California PL To Lay Off 34 FTEs

Faced with a budget cut of nearly 17 percent, from $12.4 million to $10.6 million, the administrators at Stanislaus County Library (SCL), Modesto, CA, decided not only to reduce hours and materials but also cut 94 part-time positions—circulation, shelving, materials processing, and delivery staffers—equivalent to 34 FTEs. The funding shortfall results from a projected 12 percent decrease in sales tax revenues, which comprise 85 percent of SCL's budget. Additionally, the County General Fund will shrink its contribution by three percent, state funding will drop by two-thirds ($291,000), and local contributions are expected to drop by $54,000.

The materials budget, which was reduced by ten percent in January, will be lowered by an additional 33 percent in FY08–09. Travel and training expenditures will be halved, and maintenance and repairs will be deferred unless they create a safety hazard. One full-time position has been eliminated, and, according to the Modesto Bee, eight vacancies will remain unfilled, as a hiring freeze has been in effect since January. The budget must be approved by the end of June.

How will SCL manage? Spokesperson Susan Lilly told LJ that some of the workload will be slashed because of the decrease in service hours, from 579 to 397 per week, across the 13-branch system. The Modesto Library will be closed on Sundays, and all other branches will close two additional days a week. “We all may be performing some duties that we don't normally do,” said Lilly. “SCL does have a sizable force of volunteers,” she said but didn't confirm the Bee's report about recruiting more volunteers to fill in.