Director's Chair June 2015

From the Director’s Chair

     Change is inevitable, sometimes it is pleasant:  a wedding, birth of a child or a new job, sometimes it is unpleasant:  the loss of a job, an illness or a divorce. For this library system, the upcoming change in funding, the loss of over $500,000 is very unpleasant and has forced both the staff and the Board of Directors to make some very difficult decisions.

  

     The first major change is in the number of hours that the main library and its branches will be open. Currently the Martinsburg Library is open 64 hours per week, beginning July 1, the hours will be reduced to 44; instead of 7 days a week the library will be open 5 days. The main library will be closed on Sundays and Wednesdays.Each branch library will be open 32 hours per week also beginning July 1; instead of 6 days a week, each branch will be open 4 days per week. Other than Sunday, the other closed day will vary by library. Information and calendars will be posted on our website, available as handouts and in the monthly newsletters—beginning with this one.

     These hours allow the staffing to be reduced which results in a savings of almost $300,000. Most of the staff positions of those who are retiring or leaving for other reasons, are not being replaced. Part-time staff hours have been reduced by 1/3 or more in some cases.

The second major change in the library is the budget for materials. This has been reduced by over $130,000. For the patron this means that we will not have as many duplicate copies of bestsellers or high demand items. Databases such as Books and Authors, Signing Savvy, Price It! Antiques, America’s History Newspapers, Teen Health and Wellness, Gym America, etc. will not be renewed.

     Patrons who use our e-books and e-audios will notice a dramatic decrease in the number of titles, especially best sellers that are available. The cost is prohibitive at an average of $50.00 per copy. The purchase of books on CDs will be drastically reduced as will reference materials.

     The third major change will be the reduction in our operating costs which includes programming, supplies, utilities, etc. This part of our budget has been reduced by over $70,000. We will be relying on grants to pay for any program, such as the Maryland Zoo that charges a fee; we will be depending on the kindness and expertise of our patrons and staff to provide other programs free to families, children and adults. If you have a talent or a hobby you are passionate about, please let us know. 

     Some things however will NOT change: the library’s commitment to provide quality materials and services to everyone. The staff will still be courteous and informative; the materials we selected will still fulfill the needs of our patrons and be of the highest quality possible. Both the Berkeley County Commission and the City of Martinsburg fund us to the full amount specified in the Special Law; the state of West Virginia still provides $5.00 per capita; and, the generosity of this community is phenomenal.

As Barbara Kingsolver said in Small Wonder “The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.”  I am hopeful that out of this will come dedicated funding for public libraries across the state or at the very least, a levy passed in Berkeley County that provides the library with financial support.                                                    
                                                                              -Pam Coyle, MBCPL Director