An increase in usage and circulation at public libraries means it's time to make major cuts to library budgets. Makes sense...NOT!
[Governor] Christie's plan would cut funding - which also pays for items such as database subscriptions and adult-education classes, and provides a proportion of individual library budgets - by $10.4 million, a 74 percent reduction from last year, according to the Office of the State Librarian.
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With around 27,000 volumes and a single location, the Audubon Public Library is one of New Jersey's smaller libraries. A resident interested in an academic text or the early work of an obscure novelist would have to request the volume through the state's interlibrary loan system.
That program - which makes larger libraries' vast troves available to their smaller brethren, and vice versa - is among a number of popular services jeopardized by funding cuts in Gov. Christie's proposed budget, library advocates say.
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Libraries have seen a major upturn in usage in recent years. Circulation in the Camden County system, which operates six branches, increased 22 percent between 2005 and 2009.
"Libraries serve the unemployed and the underemployed, who need online access to find jobs," said State Librarian Norma Blake. "This is the wrong time to be cutting community anchors."
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One program on the chopping block provides funds to pay for Internet service. Camden County Library Director Linda Devlin said system officials are trying to figure out how much it would cost to provide services traditionally covered by the state.
"We'll see if we can pay for them out of our operating budget," she said.
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