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Public libraries and their budgets in 2010
This document provides case studies on the budgets and funding challenges faced by three public libraries in 2010: Brooklyn Public Library in New York, Montclair Public Library in New Jersey, and Northvale Public Library in New Jersey. It summarizes the key details about each library including their operating budgets, sources of funding, impact of budget cuts, and current status. The Brooklyn and Montclair libraries faced budget cuts in 2009-2011 but were able to restore some funding and services through community support. However, Northvale library was forced to close in 2011 when taxpayers did not approve a tax increase to continue funding it.
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Public libraries and their budgets in 2010
- 1. Public Libraries andTheir Budgets in 2010Three Case StudiesLIS 651-04April 7, 2011Vicky Ludas
- 2. Brooklyn Public Library,Brooklyn NYMunicipal library founded 1897Exempt from federal, state, and local income taxesRun by 38-member Board of TrusteesServes more than 2.4 million patrons:Landmarked Central Library (Grand Army Plaza)Business Library (Borough Hall)58 Branch Libraries, 18 of which are Carnegie libraries1,000+ employeesPer capita (as of 2008):$31 in local revenue2 books and 5 visits Fifth-largest public library system in the U.S.Photo source: http://vowelmovers.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/brooklyn_public_library_sunset_jeh.jpg
- 3. BPL: 2010 RevenueTotal2010 Revenue: $139,523,000.00
- 4. BPL: 2010 ExpensesTotal2010 Expenses: $138,707,000.00
- 5. Budget Cuts: 2009vs. 2011Since 2009, city funding to the BPL has been reduced by $9.9m.Resulting cuts:Voluntary retirementLayoffsCuts in OTPS (Other Than Personnel Spending)160+ vacancies not filledA mid-year reduction in 2010 of $4.6m led to:$2m decrease in collections budgetMore cuts in OTPS, often one-time savings2011: $25.2m cut? Worst-case scenario: 40% staff layoffs, 16 libraries closed, hours reduced everywhere else
- 6. Montclair Public Library,Montclair NJMunicipal library founded 18932002 Library of the Year Special Mention by Library JournalSuburban library serving about 39,000 people:Main branch, built 1955Bellevue Avenue branch, built 1914 with Carnegie funds, now closed (though hopefully not permanently)34 employees at both branchesPer capita (as of 2008):$99 in local revenue5 books and 8 visitsPublic programs over the years:Film seriesBallet company in residenceArt galleryCafePhoto source: http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/ERGOtherefore/Montclairlibrary.jpg
- 7. MPL: 2010 RevenueTotal2010 Revenue: $3,530,136.00* The base amount guaranteed by law is “1/3 of a mill,” about 33c per $1,000 of assessed value of a municipality’s land. Amount given can be increased but should not be less.
- 8. MPL: 2010 ExpensesTotal2010 Library Costs: $3,509,879.00
- 9. Budget Cuts: 2009vs. 2011(proposed)Expenses
- 10. Northvale Public Library,Northvale NJAssociation library founded 1957Borough library serving less than 4,5001 branch, 4 FT and PT employeesPer capita (as of 2008):$73 in local revenue8 books and 6 visitsMember of Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS)75-member cooperative that allows cardholders access to any of its librariesThe BCCLS membership fee requires that the library be funded like a municipal libraryThe sticking point for town budget issues – can Northvale afford funding the library to keep up with the fee for BCCLS benefits?Source: Personal correspondence, V. Beckman, Director of Northvale Public Library, March 25-April 4, 2011.Image source:http://www.njmls.com/communities/index.cfm?action=dsp.towninfo&city=NORTHVALE&county=BERGEN&a=
- 11. Association LibrariesEstablished byvote of association membersNot municipally ownedor runEmployees are not municipal employees and thus are not paid government-funded benefits and pensionThe public can volunteer for the association and vote for trusteesCan be funded by the municipality but as discretionary funding Other potential income: membership fees, endowments, etc.If the town decides it cannot afford to pay the library budget, the library will close State laws often allow that association libraries can become municipal if the voters and town governing body approveFairly unique to Northeast, older libraries built before state laws about municipal libraries (so why Northvale…?)
