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Library officials bracing for 70 percent book budget cut
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| David Nice, of The Woodlands, browses books at the Montgomery County South Regional Library in The Woodlands Friday. Nice visits the library with his daughter every few weeks. |
By Nancy Flake
Montgomery County’s libraries are seeing a record number of people cone through their doors, but officials worry how a recommended 70 percent cut in the book budget will affect visitors.
There may be no wiggle room to increase the proposed funding for books when county commissioners determine the county’s budget for fiscal year 2008, according to several county officials.
In each of the past two years, the Montgomery County Library System has received $828,000 to buy books. This year, however, the recommendation from County Auditor Phyllis Martin is $250,000, according to Jerilyn Williams, director of the library system.
If that number holds – and Williams will meet with commissioners Thursday morning to determine the overall library budget for 2008-09 – the number of new books that could be bought for all seven branches would drop to fewer than 12,000 from the more than 40,000 bought in each of the past two years.
“It’s like bringing a child into the world and not being able to feed it,” Williams said.
“My challenge is we have brought these new libraries on board. I have grave concerns.
“We would be crippling the lifeblood of the system.”
Williams planned to ask commissioners for $879,000 for books, the number she said is needed to buy new volumes and replace those that are worn out or lost.
“That would allow us an equivalent amount that would pay for the replacement of the cost of titles wearing out based on our circulation,” she said.
The library system circulated more than 1.6 million items in fiscal year 2007, and Williams said the American Binding Institute states items are circulated an average of 40 times each before they give out. Using those figures, the library system would need to purchase 40,703 books just to stay even, Williams said.
The average cost per books is $21.60.
“The number of items checked out has increased 77 percent over the last 10 years, and user visits have gone up 60 percent,” she said. “It’s important we realize the library is being used more and more and more.”
But it’s not just the number of library users that is increasing in the county – fuel costs are up, as are the costs of many other critical items. County officials have to reconcile all those needs this week during budget hearings for every department.
The library book budget may have to suffer so other needs can be met, officials said.
“Libraries are not a priority,” County Judge Alan B. Sadler said. “Roads and bridges and law enforcement are. That’s just a fact.”
Like Sadler, Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal said law enforcement and roads are the county’s top priorities.
“”We’ve got requests from every department, who all have increased costs,” Doyal said. “Our costs in the precinct have gone up drastically, especially for fuel and asphalt. Until we can get to the nuts and bolts of it, we won’t know.
“If we can fund the library, we will, but not at the expense of law enforcement and roads.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance believes the entire proposed county budget must be cut substantially, leaving no room to increase book funding as the county works to handle increased costs across the board and fund three new courts.
“I don’t think we can do a 5-6 percent increase over last year,” he said. “We’ve adequately funded the library over the past few years, and I believe $250,000 is a number we can live with.”
But one commissioner said he wants more money for books.
“It was a starting point for us as we work on the budget,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said. “I’ll fight for it. I feel pretty confident it’ll go up substantially.”
The proposed book budget cut is not sitting well with some residents.
“I’m just so impressed with our library,” said Conroe resident Ruth Strozier, a member of Friends of the Library. “I just can’t stand the thought of them cutting anything; we’re growing so much. I wish they could find something else to cut that wouldn’t affect so many people.”
More than a million people passed through the doors of the county’s seven library branches in 2007, said Bo Lauterbach, chair of the Montgomery County library advisory board.
According to Williams, the library is still the most economic option for research and reading material in town. While it costs the county about $20 a person to fund the library system, it costs about $20 – if not more – to purchase one book from a retail store, Williams said.
She believes the number of library patrons will continue to go up, as people make economic decisions to cut out the buying of books and may need to use library resources to find jobs.
“I am going to make (increased funding) my top priority when I meet with (commissioners) Thursday morning,” Williams said. “Commissioners Court has been supportive of the library; in the past, they have looked at the needs of the library and responded in positive ways.”
Courier reporter Lucretia Fernandez contributed to this story.
Nancy Flake can be reached at nflake@hcnonline.com.
