What's Happening In Public Libraries

With the city of Dallas facing revenue shortfalls of $95 million, most city departments will suffer. The budget proposal released by the City Manager recommends reducing Dallas Public Library hours and cutting ten full-time positions to save $327,787. The city may eliminate 494 total positions to recoup more than $20 million. Dallas will increase spending on police and fire services.

Patron outcry will keep the Greentown branch of the North Canton Public Library, OH, open at least until the end of the year. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, open hours weekly will be cut nearly in half, from 48 to 25. Still, library officials aren't guaranteeing that the library will stay open in 2003 if state funding cuts continue. More than 700 residents signed petitions in support of the library.

A hacker who made four attacks on the web site of the Monroe County Library System, Rochester, NY, has been sentenced to one to three years in prison. The site had to be shut down for more than three weeks last December, costing the library $30,000 in repairs and security upgrades. Christopher J. Chinnici pleaded guilty in June to a felony charge of second-degree computer tampering; he also was ordered to pay the county more than $15,000, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

At the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, AB, it's a good bet that attendees will stop at the book sale tent run by the Edmonton Public Library. According to the Edmonton Journal, last year 68,000 volumes were sold onsite. The tent is donated and staffed by nearly 70 volunteers. Besides library discards, some books for the sale are donated by patrons.