration with First 5 San Benito, Go Kids, the Retired Teachers Association and the Si, Se Puede! Learning Center.
“The ABC Express works with parents and children,” Conte said. “The goal is to equip parents with the skills to work with children at home. They will be able to help build that foundation for the child.”
Using the mobile family learning center, the program has worked at the Si, Se Puede! Learning Center and will visit San Juan Bautista next.
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, the president of the California Library Association (CLA) and the director of the Whittier Public Library, condemned the cuts when they were first proposed, in a press release.
“The revelation … that Governor Brown is proposing to eliminate all $30 million in state funding for three of California’s most valuable public library programs …is both disastrous and disheartening,” she said in a press release.
Maghsoudi said that funding for libraries had already been cut 75 percent under the two previous administrations.
Conte stressed that the local library would continue to prepare for the cuts and to look for other sources of funding such as grants.
“I do not think libraries will fade away because freedom is here to stay and I don’t see that going away,” Conte said.
She also pointed out the way that a library can get returns on taxpayer dollars. As an example, she said that if the library purchases a book for $25, and it is checked out four times, it has saved $75 for residents in the community.
“This job is challenging, but it is rewarding,” Conte said.
“We’ve got to stay focused and continue to believe there is a way. We must keep library doors open. The doors of hope and opportunity – we must keep them open.”