Montgomery County Memorial Library System 2007 statistics
1.011 million people passed through the doors of the seven county libraries
1.628 million books and audio-visual materials were checked out
246,866 visits made to the library website
2008 Budget hearings
County budget hearings for each department take place from 10:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and continue from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the Commissioners Courtroom, located at 301 N. Thompson. Public hearings on the 2008-09 county budget and tax rate will be set Aug. 1 after property values are certified by Tax Assessor/Collector J.R. Moore.
There may be no wiggle room to increase the proposed funding for books when county commissioners determine the county’s budget for fiscal year 2008, according to several county officials.
In each of the past two years, the Montgomery County Library System has received $828,000 to buy books. This year, however, the recommendation from County Auditor Phyllis Martin is $250,000, according to Jerilyn Williams, director of the library system.
If that number holds – and Williams will meet with commissioners Thursday morning to determine the overall library budget for 2008-09 – the number of new books that could be bought for all seven branches would drop to fewer than 12,000 from the more than 40,000 bought in each of the past two years.
“It’s like bringing a child into the world and not being able to feed it,” Williams said.
“My challenge is we have brought these new libraries on board. I have grave concerns.
“We would be crippling the lifeblood of the system.”
Williams planned to ask commissioners for $879,000 for books, the number she said is needed to buy new volumes and replace those that are worn out or lost.
“That would allow us an equivalent amount that would pay for the replacement of the cost of titles wearing out based on our circulation,” she said.
The library system circulated more than 1.6 million items in fiscal year 2007, and Williams said the American Binding Institute states items are circulated an average of 40 times each before they give out. Using those figures, the library system would need to purchase 40,703 books just to stay even, Williams said.
The average cost per books is $21.60.
“The number of items checked out has increased 77 percent over the last 10 years, and user visits have gone up 60 percent,” she said. “It’s important we realize the library is being used more and more and more.”
But it’s not just the number of library users that is increasing in the county – fuel costs are up, as are the costs of many other critical items. County officials have to reconcile all those needs this week during budget hearings for every department.
The library book budget may have to suffer so other needs can be met, officials said.
“Libraries are not a priority,” County Judge Alan B. Sadler said. “Roads and bridges and law enforcement are. That’s just a fact.”
Like Sadler, Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal said law enforcement and roads are the county’s top priorities.
“”We’ve got requests from every department, who all have increased costs,” Doyal said. “Our costs in the precinct have gone up drastically, especially for fuel and asphalt. Until we can get to the nuts and bolts of it, we won’t know.
“If we can fund the library, we will, but not at the expense of law enforcement and roads.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance believes the entire proposed county budget must be cut substantially, leaving no room to increase book funding as the county works to handle increased costs across the board and fund three new courts.
“I don’t think we can do a 5-6 percent increase over last year,” he said. “We’ve adequately funded the library over the past few years, and I believe $250,000 is a number we can live with.”
But one commissioner said he wants more money for books.
“It was a starting point for us as we work on the budget,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said. “I’ll fight for it. I feel pretty confident it’ll go up substantially.”
The proposed book budget cut is not sitting well with some residents.
“I’m just so impressed with our library,” said Conroe resident Ruth Strozier, a member of Friends of the Library. “I just can’t stand the thought of them cutting anything; we’re growing so much. I wish they could find something else to cut that wouldn’t affect so many people.”
More than a million people passed through the doors of the county’s seven library branches in 2007, said Bo Lauterbach, chair of the Montgomery County library advisory board.
According to Williams, the library is still the most economic option for research and reading material in town. While it costs the county about $20 a person to fund the library system, it costs about $20 – if not more – to purchase one book from a retail store, Williams said.
She believes the number of library patrons will continue to go up, as people make economic decisions to cut out the buying of books and may need to use library resources to find jobs.
“I am going to make (increased funding) my top priority when I meet with (commissioners) Thursday morning,” Williams said. “Commissioners Court has been supportive of the library; in the past, they have looked at the needs of the library and responded in positive ways.”