- 12. NPL: 2010 Incomeand ExpensesTotal: $350,000.00 (approx.)
- 13. Where are theynow?As of 7/1/11:Brooklyn: $23.2m of the proposed $25.3m cut was restored to the BPL budget by the NY Mayor and City Council, meaning no drastic cuts or layoffs though service will likely be reduced to 5 days a week instead of 6.Montclair: Through rallying efforts by concerned townspeople and a unique public-private alliance, the Bellevue Avenue branch has been reopened one day a week, with self-checkout machines in place of librarians for the time being. However, much of the budget was not restored, and Montclair libraries lost $800,000.Northvale:Unfortunately, the Northvale library could not be saved. Taxpayers voted against a tax increase and the town announced it could no longer afford the library, so it is to be closed in July.
- 14. Works CitedGeneralHenderson, E.,Miller, K., et al. (2010). Public Libraries Survey: Fiscal Year 2008 (IMLS-2010–PLS-02). Institute of Museum and Library Services. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/Publications/pls2008.pdf. BrooklynBrooklyn Public Library (2011). About Brooklyn Public Library: Board of Trustees. Retrieved April 6, 2011 from http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/board_of_trustees.jsp.-- About Brooklyn Public Library: Hours and Locations. Retrieved March 30, 2011 from http://brooklynpubliclibrary.org/hoursandlocations.jsp.Eisner Amper LLP (2010). Brooklyn Public Library Financial Statements, June 30, 2010 and 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://brooklynpubliclibrary.org/pdf/about/irs/2010-FinancialStatements.pdf.Johnson, L (2011). New York City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations… Hearing on the Preliminary Budget. Retrieved March 30, 2011 from https://bpl.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/speakup/pdf/bpl_testimony.pdf.LaVecchia, O (2011, June 28). NYC’s “saved” libraries experience déjà vu. The Awl. Retrieved 7/1/11 from http://www.theawl.com/2011/06/nycs-saved-libraries-experience-deja-vu.
- 15. Montclair Drobness, T.(2011, January 13). Library budget for 2011 is going to be extremely bad. The Montclair Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/113439159_Library_budget_for_2011_is_going_to_be__extremely_bad_.html.-- (2011, March 31). Montclair Public Library needs $300k more in additional funds. The Montclair Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/118968249_Library__can_t_handle__reduction__board_president_says.html.Hirsch, Y (2011). Montclair Public Library 2010 Budget. Personal correspondence, March 18, 2011.McDonald, T. (2010, July 22). The free ($4.1 million) public library. The Montclair Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/98990949_The_Free___4_1_million__Public_Library.html.Montclair Public Library (2011). A Brief History of the Montclair Public Library. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://www.montclairlibrary.org/history.-- (2011). Montclair Public Library Proposed 2011 Budget – Summary. Retrieved March 25, 2011 from http://www.montclairlibrary.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/808e3f6f0c1edd06bf1f5f4890e16b00/files/proposed_summary.pdf.Speri, A. (2011, June 6). Private funds help keep Montclair library’s doors open. The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 7/1/11 from http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/private_funds_help_keep_montcl.html.
- 16. NorthvaleCurley, M. (2011,May 12). Northvale library to close; board puts blame on council. Northern Valley Suburbanite. Retrieved 7/1/11 from http://www.northjersey.com/news/121596949_Northvale_library_to_close__board_puts_blame_on_council.html.New York State Library (2009). Types of Public Libraries: A Comparison. Retrieved March 29, 2011 from http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/pltypes.htm.Superville, D. (2011, March 16). Shortfall may shutter library in Northvale. The Record. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://www.northjersey.com/community/at_the_library/news/118062724_Shortfall_may_shutter_library_in_Northvale.html.
