By Rodd Cayton
Several public library supporters Tuesday evening told Albuquerque City Councilors the system needs more money, not less.
The entire council met as the Committee of the Whole, which considers the budget and the capital improvements program proposed by the mayor.
In the $1.5 billion budget proposal revealed last month by Mayor Tim Keller, funding for libraries is down about $49,000 to $16.54 million
Speakers during the public comment period expressed opposition to that reduction and urged councilors to add funding beyond that to meet staffing and technology needs.
Janet Sayers, representing the Library Advisory Board, said libraries had a $500,000 recurring line item for library technology before the COVID-19 pandemic. She and others asked that funding be restored.
Julia Clarke of the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation said one consequence of losing the funding has been reduced hours. In the past year, she said, closings have become commonplace at library branches due to lack of staff, with 85 hours of unscheduled closings between July 1 and April 24.
Clarke said that means library card holders are arriving at branches to find them closed, and that it’s the foundation’s understanding that the closures are due to delays in filling temporary and permanent positions in order to generate salary savings that can be used to cover unbudgeted information technology costs.
She said restoring the technology line item would allow the libraries to improve service and keep reliable hours.
Arts and Culture Director Shelle Sanchez said branches that were open seven days a week were reduced to six days.
“That was in order to stay within the budget that we had,” she said “And the best way for us to do that was by reducing our temporary staffing so that we wouldn’t impact our full-time permitted employees.”
She said her department is not expecting to further reduce hours of service at libraries.
Cheryl Mugleston, a retired library employee, said the council should consider a $2.5 million budget increase for libraries.
“I’ve seen the impact of library resources and staff on the community, from infants to seniors,” she said. “They’ve been entertained. They’ve met new people. They look for jobs. They learn how to use their cell phones and electronic resources and other electronic devices. They learned how to love to read.”
Mugleston said technology is vital to library patrons as they look for jobs, complete assignments and learn new skills. She said the equipment and software need to consistently be updated.
Other speakers said the library is important for community programs and cultural enrichment and as a safe place for youth as well as a rare public space in which someone can stay without buying anything.
Councilor Dan Lewis questioned whether a $93,000 transfer from the Department of Arts and Culture, which includes the library, to the General Services Department for operations of the Albuquerque Rail Yards, is necessary.
“I’m just wondering why libraries was chosen as a reduction when, you know, there’s personnel needs in every aspect of the system of our libraries,” he said. “Is this a department that we’re going to fund less and less each year? Is it a department that we’re going to look at and say, ‘hey, if we need money to fund other areas of the general fund, the budget will take it out of here?’ I mean, is that going to be the trend?”
Thursday’s meeting was the first of two at which the Committee of the Whole will take public comment before selecting a version to send to the City Council for approval. The next is at 5 p.m. May 8. Those wishing to speak during the public comment period must sign up in advance.
The final budget is expected to be adopted later this month.
