Public outcry saves Fallston library, news not all good

Mary Paramore
Associate Editor
6/25/09

These young ladies and others who protested the proposed closing of the Fallston library during a June 18 hearing in Bel Air were successful in their efforts.

The Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees is no longer recommending the closure of the Fallston branch in its fiscal year 2010 budget, on which members will vote during a special meeting Thursday night. Instead, the library plans to reduce staff by ten percent, close the library store and Small Business Center, cut its materials budget and reduce service hours, among other cuts.

“Due to the outpouring of email, petitions, public testimony, phone calls and letters, the message was clear,” said Library Director Audra Caplan in a news conference Wednesday. “We will implement cuts across the system so the doors can remain open at all libraries.”

The library system must absorb a $1.6 million cut in funds over fiscal year 2009. The 2010 budget year is set to begin July 1. Caplan said, “The board looked extensively at the operating budget to make these recommendations. There is simply no way for the library to absorb budget cuts of this magnitude without significantly impacting our services.”

The recommendations are as follows:

*  reducing staff by 10 percent staff by laying off of seven employees, freezing 20 vacant positions, not hiring summer interns and part-time employees and reducing some salaries
*  mandating five furlough days for all staff
*  closing all branches on Sundays, plus an additional four hours during the week
* reducing programming for children, adults and seniors
*  cutting the materials budget by 20 percent
*  closing the Small Business Center and library store
*  reducing equipment, maintenance and cleaning budgets
* looking at implementing fees where none exist, such as for meeting space, and increasing other fines and fees

The Small Business Center worked with the Harford County Small Business Development Center, the Office of Economic Development and local financial institutions to assist aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

At the news conference, Caplan and Board Chairman William Nicodemus described the unique challenges facing the board. Also attending the news conference were four members of the board, who nodded in agreement as the pair described their task.

Caplan said, “Because we’re a service organization, 72 percent of our budget is for personnel and 14 percent is for materials. During tough economic times, people flock to the public library for free reading materials, services and support. We’ve had a 75 percent increase in circulation over the past five years.”

Nicodemus said that the “county code says the library board shall approve the library budget,” so the board’s vote Thursday night will result in a final 2010 library budget.
A public meeting scheduled before that vote will still be held at 6 p.m. at the Fallston High School auditorium, with doors opening at 5 p.m. The Board of Trustees will meet in a special meeting called specifically to vote on the 2010 budget following the hearing.