Library Funding Update

February 16, 2012

The Proposed State Budget Impact

The Governor’s recently proposed state budget contains a 5% cut to state funding for libraries. For the Dauphin County Library System, that means a loss of $48,100 in funds used to operate the eight libraries in our system, and a reduction of $18,700 in District Center Aid, used to provide services to the DCLS libraries and the libraries in Cumberland and Perry counties.

This, like many recently, has been a very difficult budget year at the state and the local level. As we wait to hear a final budget, we will begin planning for how to deal with this reduction in state aid and what it will mean in terms of library service to you, the user.

Looking Forward, an Even Bigger Challenge

Your library’s biggest challenge at the moment however, is the projected budget short fall of $790,000+ that will occur at the beginning of 2013. As many of you know, the Dauphin County Commissioners have long been strong advocates of public library service in our community. In 2008, they helped secure your library service for the next three years with a special allocation of funds.  By exercising as many operating efficiencies as we could find, The Library has managed to make that allocation stretch to cover four years of operation. In 2013, however, a shortfall of the magnitude expected would mean facing some hard choices that could include measures such as closing facilities, eliminating programs, reducing the number of public use computers and deferring important maintenance. At the same time, demand for library services continues to grow. The Library experienced an 8% increase in items borrowed, a 6% increase in library visits, and a 9% increase in library cards issued for 2011.

Rest assured that we are working diligently to address this situation.  The Library is exploring every avenue to increase funding to bridge the gap between demand for service and the operating funds available to provide it. We will keep you, our loyal users and supporters, informed along the way and will let you know how you can help. If you want to help right now, you can do so by making a gift to the library here.

Thank you for using and supporting your library, where we remain committed to being “Open for Discovery” for our community. Together, we can make it happen.

Marilynn Kanenson
President, Board of Trustees

Richard Bowra
Executive Director - DCLS

• Income & Expense Reports - 2010
• Write Your Legislator
• Share Your Comments
  

What Can You Do?

Share your story of how the library has helped you and your family during these economic tough times filling out a comment card from your library. Share your library story with your legislators. Click here for contact information.

Keep Libraries Open Now!

You can also help your library serve you and your community by making a donation. Click here to make a gift that will help keep your library’s doors open for everyone.

Thanks for the support you show to your local library no matter what form it takes.