FAQ about the White Plains
Public Library Budget
for the
Fiscal Year July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010
What are the service
impacts of the Library’s 09/10 Budget?
Reduced Hours of Operation as of July 1, 2009:
Sept - May:
Mon, Wed 10am - 9pm
Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am - 6pm
Saturday Closed, Sunday 1pm - 5pm
Jun, July, Aug:
Mon, Wed 10am - 9pm
Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am - 6pm
Saturday 1pm - 5pm, Sunday Closed
Why have the Library’s hours
been reduced?
• Reduced hours were required for savings on utilities, security, and
personnel.
• The new budget does not provide for sufficient personnel to staff the
current 60-hour, 7-day, 3-night service schedule. It eliminates funding
for 13,000 hours of part-time help (7 full time equivalents) plus 1
full-time position.
• Minimum levels of staff are needed during each hour open to work with
the public and manage inventory, building and systems.
How were the new hours of
operation chosen?
• Many variations of a reduced schedule were examined.
Each day was assessed for amount of service typically given and numbers
of staff needed overall to maintain each schedule.
• Every day of the week is busy.
• Every day and time is important to our residents, weekdays as much as
weekends.
• Nights are less busy, but important to people who cannot come at
other times.
• Assuming minimum staffing, we determined that a 47-50 hour a week
schedule should still be manageable.
• Maximum potential savings on utilities was considered. Being closed
Friday at 6pm to Sunday at 1pm saves more than closing Monday at 6pm
and reopening Tuesday at 10am.
• The chosen schedule maintains some consistency summer and winter and
provides for evening and weekend hours, including summer Saturday hours
and Sunday service from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
• We do not believe this schedule is ideal or, hopefully, permanent.
• We know many people will be disappointed and expect more, and we
agree. We hope people will work with us towards solutions for better
levels of funding and service.
How will the budget reductions
affect the purchase of new library books, DVDs, CDs, and other library
materials?
• The reductions are substantial, but we will do our best, as always,
to ensure that patron needs and interests are satisfied.
• People can expect fewer new selections in all formats and longer
waits for items on reserve.
• A wide variety of purchases will continue to be made. We will not
focus on any one category, such as popular materials. Funds will be
managed to proportionately meet as many needs as possible.
All residents are entitled to be
advocates
• The funding problems are Citywide and will take time to solve.
• All residents have a voice. The public library is a community
information resource, and citizens are welcome to contribute their
ideas about how the City might save money, operate more efficiently and
go green.
• The Library will do its part to vigorously explore new ways to
operate.
• Advocacy can take place any time, but especially before elections and
from Feb. – May when the City budget is being made. Citizens can ask
elected officials and candidates about their priorities and tell them
their preferences. A list of elected officials is available at the
Library’s Adult Reference Desk 422-1480 or online at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/
locality/?entity_id=6622&state=NY
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Library Budget at a Glance
How much was cut?
Adopted Budget 08/09 $5,973,888 Adopted Budget 09/10 $5,508,829
Difference: $ (465,059) -7%
What areas of the budget
decreased?
• $75,944 1 full-time position
• $132,200 part-time (-42%)
• $99,000 books (-38%)
• $12,500 magazines (-50%)
• $89,000 nonbooks (-66%)
• $14,900 databases (-17%)
• $80,100 overtime, postage, education/travel, maintenance, supplies,
service contracts, equipment
What costs had to be increased?
Benefits, electricity, gas, copier rental
Service impacts at a glance
• Reduced hours of operation
• Short staffing at all public service desks: longer waits, shelving
backlogs
• Greatly reduced purchasing of new books, CDs, DVDs,
magazines, reference materials
• Reduced programming & outreach
• Increased fines & fees, e.g. overdues $.25/day, reserve fees $.75
each. Higher fines may not boost revenue, but should help increase
availability of items.
• Use of collection agency
This may also increase availability of items, as well as boost revenue.
• Sale of formats being discontinued (videos, books-on-tape)
White Plains Public Library
Board of Trustees
Denise J. D’Ambrosio, President
Tim James, Secretary
Hope Furth, Jeane Garment, Yuki Itoh Haynes, Denise O. Matthews-Serra,
P. Lynn Oliva, Paul Schwarz, Dr. Christopher Clouet, Superintendent
of Schools
Sandra Miranda, Director
Patricia Thorsen, Assistant Director
White Plains Common Council
Adam T. Bradley, Mayor
Thomas M. Roach, President
Benjamin Boykin II, David Buchwald, Milagros Lecuona,
Dennis J. Power,
Beth N. Smayda
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