In Robbins, IL, Library Threatened With Closure in Two Weeks

Impoverished suburb suffers from lowered and delayed tax collections

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 08/19/2009

• Appeal to Obama
• Video reports
• How to help

When, in 2005, LJ visited the William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in Robbins, IL, the library was struggling. Now things are so bad for this impoverished suburb of Chicago, library supporters held a rally and prayer circle Tuesday to stave off an impending closing of this crucial community pillar. Students even penned letters to President Barack Obama, a longtime Chicago resident.

“I need $23,000 a month to remain open,” library administrator Priscilla Coatney told LJ. The problem is that funding for the library is being delivered late, because of delayed tax collections, and those tax collections have been diminished by some 40 percent because more and more people can’t pay their taxes. The town has about 6500 people.

WLPLD was supposed to receive nearly $296,000 for the fiscal year that began in July. However, Coatney said the library expects that sum to be diminished and delayed—perhaps not until mid-November. “Things were going well for a minute, but the recessions hit us first,” she said. “We have a huge senior population, and a high poverty rate.” (2005 photo by Chris Jowaisas.)

No hope from LSTA
Last year, WLPLD got an $85,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the state to repair the building, fix the interior, and install new heating and air conditioning systems. This year, the library had hoped for another $50,000.

However, the State Library this year transferred the $3.8 million it got in LSTA funds to restore statewide cuts in grants to libraries, schools, and library systems. For example, thanks to LSTA funds, the 23 percent cut in per capita public library grants was reduced to 16 percent. Robbins got $8000 in June. 

State Library spokesman Pat McGuckin said he knew of no other library in the state threatened with closure. “The only thing we can do is give them their per capita [grant],” he told LJ. Maybe that’s why a Southtown Star article was headlined "Robbins library needs miracle to survive."

Here’s video coverage from WLS.

Crucial to the community
Coatney said the library has been able to buy only a few books, DVDs, or magazines. The staff of three full-timers and four-part-timers, she said, have not had a raise in four years, and most are paid the minimum wage.

The library serves as a safe haven for children, as they often visit after school for homework help. This year, they’ve participated in many summer programs.

If the library closes, Coatney said, “the impact will be tremendous. The library is the center of this community. If the library closes, where will our citizens go?” Fewer than 20 percent of the homes in Robbins have Internet access, so residents use the library to apply for jobs. And neighboring libraries are hard to reach.

How to help
If people would like to contribute to the library, said Coatney, they can send checks or money orders to:
The William Leonard Public Library District
13822 Central Park Avenue
Robbins, IL 60472