Loss of Revenue May Mean Shorter Hours, Layoffs at Local Libraries

Over the past year, schools, parks and public safety agencies have faced uncertainty in light of dwindling tax revenues. Now local libraries are on the chopping block and residents are more than a little upset about it.

The Sonoma County Library has begun union negotiations, proposing staff cutbacks and reductions of library hours throughout the county, with a goal of saving $250,000 in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

In a position paper released earlier last month, library management proposed cutting regional branch hours back to 40 hours per week, and cutting public service substitute positions, effective July 31.

Under the new hours regional branches, like the , would be open Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m - a reduction of 12 hours.

Read the full details of the Library's proposed cutbacks in the position paper, at right.

Since 2009, the Sonoma County Library system has lost over $1.5 million in revenues and commissioners estimate that state funding cuts and reduced property taxes will slash over $600,000 from the 2012 budget. 

But, according to county administrators, the cutbacks are subject to several rounds of union negotiations, and the details are not yet set in stone.

"We've presented a proposal to the union, so the ball is in their court and there's no discussion items on Monday's [Library Commission Meeting] agenda," said Sandra Cooper, Director of the Sonoma County Library.

Responding to rumors that the cutbacks are scheduled for a vote in Monday's meeting, Cooper sent an e-mail Friday morning to all library staff clarifying the long negotiation process ahead.

"The next steps will depend on what alternatives the Union wishes to offer as viable ways to close the $1.05 million gap," wrote Cooper.

"The change in work schedule is subject to the opportunity to bargain over the decision," added Kelly Tuffo, the Sonoma County Library Commission's negotiator.

Though the details are not set in stone, local libraries will most certainly see cutbacks of some kind, as administrators struggle to balance the budget.

"It's confusing because [the proposed cutbacks] are only a small piece of what the commission will be developing to try and close the operating deficit of $1.05 million" said Cooper. "At some point we just can't ask the staff to keep working without the resources -  they've been urging some sort of reduction in service hours because the workload has gotten so crazy."

Library patrons, especially parents, are bracing themselves for the loss of morning hours, which many spend attending reading groups with their pre-schoolers.

“It seems like there would be some other way they could cut costs without reducing the hours,” said Megan Morrone, a Petaluma mother of three, who said she came to the library nearly every day. “At our house, we like to have books coming and going and it's easy to reserve them online, then pick them up as I run my errands."

Doug Cisney, the Petaluma Library branch manager, said the reduced hours would mean that more employees would be available when the library was open. But still, he admitted, the proposal was hard to swallow, for both the community and library staff.

"You regret doing this because everybody needs the library," Cisney said. "But with the budget issues everyone is facing, there's no choice."

He added that the library would try to save as many of the children's programs as possible. 

Outside the Sonoma Valley library Thursday, closed in observance of Cesar Chavez Day, patrons who walked up to the glass sliding doors were greeted by a flier. "CLOSED" it read. It's a sign they'll be seeing a lot more of, if the proposed schedule change goes into effect August 1.

The library commission is scheduled to meet Monday, April 4, but the revised hours and layoffs are not on the agenda. The 7pm meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Central Library in Santa Rosa, at 211 E St.