Funding shortfall forces changes at county library

During the week of April 12 – 18, schools, campuses and communities across the country will be celebrating National Library Week. Locally, that’s also Spring Break for our students.
In this time of economic downturn, as personal resources are shrinking, people are flocking to their local public libraries. Unfortunately, though libraries are serving record numbers of people, declining revenues are forcing governments, state and local, to decrease or merely maintain funding.

This is certainly true for us in South Carolina. Here, in Marion County, local funding for the library has been flat for the past three years and this year the numerous cuts to the state budget have reduced our library to the minimum State Aid appropriation.

Although our income is declining, the library staff and board remain determined to continue to offer the programs, resources, and services our public depends on, despite rising material costs.
However, in order to cope with the budget shortfall for this present year and the year coming, a number of magazine subscriptions have had to be cancelled. And this month, for the first time in almost 20 years, the library will raise its fines and fees.

Beginning April 15, the fines for over-due materials will be 20 cents per day, the fees for sending faxes will be $1 per page, photocopies will be 30 cents for letter and legal size and ledger-size photocopies will cost 50 cents. Microfilm copies will cost 40 cents per page. The cost of printing from the public access computers will remain the same.
Additionally, beginning in April, the bookmobile will reduce the frequency of its routes each month from twice monthly to once a month. Patrons will be allowed to check out additional materials to make up for half as many visits.

In today’s economy, libraries offer free resources to help people find jobs and learn new skills. “Worlds connect @ your library,” the theme for this year’s National Library Week, celebrates the fact that libraries help people of all ages and backgrounds finding entertainment, self-help or their place in the community. With free resources like books, magazines, DVDs and computer and wireless access, folks do better in school, tackle projects and learn new ways to improve their health.

There are many places to obtain some of the resources you need, but the library is free. Most importantly, what makes the library unique is the public’s access to trained professionals – librarians – to help people find and interpret the information they need to make a difference in their lives.
Our libraries also help keep us connected, providing a space for people of all ages, classes and races to come together, while keeping us connected to events and people around the world. It’s where people can keep up with world events or stay connected to what’s happening in their own communities.
Come by this week and celebrate libraries with us!