San Francisco PL Budget Increases, Controversial Preservation Fund Vote Set
Lynn Blumenstein & Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 9/12/2007
San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) users will enjoy expanded service hours and an enhanced book collection, thanks to the library’s increased budget. SFPL’s operating budget for fiscal year 2007-08 is $75.1 million, a 6.5 percent or $4.6 million increase from the previous year. SFPL also has taken steps to renew its current charter one year early, asking voters to approve property taxes not only for operations but also to guarantee revenue bonds to finance increasingly-costly library construction—a controversial issue.
A good portion of the 2008 budget increase—about 35 percent, or $1.6 million—will go bolster the book and materials collection, a 22 percent increase over the previous fiscal year’s $7.8 million. Enhancements will be made to opening-day collections, new and renewed electronic databases, computer and travel books, and international language materials. About 18 percent of the increase, or $801,448, will go toward providing expanded hours at nine branch libraries, beginning in October.
Construction costs rise
While SFPL is in the midst of an ambitious $106 million branch renovation program, approved by voters in 2000, it is running out of money due to soaring construction costs. Director Luis Herrera cites a shortfall of $45 million. The approval of Proposition D on Nov. 7 would guarantee funding levels for operations and establish the authority to issue debt to complete the construction program. The gadfly Library Users Association (LUA) warns that, given that the measure would guarantee only a budget at the level of fiscal year 2006-2007 level, operations and materials could suffer.
The measure needs a 50 percent approval to pass. The Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods refused to endorse the ballot, while the Green Party and Republican Party endorsed a "no" vote." The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library endorse a "yes" vote, describing the library's progress. [Updated: Additionally, as Library Commission President Charles Higueras points out in a talkback comment below, the measure is supported by a wide range of groups and elected officials.]
RSI records sought
Meanwhile, the LUA has filed suit in response to the library’s unwillingness to provide records regarding repetitive stress injuries (RSI) among library staffers—a justification for a now-stalled effort to install a RFID (radio frequency identification) system to ease materials handling. The San Francisco Sunshine Task Force has twice ruled in favor of Peter Warfield, executive director of the LUA, who believe that RFID will threaten patron privacy.
"We have turned over everything multiple times that he has asked for within the boundaries of California law, in consultation with our City Attorney," said library spokeswoman Marcia Schneider, who expressed puzzlement, given the library has no plans to implement RFID." While a press release on behalf of the LUA said the case was reffered to the city’s Ethics Commission and District Attorney for enforcement, Schneider said that neither had contacted the library. The case is pending before San Francisco Superior Court.
