Houston's Library Plans Cuts

Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 5/23/2003

The fallout from Houston Public Library's budget crisis won't be as severe as expected. Initial press reports said the city's library system might be forced to close eight of its 36 branches to meet $32 million in budget cuts proposed for FY 2004. But such a drastic move was simply a worst-case scenario put forth by the library.

A more likely outcome from the cuts will be reduced hours at 16 branches, the purchase of fewer materials, and a consolidation of jobs, says library spokeswoman Sandra Fernandez, who stresses that no layoffs are planned. At press time, Mayor Lee Brown was expected to submit his budget to the city council by the end of May, and the council is expected to vote on a budget by the end of June. Houston Public Library, which circulated 6.8 million materials in FY 2002, has more than 800,000 registered users.