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Library budget woes go before board |
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Friday, 31 July 2009 |
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Dustin Barnes/Daily Times Leader
Mary Helen Waggoner, director of the Bryan Public Library, explains the library's budget problems before the Clay County Board of Supervisors during its meeting on Thursday. Waggoner asked the board for a possible estimate of funds that will be going to the library to help supplement salaries and operational costs for the facility.
By Dustin Barnes
Daily Times Leader
The Clay County Board of Supervisors heard from Mary Helen Waggoner, director of the Bryan Library, on the library's current budget problems. Waggoner appeared before the board to inform the supervisors of the library's budget problems.
“The state cut us at least 7 percent last year and another ten percent this year,” Waggoner pointed out, referring to the library's decreasing budget. “That is money that pays for salaries.”
Waggoner said the library would have to close on Saturdays in August due to not having enough people to keep the place open. The library's children librarian is currently on sick leave, recovering from surgery, she added.
“Everything is going up,” Waggoner said, pointing out the rising costs that are eating into the library's budget. “Postage rates, book costs, minimum wage.”
In the past, Clay County has allocated $74,000 to the library, Waggoner said, referring to figures from the 2001-02 fiscal year. The amount has declined over the years, she added.
“We never know how much we'll get from Clay County,” Waggoner said before the board members.
Waggoner said the library provided many services to the community, in addition to offering books and movies for check-out.
“The library have computers that are constantly being used,” she noted. “There are people using the computers to search for jobs, to create resumes and even take online classes.”
Waggoner also cited the facility's free wireless internet, children's programs and displays and the local history room as important community functions for the area.
“We desperately need more money, at least $74,000,” Waggoner told the board, saying the funds could also help support another circulation librarian.
District 3 Supervisor R.B. Davis commended the library on its contributions to the community.
“Investing in the library is investing in the community,” he said, also adding that the board could not give a final number of allocated funds to the library at this point.
Waggoner said she understood the millage rates helped determine the amounts given to the library, but that she wanted to make the board aware of the problems.
Floyd McKee said he will do everything he can to support the library, recalling some of his earlier experiences when he was younger and would get books from the bookmobile.
“If we don't get extra funds, something is going to have to go,” Waggoner said, listing such possibilities as operational hours being cut on certain days or done away with all together on Saturdays.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 August 2009 )
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