Boston Public Library's Drastic Cuts to Affect All
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By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 03/08/2010
The Boston Public Library (BPL) system may be forced to close nearly 40 percent of its branches, as well as let go 25 percent of its staff for its 2011 fiscal year.
“We’ve made cuts work before with one-time solutions,” says Gina Perille, spokesperson for the BPL. “But we don’t have those one-time solutions anymore. It’s very serious, and it’s going to affect real people at the library.”
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BPL's Central Library in Copley Square. |
While BPL is hardly alone in its budget crises, closing 10 of its 27 branches, and letting go of such a significant portion of its library workers reflects the drastic nature of its situation. However, other cities and states—such as Hawaii and New York—are not immune and are also experiencing severe constraints, being forced to look at options from layoffs to branch closures.
Another option is to reduce hours, but keep all libraries open. However, Perille says that scenario might require shrinking hours by 85 percent and having branches open just one day a week. The effect on access to computers, books, and, of course, research materials for patrons of all ages would be nearly punitive, even though BPL does plan to try and coordinate any closures and reductions in service with local schools and community centers.
“If we talk to each other, we can know what any partner is doing,” says Perille. “And then we can see the potential impact on any neighborhood.”
However, how local librarians feel about potential cuts, or how they might affect their particular neighborhood is unknown. A call placed to the Washington Village branch, one of the smallest in BPL’s system, was deferred to Perille’s office, which did not make branch librarians available for interviews, despite repeated requests.
Still, Perille notes, the fate of librarians and branches has not been finalized. Budget figures presented to BPL from Massachusetts are preliminary, and BPL does hope some funds may be restored. But the library must begin to make plans based on its current proposed budget, she says.
“We’re working to have some kind of decision by early April,” says Perille. “But we have some union negotiations that would have to take place. And so it might take longer to role out—which ever direction we go.”
