Trustees seek citizen input on library budget

Description

The Board of Trustees of the Fullerton Public Library will hold a special evening session Thursday, May 26, in order to get public input on budget issues facing the library for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 fiscal years.

Maureen Gebelein, director of the Fullerton Public Library, said the trustees, who usually meet in the afternoon, changed the meeting start time in hopes citizens who work during the day will be able to attend and share their views about library services in the city.

Essentially, Gebelein said, the library is looking at a status quo budget of approximately $3.4 million for each of two coming fiscal years.  She noted that amount is approximately the size of the budget for the current (2010-2011) fiscal year, and to reach that goal, the library had to implement many cuts in operations, including reduction of its materials (books, magazines, videos, etc.) acquisitions budget by approximately 98 percent.
In addition to the reduction in the acquisitions budget for the current fiscal year, the library eliminated four staff positions, reduced hours at both the Main and Hunt Branch libraries, and discontinued Bookmobile service.
Looking ahead to the new budget years, Gebelein said the status quo budgets will allow continuation of operation of the Main Library five days a week, and the Hunt Branch Library two days.
            However, to extend hours at the newly expanded Main Library in the coming two-budget year, Gebelein and her staff have prepared three alternatives, two of which would keep the Main Library open daily, and one which would open it six days a week. 
            Restoration of the acquisitions budget is also an element in each alternative, with the amount of restoration ranging from 53 to 80 percent of the original level.
            To achieve these goals, each of the alternatives proposes closing the Hunt Branch for a period of one year and channeling the funds earmarked for the Hunt to the Main Library.
            All three alternatives also recommend formation of an ad-hoc committee to study the best uses of city-wide library services, assets and properties, and come back within nine months with recommendations for long-term strategies.
            Further information about the Board of Trustees meeting and the library budget may be made by calling the administrative office of the Fullerton Public Library at (714) 738-6380.
            Persons requiring special accommodations to attend the meeting are asked to notify the library staff prior to May 26.