Today we hear that 1.55 million jobs in the U.S. were lost during the last six
months, and 3,000 jobs were lost within Sangamon County during the last five
years. People have been hit hard and income is shrinking or gone. We need a
haven that provides us with support — for entertainment, research, job searching and helping students of all ages to
gain their degrees. Libraries encourage literacy programs and are one of the
only places that provides a computer with Internet access, thus fighting to
bridge the digital divide.
So why is it that during every Springfield city budget crisis, or whenever
discretionary tax revenues decrease, we are hearing a call to reduce public
library services? Why does this make any sense, given that during hard times
our public library grows in importance? Clearly, if branches were consistently
open more evening and weekend hours they would be available for the 9-to-5
worker, and individuals and families would make greater use of library
services.
Literacy for all is an imperative goal for libraries. Libraries offer to proctor
tests for students taking online courses, providing the student with a free and
easily accessible space. Libraries create book clubs that bring people together
with similar interests. Reading programs, such as family programs in the summer
and winter months, unite families and encourage them to appreciate the benefits
of reading together, and motivate schoolchildren to continue reading during the
summer months. Reference service is available to individuals of all ages, and
homework guidance is provided. Libraries help people who may otherwise fall
through the cracks in the system.
Our city’s leadership needs to find a permanent solution that ends this misguided dispute
over branch library funding. It is time that we recognize the public library
branches as a precious community resource. How can we contemplate closing
branch libraries to save approximately $370,000 at the same time that the mayor
advocates spending a similar sum (or overall a greater sum) this year in saving
the Maisenbacher home? If the city is going to bank upon using anticipated
profits from the new Dallman power plant this year — and possibly every year — to supplement city services, why can’t branch libraries be incorporated into that budget?
Many state libraries are going broke as budgets decrease. School librarians’ salaries are often cut when income from school tax revenue decreases. These are
bad public policy decisions. Dramatically reducing access to public libraries
leaves a hole in our social fabric.
Patricia Erford is library specialist at Brookens Library, University of
Illinois at Springfield. She is a former director of West Sangamon Public
Library District, Springfield.
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2008.
