Davidson’s public library branch has apparently avoided an imminent shutdown because of county budget problems, but the Cornelius branch will close as soon as April 3 because of massive budget cuts by Mecklenburg County. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library board of trustees approved 148 layoffs at a meeting in Charlotte Thursday afternoon, and those layoffs triggered the branch closings.
Davidson was not among the proposed closings announced on the library’s Facebook page as the meeting continued. But these are:
- Cornelius
- Morrison
- Scaleybark
- Sugar Creek
- CheckItOutlet
- Carmel
- Independence
- Hickory Grove
- Mint Hill
- Scaleybark
- Beatties Ford
- Belmont Center
- Myers Park
The branch closings are to accompany 148 staff layoffs throughout the system. The drastic cutting is necessary because Mecklenburg County has asked the system to give back $2 million already appropriated this year. County Manager Harry Jones has asked all parts of county government to cut their budgets because of lower-than-expected tax and fee revenues.
On Tuesday, March 16, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library learned that Mecklenburg County was slashing funding by 6.3 percent, or $2 million dollars, for the year ending June 30.
The library had said Wednesday that absorbing a cut that large so quickly would mean big layoffs and branch closings.
On Thursday, library officials said locations were chosen based on branches’ cost, usage, how close they are to other branches, and the size of the location.
CUTS ON TOP OF CUTS
The $2 million budget is on top of $4 million in county funding cuts since January 2009, the library said. Those cuts have affected the Davidson and Cornelius branches through the loss of veteran staff and the appointment of a new director. Ellen Giduz of Davidson has overseen both branches since last April.
This year’s system budget of $35.4 million was already cut from $40.1 million in 2008-9.
Library officials say that after previous cuts also adopted across-the-board salary and benefit reductions for staff, and made big cuts in their book and materials budget. “The need to return $2 million dollars in additional reductions to Mecklenburg County within a three month period of time means that it is no longer possible for the Library to defer lay-offs and location closings,” the library said Wednesday in a press release.
The Library Board of Trustees meeting a midday Thursday followed a meeting with County Manager Harry Jones
As soon as possible after that meeting, the Library will announce which library locations will be closed. Once the decision has been made to close locations, it will take approximately two weeks to complete the closing.
During Thursday’s meeting, Library Director Charles Brown said it was the worst day of his career, according to Charlotte Observer reporter Eric Frazier, who was reporting on the meeting live via Twitter.
On Wednesday, Mr. Brown said: “The decision to cut library staff and close library locations was extremely difficult. We value the contributions of our exceptional library employees. Losing their jobs in these uncertain economic times we know will place considerable hardships on them and their families. I’m heartbroken for what they face and for what we face as a community with the closure of almost 50 percent of our libraries.
“We also understand the hardship that Mecklenburg County is facing as a whole. These are difficult times. Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven’t seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression when it had to close its doors completely,” he said.
The library system said that in addition to fewer locations, hours and staff, library customers would notice other budget impacts, including less frequent building maintenance, more limited technology resources, and longer wait times for books and other materials.
Update Friday, March 20, 9:15 a.m.
CAN FUND-RAISING SAVE JOBS?
At Thursday’s meeting, some citizens and library supporters asked if a fund-raising campaign might save the jobs and branches. That’s possible, library officials said, but time is short.
Friends of the Library Chair Harriet Smith challenged the community to raise the $2 million dollars, or at least a significant amount. The library said in its formal announcement of the board action later that contributions received by March 24 would “help lessen the severity of immediate library service reductions.”
But even a short-term fund-raising campaign may not be enough to solve the county’s or the system’s long-term budget problems. The county is beginning its budget planning for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and big cuts are expected in many services because of lower county revenues.
GET THE DETAILS
March 18, 2010, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library press release announcing the layoffs and branch closings.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has put up a special “budget” page to keep citizens informed. Go to www.cmlibrary.org, click on “About Us,” and then “Budget.”
The library also invites patrons to volunteer or donate to the cause. www.cmlibrary.org/support
