Notes on library cutbacks
Here is some reportage on the proposed cutbacks for San Bernardino's library system. Interim City Manager Mark Weinberg has proposed temporarily closing the city's three branch libraries as part of a cutback plan intended to solve a $9 million budget shortfall.
The process is not finished, so the final slate of budget cuts may be different from what Weinberg proposed. I get the sense that these kinds of processes start with a discussion of highly-undesirable cuts before officials scramble for alternatives that lessen the blow.
When San Bernardino began its budget talks last year, then City Manager Fred Wilson's initial plan included a provision to cut funding for crossing guards. Didn't happen.
But the economy is a lot worse now than it was last summer, so there's little chance for San Bernardino to avoid insolvency without making a lot of people upset. Popular services will be cut, but it's still open for question as to exactly where and how deep those cuts will be.
The library info is after the jump:
The current proposal made by interim city manager Mark Weinberg in an attempt to eliminate a $9 million budget gap, is to lay off eight library employees and temporarily close the city's three branch libraries.
Two of the city's branch libraries - Inghram and Villasenor - are on the Westside, among some of the cities poorer neighborhoods.
The third branch library, Rowe, is in northern San Bernardino.
The city's flagship library, Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, could be cut back to a four-day operating schedule.
Inghram branch manager Debra Bemben said her Highland Avenue branch lent out about 5,000 volumes of media in January. The branch is also a destination for people needing work.
"People come and use the computers to look for jobs, look for apartments, apply for unemployment," she said. "We've even got bookmarks from EDD saying this is how you apply."
EDD is the state's Employment Development Department, which handles unemployment benefits.
Alex Avila, a community activist who on Monday morning was at Inghram, offered his opinion that the closure of libraries would mean that residents would lose a haven from the streets.
"Libraries are a tool of socializing, community. A safe place for people to when they're homeless, or youth, or families," Avila said. "Crime will increase because there will be less safe places for people to go."
Weinberg announced the proposal Monday as part of a large-scale budget cutting plan that leaves almost no city department unscathed.
Weinberg's proposal goes as far as laying off police and firefighters and would practically gut staffing from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.
None of the layoffs or library closures have been enacted.
During Monday's budget workshop, city resident Evelyn Alexander implored that the council soften the blow for city libraries.
"Somehow, you elected officials need to find a way to keep the central library open five days a week," she said. "The higher the unemployment the more use the library gets."
Although the City Council on Monday gave city administrators the green light to prepare for budget cuts, the council would have to take future action for anyone to lose their jobs.
The council's next scheduled meeting is set for Feb. 17.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
I'd rather loose the excuse that they call a library than loose police and fire services. Wake up people!
The Inghram library is providing a valuable sevice to the citizens who live in west sb. Unemployed adults and kids are using the technology resources of the library to find jobs or assist in educational assignments. It is unthinkable to deprive these citizens of tools that can help them better their lives in these desperate times.
In the poorest section of the city this small facility, with a very small staff, is providing citizens a valuable service that most of them can not afford.
By the way, I can't think of a better way of fighting crime than through education and the library is a frontline outpost in this battle. Keep the libraries open, this resource of knowledge helps all of us today and tomorrow.