“The extent of the proposed cut is enormous–$ 20.4 million of new reductions, bringing our total city cuts to $28.3 million,” Galante declared. “This is coupled with another $1 million in state reductions. These reductions also threaten another $1.25 million in annual state aid, which would be lost as the city fails to meet its local maintenance of effort. In the face of losing such a substantial portion of our funding, Queens Library would be forced to outright close community libraries for the first time ever. Queens Borough Public Library Chief Executive Officer Thomas W. Galante testified before the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations jointly with the Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Libraries on June 4 that the Executive Budget proposes an even deeper cut than the Fiscal Year 2011 Preliminary Budget, about which he testified in March.

“The extent of the proposed cut is enormous–$ 20.4 million of new reductions, bringing our total city cuts to $28.3 million,” Galante declared. “This is coupled with another $1 million in state reductions. These reductions also threaten another $1.25 million in annual state aid, which would be lost as the city fails to meet its local maintenance of effort. In the face of losing such a substantial portion of our funding, Queens Library would be forced to outright close community libraries for the first time ever. This would undermine our core mission and deal a crippling blow to communities who would see their libraries locked altogether.” Under the current proposal, 14 of Queens Library’s 62 branch libraries would be shuttered completely until funds to open them were restored.

“Current funding levels will also cause the closing of 33 more libraries on Saturday beginning this summer,” Galante added. “Sunday service at all but the Central Library is already a thing of the past. Going forward under the proposed budget, 34 community libraries would be closed four or five days a week (open only 2 days per week). Just 12 libraries out of 62 would be open five days per week. Just one would be open six days per week and only Central Library in Jamaica would offer Sunday service. Overall, our average weekly service hours would shrink from 42 hours presently to 20 hours, taking with it the huge variety of programs and services offered. Public library service would be slashed nearly in half.“

Those service cuts mean that as many as 3,000 adults would miss out on crucial literacy classes, as literacy centers would be closed more often than they are open, Galante added. “As many as 5,000 students a day would have to find somewhere else to go for homework help and a safe place after school. It could mean half as many books in the hands of Queens residents, half as many opportunities for free programs for seniors and young parents. It means 25,000 people a day could show up to their local library to find it closed.

“We find ourselves today in the midst of economic times that put our very core values to the test. We know all too well that when neighborhoods and families are squeezed financially, they turn first to the public library. We know that public libraries provide critical online access for families without computers or Internet service. We know that libraries are the first line of defense against illiteracy and unemployment. We know that we are a key resource in the education of our young people. Over the course of the recession this truth has been demonstrated clearly, as we have seen our usage and demand for services increase.”

Eighty percent of the Library’s costs are the staff needed to deliver library service, Galante pointed out. “Funding cuts received each year so far include $5 million in FY ’09, $11.5 million in FY ’10, and $28.3 million proposed for FY ’11. A hiring freeze, which began in 2008, has only yielded 70 position vacancies. Despite the hiring freeze and a voluntary retirement incentive, our workforce reduction has simply not kept pace with the level of cuts we have sustained: we have seen just $4 million savings in attrition costs over the same period that we have lost $16.5 million in city funding.

“We have no other option but to slash costs by laying off 412 employees to meet the Executive Budget funding level. Last month, we handed out hundreds of layoff notices to our dedicated staff who educate, assist and serve the community every day. In addition to librarians, clerks, custodians and other library staff, we have reduced our management staff by 27 percent. All levels of the organization have been affected by workforce reductions. We will strive to save each and every job, but the reality is that our staff reduction through attrition has not kept pace with the budget cuts received so far. If funding is not restored, this will result in gutting Queens Library of the most dedicated and talented people in the field.”

Galante’s complete testimony before the Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Libraries can be read in full at www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm =From+The+Library+Director.