UPDATE (March 31, 2015): Several leaders in the effort to stop "the decade-long trend of relentless cuts to our local library system" co-authored a letter to the Fairfax Times striving to clarify a few facts on the FCPL budget issue. Their letter may be read here.
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Some branches rely on volunteers to fill key gaps in service
Library employees and supporters say the latest proposed budget cuts
will continue to erode services in an already-struggling library system.
Proposed staffing cuts will make permanent a situation that has led
to understaffing and routine use of overtime in most library branches,
advocates say.
“Libraries need funding to provide quality public services our
citizens need. We are understaffed and working overtime to provide
fundamental basic library services,” said Jennifer McCullough, president
of the Fairfax County Public Library Employee Association.
County Executive Ed Long’s proposed budget for fiscal 2016 includes
$855,000 in reductions to the library budget. The total proposed library
budget is $27.6 million, less than 1 percent of the county’s $3.8
billion operating budget.
Most of the savings would come from eliminating 14 library aide
positions, which already are vacant — representing about 15 percent of
the 93 positions being eliminated throughout the county. . . .
Click here for the rest of this article on the Board of Supervisors' war on our public library system.
Actually the cuts may mean less overtime for staff because the overtime comes from the allotted funding for those vacant positions. If they are abolished, 31% of the funding for overtime disappears. What that means it that it's very likely branches will have to close early due to ongoing staffing shortages if the positions are eliminated. Because of current vacancies, 90% of branches cannot keep open during their regular hours without using overtime.
ReplyDeleteThen there's the whole issue of volunteers. What happens when your volunteer decides to take a personal day with a friend, or has company from out of town, or gets the flu, or decides he/she would rather go shopping. You know what happens? The library won't be open. Is this how Fairfax County operates its essential services? What's next? Volunteer teachers? Firemen? Police? Time is running out. Write your county supervisor or the next time you need to go to the library, it may not be open. Tell them the library needs to be fully funded.
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