Budget cuts force Jax Public Library to cut service hours at all branches

Although the Jacksonville Public Library is taking a $2.2 million budget cut, no employees will be laid off and no branches will be closed. All branches will be cutting back service hours effective Oct. 15, consult the JPL website (http://jpl.coj.net/lib/lib.value.html).

A new budget was proposed in June, which asked for $3.5 million budget cut. On Aug. 25 the City Council requested a $2.1 million cut by closing all branches for a day. This was there first step toward the $3.5 million budget cut. They then decided that Monday would be the day that all the branches would be closed and hours would be cut during Sunday and weekdays.

Devoted library goer Kathy Ortiz said, "I have experienced library systems in other states and Jacksonville really does have a wonderful library system that people actually utilize. So for it to be affected is a shame."

In addition to the hours being reduced, the Council had also decided that the Maxville Branch Library would be closed. Due to the decision to cut finances in the JPL system, the budget cut would affect the JPL employees in a big way. An estimated 41 full-time positions would be done away with along with 25 to 30 part-time positions.

Educator and library user Chelsea Carr said, "It is unfortunate how the library system is being effected by the budget cuts. In light of the challenges we are facing in education, this is another resource that will be less accessible to the community and students."

To get down from $3.5 million to $2.2 million the City Council first began with $906, 000 which would have reduced library maintenance, employee positions, and after reducing hours. Then they marched on toward their $3.5 million goal by subtracting another $2.1 million by closing the branches on Mondays and closing the Maxville Branch indefinitely; followed by the final request to take $472, 266 in order to pay for the libraries city pension.

The final budget cut vote was held on Sep. 27. Again on Sep. 29 the JPL advocacy website, "I Love JPL", posted news about "restoring $1.7 million to our budget". In turn the libraries would not be closed on Mondays, the Maxville Branch would not be closed indefinitely, and no JPL employee would be layed off. Resulting in the $1.7 million restoration the final budget cut now stands firmly at $2.2 million. The new JPL schedule was effective Oct. 15.

Despite recent Committee actions, Library Director Barbara Gubbin sees the affects of the cut in a different light. "It seems the budget cuts will not have a big impact on FSCJ students. Hours were reduced slightly, but students really should not see an impact. The budget cuts are mainly affecting our internal operations."

JPL provides a library use value calculator that allows the customer to enter the number of times they used certain features and totals the value of your library use had it been purchased instead. The total for last years customers was $100 million. The JPL website (http://jpl.coj.net/lib/lib.value.html) asks customers "What are we worth?" With a moral boost and evident use, JPL may be saved from the mayor's 2013 budget proposal.