By John N. Berry III -- Library Journal, 9/15/2009
Hard times bring out the ambiguity in politics. Except for fiscal extremists, most politicians in North America want to support their libraries. When LJ planned to name the heroes and villains in the politics of library funding, we rediscovered that politics just isn't that simple.
We learned that it is a bad idea for library advocates and political strategists to label even what seem to be the most offensive politicians as villains. Library advocates are understandably constrained from getting angry. Attacking a politician rarely changes his or her mind, and after you have done it, negotiating with that person for library support is nearly impossible.
Saint Paul to Maricopa County
Consider the challenges to Mayor Chris Coleman of Saint Paul. He had warned all city departments including the Saint Paul Public Library that a 14 percent budget cut was possible. To everyone's relief, the mayor's recent budget reduced the cuts to about nine percent.
For the library, that will mean a loss of 50 hours per week systemwide and 24.8 full-time staff positions, along with a 15 percent cut in the collections budget. The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, including its politically engaged president, Peter D. Pearson, "breathed a cautious sigh of relief over efforts by the mayor to keep libraries strong, while acknowledging there is still work to be done."
Coleman may not be a hero for saving that five percent, but he is not a villain either. What the Saint Paul Friends think is crucial to their library. One of the strongest Friends groups in the nation, it has both political clout and powerful influence in the management of the library. Indeed, city council member and library board chair Pat Harris thanked the Friends for their "strong advocacy and partnership in making the Saint Paul Public Library the important community resource it is."
After weeks in which library advocates in Canada's British Columbia (BC) feared a complete loss of provincial funds, BC officials announced a 22 percent decrease in funding, leaving $13.7 million CAD (about $12.7 million USD). Historically, provincial funds provide about ten percent of public library support.
The Association of BC Public Library Directors, BC Library Association, and BC Library Trustees' Association said they were "pleased to see that the provincial government recognizes the integral role public libraries play in community development and literacy and is therefore avoiding deep cuts to library funding."
"We do, however, appreciate that public libraries will be able to continue providing most of the services traditionally funded by the Province. These are fiscally challenging times, and we understand that temporary cuts, while difficult, are necessary," the three organizations concluded. It seemed to be a mild response to such a drastic cut in provincial library support. Obviously, the impact of the cuts will hurt BC libraries.
On April 30, Florida legislators eliminated all $21.25 million proposed in state library aid to public libraries. This prompted a fervent lobbying effort by the Florida Library Association (FLA) and the Florida library community, which paid off with a reversal of the plan. Former FLA president Charlie Parker told members that when the news of the cuts came down, everyone in the governor's office knew about it because the phone didn't stop ringing and citizens came in person to complain. The $21 million is still $2 million less than last year's support. Two Florida library directors told LJ that State Senator Mike Fasano has been a constant supporter of libraries during the struggle—a true political hero.
Buckeyes, Keystones, & Cornhuskers
The Ohio Public Library Fund (PLF), which supplies the main support for the state's public libraries from state tax revenue, will be reduced by $84.3 million for FY10/11. That huge chunk is significantly less than the $227.3 million reduction proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland in June. Strickland's recommendation would have meant a loss of nearly 50 percent.
Ohio libraries were accustomed to getting 2.22 percent of the state's total general tax revenue. Now, they will get 1.97 percent. Libraries will have to deal with a loss of about 11 percent vs. Strickland's proposed 30 percent reduction. Because of declining tax revenues, the overall impact of the reduction in the PLF will be much more, possibly triggering cutbacks of as much as 30 percent. A groundswell of public support pushed by librarians and advocates convinced the legislature to reject the governor's proposal and to try to preserve as much library funding as possible. The sad story leaves one wondering if Governor Strickland is a villain, or did he become a hero when he signed off on the lesser cuts.
