PATERSON'S DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN GUTS LIBRARIES

 (These opinions are authored by Ove Overmyer and do not reflect the message of CSEA, INC. or the Rochester Public Library.)


photo by Ove Overmyer

Albany, N.Y. --  After months of press reports demonstrating and lauding increased library use around the state and highlighting the critical role that New York libraries play in helping hundreds of thousands of taxpayers deal with today’s economic challenges, the final “Deficit Reduction Plan” read the Governor's press release included a whopping 12.5 percent cut in the remaining library state aid programs for this year.

Many public employees who are represented by CSEA work in library settings, including Local 828 MCC Unit 7402, Town of Irondequoit Library Workers and City of Rochester Library Workers Unit 7420.  Understandably, we are very concerned about the wellness of our members and our library systems. 

These midyear cuts mean just under 5 percent of this year’s State Aid to the Libraries budget will never reach their intended goal.  Over twenty months time, library aid support has been reduced from $102 million to $80 million -- now equal to funding support in 1998.

The cuts will total about $4.1 million throughout the state, said New York Library Association Executive Director Michael J. Borges. He said that during the past 20 months, the state library budget has been cut by $25 million.

The 12.5 percent reduction was part of across-the-board cuts to a wide range of local assistance programs including social services, health care, aging, mental hygiene, transit and higher education.

While libraries were not singled out for these cuts, their impact on the greater community is substantial and for some, devastating to our members and patrons.  While we know there are many points of view on the matter, it should be noted that some lawmakers believe that these cuts were necessary to avoid raising taxes and fees and will result in saving jobs as well as “reforming government.”  We have a message for them.  There is no way you can reduce a state library budget by 12.5 percent without local communities suffering in the short term.

This happenstance will only create more work with less resources to handle the crisis facing libraries across New York State.  Let's turn our concerns into action.  Communicate with your legislators.  Tell them your stories.  Be sure that your patrons, friends and family know of the impact of these funding cuts will have on the quality of your life.

Rather than closing library doors, it has been suggested that something more radical, but in keeping with our commitment to our mission and our exceptional reputation for service-- libraries might be turning our lights and computers off for a day and remain open to the public.  Do you think this might get the attention of the general public? 

Will libraries ever become the priority and mandated investment that the citizens of this great state demand?  Just ask someone on unemployment insurance or the single mother trying to educate her kids.  Why is it that the neediest in our community always take it on the chin?

We need to educate our local and state officials about our library programs and how our members work loads and livelihoods are hanging in the balance.  Do taxpayers really understand how indispensable we are to every community in New York State?  Can we demonstrate that libraries and CSEA library workers are necessary components for our state and country's economic recovery?  What is required to get a fair share of funding? 

The next time you visit your public or school library, ask a staff person how they are doing.  Then maybe you might be able to get a handle on how these library cuts will continue to erode the fabric of our educational infastructure. 

We know these are tough times.  We believe our workers and libraries hold the answers to getting us out of this recession.  Libraries shouldn't be the scapegoats for the political and fiscal mess that was created by our dysfunctional state legislature and our ineffectual governor.