The Boston Public Library (BPL) faces the prospect of closing eight to 10 of its branch locations and cutting services because the state of Massachusetts and City of Boston are cutting funding for the library by as much as $3.6 million in fiscal year 2011.
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The city of Boston in the 2010 fiscal year provided 72.2 percent of the BPL’s funding while the state of Massachusetts accounted for 9.8 percent of its annual funding.
According to the BPL’s operating budget overview released to the public, the state’s contribution in fiscal year 2011 is estimated to decline by 40 percent or $1.6 million, while the city’s contribution is expected to see a one percent drop, amounting to $300,000.
These estimates led to a total revenue prediction of $38.7 million, which would fall short of the predicted $42.2 million maintenance budget.
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“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, who needs libraries anymore?’” [Susan] McAlister [president of the Massachusetts Library Association Board of Directors] said. “But it’s the librarians who provide you with resources and skills, and essential services for information literacy … Just because you have the Internet doesn’t mean you don’t need libraries.”
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