Editor's Notes
- #3 Bd of Trustees- 11 appted by Mayor and BkBoro Pres each, 12 elected, rest include Mayor, City Council Speaker, Comptroller, BkBoro Pres“Every resident of Brooklyn lives within a half-mile of a BPL location.” Kings- 2nd most densely packed county, after NY County (Manhattan)Per capita- local dollars spent. Total $ (local, state, fed) per cap- about $38
- #4 Contributed facilities etc- most of the library’s branches are occupied rent-free, the rent and utilities of which are paid for by NYC. Offset in income by an equal amt in expenses.Other: contribution income, discounts, investment income ($3.8m), contributed goods and svcs, special eventsFed government- $904,000. Too little to show up but still something.
- #5 Personnel- salaries, payroll taxes, health and retirement benefits.Rent- cancels out the income of contributed rents etcMaterials- about 70% print, 30% electronic and non-print. (as of 2008)Supporting services- mgmt & general (busi oversight, accountants and bookkeepers, etc – everything that does NOT lead or deal with library patrons or library objectives somehow), and fundraising (PR, maintaining donor lists, preparing/distributing related materials, anything related to soliciting contributions, etc)Office admin- postage, advertising, printing, office suppliesStaff expenses- conferences and meetings travel and subsistence, staff devmt, staff recognitionOther- professional fees and service payments, IT, insurance, repairs, bank fees, misc, bad debt expenses
- #6 From testimony of interim director Linda Johnson in March 2011 to City Council meeting on library budget.Sometimes money that is to be cut can be restored if the council subcommittee can wrangle it, which happened in 2010, but then some was taken back. Final budget not decided yet, will be in June.
- #7 Originally a subscription library (1869) that was later organized into a municipal library when NJ legislation authorized the establishment of free public libraries in 18902002 Libr of the Yr winner- Kalamazoo MIPer cap- $99 locally, $105 all told incl fed and state
- #8 State aid- Per Capita Library Aid program administered by NJ State Libr.Misc- fed, other, which includes fines. As of 1884, NJ municipalities are supposed to give at least 1/3 of a mill but Montclair gives a fair amount more, about 30-35% above the min. 2009- Mtc gave 53% above the min. 2008- 58% of NJ libraries gave more than the 1/3 of a mill min. Most munis that give more are generally urban, and Mtc’s extra funding “reflects the reality of Mtc being a unique mix of urban and suburban,” according to the pres of the librBd of Trustees.
- #9 Personnel- salary, wages, benefits, etc.Materials- as of 2008, about 70% print, 30% electronic, etc.BCCLS- we’ll get back to that in a sec.Other- security, programming, admin, etc.
- #10 2009 Revenue: $3,999,727.00. Expenses: $3,999.816. From a proposed 2011 budget, not official. Worst-case. With closure of Bellevue branch, a lot of costs disappear- facility, extra security. Salary and wages for Bellevue employees. Materials budget goes WAY down. Revenues reduced by 31%. Mtc Township Mgr said this year would be “the worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen an environment like this before.”Final budget due end of April. At mid-March budget presentation, they asked town for $600,000 restored, which hasn’t been decided yet.
- #11 Per capita- about $77.50 in terms of all funds (state (no fed))If Northvale were a municipal library, it would be due about $336,000 in 2011 by the “1/3 of a mill” formula. So BCCLS requires that the library be paid that much, though the funds are not protected from town deductions as would those of a muni library.
- #12 States in the NE with AL (categorized as “non-profit assoc or agency libraries,” can also be called something like a la “incorporated libr” in VT): 48% in CT, 62% in ME, 47% in NY (755 libraries, most of any state), 85% in PA, 52% in RI, 40% in VT.Other non-NE states with Assoc. Librs: 24% in AK, 16% in TX. 16 states have at least one assoc librs, about 15% of all libraries in the US.
- #13 Rev: other = state ($3618), miscAbout 83% on books, 17% on other materials, very very little on electronic material, as of 2008.
- #14 Unlike Brooklyn, which largely maintains its own borough collective of libraries, …Open Borrowing: BCCLS,LMxAC (Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium), MAIN (Morris Automated Information Network), PALS (Passaic Library System), and SWELL (Sussex Warren Electronic Lending Libraries)