Mount Vernon PL, NY, Loses Half Its Staff, then Gets Funds To Reinstate Them
By Lynn Blumenstein Jul 19, 2010Mount Vernon Public Library (MVPL), NY, which laid off more than half of its staff and demoted others on July 2, received funds July 15 to call them back. "The 13 staff persons that were laid off and the eight staff demoted were all restored," MVPL director Opal Lindsay told LJ. The City Council approved the transfer of $250,000 to restore staff levels.
"The community made a big difference," said Lindsay, who noted that "their persistence was unrelenting." Within a very short time they gathered more than 1500 signatures on a petition and presented them to the City Council.
The City of Mount Vernon (2009 pop. 68,878) borders the Bronx, New York City's northernmost borough. The library is part of the Westchester Library System, which provides centralized services to 38 member libraries.
Struggle since January to seek solution
MVPL has been struggling to deal with shortfalls in its 2010 budget since early this year, despite the good news that staff would receive retroactive pay increases. The City of Mount Vernon adopted a $3,935,216 library budget for 2010 that was $205,382 less than the 2009 budget. That amount represents a $400,000 shortfall compared to expected costs, or ten percent of the budget.
Throughout the year, MVPL staff worked with city and union officials "to inform them of the seriousness of this matter and the potential layoffs," Lindsay said in a staff memo she provided to LJ. A proposed furlough was rejected.
Funding formula changes in 2012 but 2011 remains a challenge
MVPL hopes avoid a repeat of this painful scenario by fully operating as a school district library by 2012. According to Lindsay, MVPL is chartered as a school district library but has been functioning as a municipal library.
The board of trustees recently passed a resolution approving a change, she said. The library's budget would in 2012 be approved by the community.
"I truly hope we never have to go through this process again," Lindsay wrote to staff. "However," she noted, "with the city's additional funding only addressing our 2010 budgetary shortfall, we will need to find creative and positive solutions to avoid this unwanted dilemma in 2011."
LoHud.com reported that the City Council president suggested that some older veteran library workers may have to take early retirement; incentives may be offered.