Just weeks ago, the budget for the State of Pennsylvania was trapped in an impasse at the legislature. Despite proposed cuts in library programs ranging from 14.3 percent (the House plan) to 15.9 percent (Gov. Ed Rendell's plan) to 55.3 percent (the Senate plan), library advocates hope that the state budget—which must respond to a ten percent decline in state revenues—will maintain level funding for library programs. The House is controlled by Democrats, while the Senate is run by Republicans. Governor Rendell is a Democrat, and apparently library leaders are reluctant to label him either the villain or hero of the situation. Still, the fear persists that the final budget will impose painful, potentially enormous lacerations in library service. A Rendell press conference at a local library was interpreted as a sign that library advocates are making progress, but no heroes or villains yet in Pennsylvania.
To help the city of Omaha recover from a lingering budget deficit, the Omaha Public Library (OPL) took a significant hit. The library board agreed to close one branch through the rest of the year, lay off some 50 workers (more than 25 percent FTE), and cut hours at all locations. Mayor Jim Suttle said public safety and basic city services are the top priorities, leaving OPL and parks with the biggest losses.
It was the last week on the job for OPL director Rivkah Sass, LJ's 2006 Librarian of the Year for improving OPL, who has moved to the Sacramento Public Library, CA. "I do have the opportunity to try to influence my community about whether or not library service is vital and essential to the quality of life," Sass claimed, but that influence didn't help OPL avoid drastic reductions. She says Mayor Suttle cares about the library, but city obligations to the police and fire departments made the cuts necessary.
Aiming to consolidate government during lean times, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm proposed eliminating the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, transferring most Library of Michigan functions to the Department of Education, abolishing the position of state librarian, and downgrading library services, including circulation and interlibrary loan of state materials. The state legislature has another month to approve or reject her order.
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) opposed Granholm's plan. The governor backed off, but because of cuts passed by the Michigan Senate, MLA called for a rally in September to protest against a remaining $2.5 million loss. No heroes or villains yet in Michigan. (See also News, p. 12.)
The importance of perception
Library leaders at the local and state level are reluctant to condemn politicians who oppose library funding but are quick to cheer those who either find new funds or push for the restoration of budgets that were slashed. While national advocacy programs such as those of the American Library Association help with techniques and strategies for working with politicians, library advocacy is really a local or state-level challenge.
What emerges here is simple: budget cuts are inevitable in most jurisdictions in the current economic climate, because libraries are seen as important but nonessential. Until Americans are convinced that it is necessary to reform our tax system and increase some taxes—both unlikely in the current situation—library funding will remain chronically inadequate.
We must reposition libraries as basic to the economic and social health of the community and the nation. Then we can create the message to convince both politicians and citizens that the library is here to stay because our society needs it. Celebrating politicians who help us make the case for libraries is a productive strategy and can make them our allies in the struggle for support.
An easy target
Libraries have a vast reservoir of public support. Few, if any, politicians or citizens oppose libraries. The crucial challenge is to convert that support into stronger, more stable funding. The major obstacle to success is that libraries are an easy target. Libraries everywhere have been deeply wounded by budget cuts that have had very little impact on the total cost of government. Defending libraries requires a much earlier and far noisier mobilization of library advocacy troops who bring their loud and skillful message to the public and politicians, showing how little of government revenues go to this most used and most needed public institution.
For all the professional ballyhoo, few citizens have ever actually heard or know about the dismal facts of library funding. From the beginning, less than two percent of the cost of American government has ever been spent on libraries, yet unlike all other municipal services, they have always been chronically underfunded. The only good news is that libraries are constantly inundated with users. The obvious reason for this historic anomaly is a lack of political skills and leadership by librarians and their allies.
In Saint Paul, they ended the latest struggle by applauding a nine percent reduction that will do real damage to their libraries but return little to the city's finances. In Ohio, the state's drastic cuts in library support will only reduce the library share of the cost of government from 2.22 percent to 1.97 percent. That seemingly tiny reduction in the cost of Ohio government will inflict deep injury upon Ohio libraries. We might want to avoid labeling individual politicians as the villains in this scenario, but surely we should point out that only an incompetent government would deeply wound this most used public institution to gain a pittance in tax relief or revenue.
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