posted by Joe Polk at 2:47 PM /
Suburban libraries are scrambling to figure out how to make up lost money under a proposed formula that appears to address concerns expressed by those providing the dollars.
Suburban libraries wrangled over a formula for four years and approved the latest version this week by a 33-9 vote, with two abstentions. "It was designed so that there would be predictable funding from year to year," Jenkins said. "It was designed to be as simple as possible and as equitable as possible."
The old formula was based on population, economic distress, use of the library by residents and nonresidents, the number of hours the library is open and local funding. This formula, if RAD approves, would not consider library hours or local funding.
Jenkins noted 14 libraries that would lose money voted for the formula. South Park and Mt. Lebanon public libraries, however, voted against it. Cynthia Richey, director of Mt. Lebanon's library, said the formula doesn't accomplish the goal of helping distressed libraries.
Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_631161.html
Suburban libraries wrangled over a formula for four years and approved the latest version this week by a 33-9 vote, with two abstentions. "It was designed so that there would be predictable funding from year to year," Jenkins said. "It was designed to be as simple as possible and as equitable as possible."
The old formula was based on population, economic distress, use of the library by residents and nonresidents, the number of hours the library is open and local funding. This formula, if RAD approves, would not consider library hours or local funding.
Jenkins noted 14 libraries that would lose money voted for the formula. South Park and Mt. Lebanon public libraries, however, voted against it. Cynthia Richey, director of Mt. Lebanon's library, said the formula doesn't accomplish the goal of helping distressed libraries.
Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_631161.html
Labels: library, RAD, state funding
1 Comments:
Our Library stands to lose $170,000 a year as a result of the Allegheny County Library Assn. proposal.Not just in 2010, but every year thereafter. This would be a hugh hit and would result in more days closed, a reduction in staff and programing. If anyone would be willing to write a letter to the RAD board please contact me and I will give you additional information.
Over 25,000 Mt. Lebanon residents hold library cards, and we need them to speak out in an attempt to change this funding proposal.
We need your help!
Thanks,
Joe Wertheim, President
Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library
jhwertheim@aol.com
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