Squeezed by Mayoral Directive, Omaha PL Closes Branch, Lays Off More than 25% FTE

Departing director says profession must focus more on preserving library funding

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 8/13/2009

• Libraries, parks take biggest hit
• Service may be restored in next year's budget
• Director Sass says board chose not to lay off librarians

To help the city of Omaha recover from a lingering budget deficit, the Omaha Public Library is suffering a significant temporary hit, with the library board agreeing to close one branch through the rest of the year, lay off some 50 workers (more than 25% FTE), and cut hours at the other locations. “

[P]ublic safety and basic city services are the top priorities,” Mayor Jim Suttle said. OPL, along with parks and recreation, took the biggest hits.

For OPL director Rivkah Sass, who later this month moves to the Sacramento Public Library, it was a difficult last week in the job, seeing valuable staffers laid off, with the possibility—though not the certainty—of getting rehired next year. “I'm so frustrated with us as a profession right now,” she told LJ. “We have to fight for our survival. I'm dealing with people who are saying to me, Are libraries even relevant."

She took an indirect swipe at the political discussions that regularly engage the governing Council of the American Library Association. “I have no control over whether or not Barack Obama sends more troops into Afghanistan,” she said. “But I do have the opportunity to try to influence my community about whether or not library service is vital and essential to the quality of life.” She was LJ’s 2006 Librarian of the Year for her work improving OPL.

A tough choice
Sass said library managers presented two layoff scenarios to the library board. One involved laying off a dozen librarians, she said, and while union rules do not require strict seniority, the scenario would have required layoffs of six librarians recruited last year, who are working to attract new people to the library, such as young professionals. “It would take years to try to rebuild from laying off all of those librarians,” she said.

But laying off part-time staff—22 part-time clerks and 26 part-time library specialists—was painful as well, as it cuts into service and reduces the number of bilingual and minority staffers, she said. (One full-time librarian and four full-time “provisional” library specialists were laid off, as well.) Given that some of the part-timers work as little as 12 hours per week, and earn $11.50–$20 per hour, the savings, over four months, is less than $200,000.

“We're not only losing the ability to flexibly schedule,” Sass said. “A lot of the people [laid off] are community outreach specialists.” Some branches will be staffed primarily by librarians.

Budget gyrations
OPL’s budget has been stagnant for years, and in 2009 took an additional six percent hit in three phases on its $10.8 million budget. In June the three (of 11) libraries that were open on Sundays ended that service.

Next year’s proposed budget, however, restores Sunday hours, restores staff, and even would include staff for a new branch, plus an eight percent rise to the materials budget. So, Sass said, “In September, once the budget gets passed, and assuming the economy doesn't get worse, we could say to 48 of the 49 people, if you'd like to come back, we'll hire you.”

The layoffs take effect on September 6. The Florence Branch, which is closing, had been supposed to close for a renovation this year; that renovation is postponed until 2010.

Need for dedicated funding
Sass said OPL suffers from having to rely on fluctuating city funding rather than a dedicated taxing district. For example, Omaha faces a growing debt obligation for its convention center and arena. Sales taxes have decreased rather than increased, and property taxes are flat.

The mayor, who took office in June, cares about the library, she said, but the city has significant obligations to its police and fire departments, the latter of which has an especially strong union contract. “I'm really proud of the fact that we have a strategic plan,” she said, but parts won’t be implemented for now because, for example, a rebranding effort can’t work in a climate of cuts.

“We have people who've worked for us for years,” Sass said about the layoffs. “They love the library and love their community. We had to say, thank you very much for your service.”