Library Closes in Bedford, TX; ALA Sends Delegation

摘要

The Bedford Public Library, TX, effectively closed at the end of March, after a property tax rollback March 5 that passed by only ten votes. This caused the city (pop. 47,000) to cut $2.6 million—20 percent—out of the budget for the last six months of the fiscal year. While branches in various jurisdictions have closed, this is the first loss of community library serv- ice since 1988, according to the American Library Association (ALA). After an initial series of negotiations, city officials agreed to operate the library on a bare-bones budget of $105,000, with 20 hours of service weekly rather than 55. But a recalculation of the budget showed an additional $90,000 left to eliminate, City Manager Chuck Barnett told LJ,"and the only two things they had [left] to cut were public safety or the li-brary."The vote in city council was 4-3. Library doors will remain open so materials can be returned, with the city maintaining security and climate control. Library director Marleen Watling began juggling calls from citizens and library officials and giving layoff notices to her staff (30 workers, 21.5 FTE). The library has 144,000 items and circulated about 32,000 in the most recent month.