From the start of the 2012 budget discussions, the Rye City Council told the Rye Free Reading Room that its share of funding would be $1,080,000, the same as last year. As the Mayor and City Manager explained, revenues are down $2,000,000 from 2008 and every department is being held flat.

 

By Robin Jovanovich

 

From the start of the 2012 budget discussions, the Rye City Council told the Rye Free Reading Room that its share of funding would be $1,080,000, the same as last year. As the Mayor and City Manager explained, revenues are down $2,000,000 from 2008 and every department is being held flat.

At a budget workshop last month, the library director and board members made it perfectly clear that without the additional $75,000 requested they would have no choice but to be open fewer hours, eight to be exact.

Library Director Kitty Little explained that no increase from the City means their operating budget will be below 2006, and their spending for materials will fall to the 2004 level. “If we’re flat, we’re down eight hours of service,” she said in an interview at the library last week.

 

She outlined the library’s needs and challenges. “We only have nine full-time employees and we need to cover three floors. We have to people these floors just to be ‘appropriate’. The top floor isn’t a new service area, as one Councilmember misstated, and the last time it was renovated was in 1960. We’re just developing existing space into an area for teens, for whom there is a need and will be a continuing need for programs.”

 

Director Little said she doesn’t understand the ‘short-sheeting’ of core community services, especially when there is a proven return on investment in the library. After comparing the amount of public funding the Rye library receives against other comparable communities, Little said she was dismayed to see Rye was dead last.

 

“The Library is making every effort to maximize resources as it always has. We’re focused on programs and services for children that further their education. We’re aware of adult needs and doing everything we can to offer help on small business ownership, parenting, recreation, whatever they need help on — despite budget constrains.”

 

Library use isn’t going to fall, she emphasized. Circulation has grown 10% in the last few years.

 

The library’s labor agreement expires at the end of this year. When asked for a settlement progress report, Little replied, “We’re currently in negotiations.” She added, “Our last contract was more conservative than the City’s. A conservative normal is our goal.”

 

Little said the library takes every opportunity to use volunteers and interns but can’t depend on them as much as many non-profits “because so much of the service we provide is technical, and reference is by itself a confidential conversation.”

 

The library is currently open 49? hours a week. If forced to cut operating hours back, Little said they haven’t yet decided what those eight hours will be.

“I’m just glad to report that the Children’s Room is reopening after the flood this weekend,” she said in conclusi