What a second half to 2008!

I began my Director's blog with a bit of gusto, but the air was taken out of my sails by severe budget cuts on all fronts--city, county, and state--beginning in the summer. These cuts began prior to the economy's plummet, which addded insult to injury. I spent the last six months of the year meeting with elected officials and working with the trustees to salvage a service organization's budget made up almost completely of people. Some very difficult choices had to be made to keep the library afloat. We have had to reduce public service hours and drastically reduce staffing. Two positions became open in 2008 (one through retirement, one resignation due to relocating) and will remain vacant in 2009. In addition, at least eight part time positions' hours have been reduced and all salaries were frozen.

In the end, the budget was reduced by over $100,000, an unprecedented 7%. We now stand at 2001 funding with 2009 expenses inlcuding technology. And when the economy sours, public library usage always increases. In fact, prior to closing on Sundays, we were on a pace to be as busy as we were when Griffiss Air Force Base was still open.

Due to severe cutbacks, all new programs in 2009 will rely heavily on volunteers, including staff members who volunteer to support programs about which they are passionate.

My wish for 2009 is that we make it through the next round of budget cuts. Already at a less than skeleton crew, I am unsure of how we will make the income and expenses meet when the 2010 city, county, and state budgets are drafted.