Library Budget Cuts to Result in
Fewer Books, Library Closures on Sundays

Funds Provided to Open New Silver Lake Branch

Cuts to the Los Angeles Public Library, outlined in the City of Los Angeles’ proposed 2008-09 budget, will result in fewer books on library shelves and closing libraries on Sundays.  The proposed city budget, “Budget for the Streets:  Expanding Road Repair and Police Patrols,” was released on April 21, 2008.  According to the document, the budget will “solve a $406 million deficit while expanding street repair by 60 miles, protecting the 1,000-officer police buildup, increasing funding for new fire fighters and making major investment in gang reduction and youth development.”

The Library’s budget allocation of $117 million is a $5.19 million—or 7%—reduction from the previous year.  The cut will reduce the book budget by $2 million to $7.7 million; a 22% cut from last year’s book budget of $9.8 million, and a 33% cut from the $11.4 million book budget of two years ago.  It also will result in closing the eight regional branch libraries on Sundays due to a reduction of staff.  In addition, employees will be subject to a “short-term layoff,” which is likely to further reduce service.

The budget maintains equitable access to libraries throughout the city by funding staff to keep all libraries open 6 days and 4 nights a week, 52 hours at community branches, 56 hours at regional branches, and sustains seven-day-a-week service at the Central Library. 

The budget also funds the furniture, equipment, books and staff to open the city’s 72nd branch library, the new Silver Lake Branch, in a community that currently does not have a library.

The budget must be reviewed and finalized and adopted by the Mayor and City Council by June 13.

The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest population of any library in the country through its Central Library, 71 branch libraries, over six million books and other items, state-of-the-art technology, and its Web site (www.lapl.org).  These resources and its more than 18,000 public programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for life-long learning.

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04/25/08