Courier reporter Lucretia Fernandez contributed to this story.
Nancy Flake can be reached at nflake@hcnonline.com.
Montgomery County Memorial Library System 2007 statistics
1.011 million people passed through the doors of the seven county libraries
1.628 million books and audio-visual materials were checked out
246,866 visits made to the library website
2008 Budget hearings
County budget hearings for each department take place from 10:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and continue from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the Commissioners Courtroom, located at 301 N. Thompson. Public hearings on the 2008-09 county budget and tax rate will be set Aug. 1 after property values are certified by Tax Assessor/Collector J.R. Moore.
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Reader Comments
mrs. do gooder wrote on Jul 27, 2008 4:18 PM:
" suggestion: sell ALL BOOKS donated to libraries. Books are donated through the "friends of the library" sort and THROWN AWAY most of the books in the dumpster behind the facilities! I know, my daughter has worked at the library for over 2 years. What a waste!!
I suggest selling ALL THE BOOKS that are donated from the public. Not just selling 10% of the books, and throwing away all the rest. The purpose of selling is raising money to buy new books. 10% will not even buy coffee for volunteers. "
I suggest selling ALL THE BOOKS that are donated from the public. Not just selling 10% of the books, and throwing away all the rest. The purpose of selling is raising money to buy new books. 10% will not even buy coffee for volunteers. "
booklady wrote on Jul 28, 2008 7:22 PM:
" county residents paid over a million visit to the library in 2007 but it the library system is not a priority? "
nd wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:18 AM:
" It seems to me that in this time of economic woes the citizens of Montgomery County need the resources of the library more than ever. There are thousands of citizens who rely on the library for their entertainment and research. My husband and I stopped purchasing books several years ago in favor of borrowing from the library. We've been able to save even more money by borrowing library DVDs instead of renting. And many, many people rely on the library for the free internet access -- many people who would otherwise be without a computer. This is to say nothing of the educational and entertaining programming that the library provides.
I used to work at one of the library branches, and I know first hand the careful stewardship that goes into the selection, purchase, and maintenance of books. Library employees are keenly aware that they are spending taxpayer money, and work diligently to see that every penny counts. I understand that the county faces tough choices in their budget, and I respect that. I am troubled, however, by a county judge who so flatly states that "Libraries are not a priority." I wonder if he would feel differently if his were one of the many families that has had to cut out expensive cable & movie theaters in favor of library books & DVDs? Or perhaps if his child was home schooled, and he relied on the library for current curricula and study materials?
(PS: mrs. do gooder, part of my old job at the library was sorting through those donated books. Many of the books that came in had been in attics or garages for years. Many were water damaged, moldy, musty, or -- more often than you might think -- covered in cat urine, mouse droppings, or roaches. There's not much of a market for warped, cat-pee stinking paperbacks so, yes, those got recycled. But I can say for certain that any readable & sell-able book was put out for sale.) "
I used to work at one of the library branches, and I know first hand the careful stewardship that goes into the selection, purchase, and maintenance of books. Library employees are keenly aware that they are spending taxpayer money, and work diligently to see that every penny counts. I understand that the county faces tough choices in their budget, and I respect that. I am troubled, however, by a county judge who so flatly states that "Libraries are not a priority." I wonder if he would feel differently if his were one of the many families that has had to cut out expensive cable & movie theaters in favor of library books & DVDs? Or perhaps if his child was home schooled, and he relied on the library for current curricula and study materials?
(PS: mrs. do gooder, part of my old job at the library was sorting through those donated books. Many of the books that came in had been in attics or garages for years. Many were water damaged, moldy, musty, or -- more often than you might think -- covered in cat urine, mouse droppings, or roaches. There's not much of a market for warped, cat-pee stinking paperbacks so, yes, those got recycled. But I can say for certain that any readable & sell-able book was put out for sale.) "
Whiskyecho wrote on Jul 27, 2008 11:21 AM:
Who cares "how pretty" a Library's grounds are ? Spend the allocated money on books instead of giving Wakefield a construction contract ! "