Two hundred library Friends and staff rallied for Full Library Funding at City Hall in December (Photo courtesy of Friends of Walnut St. West Library).

“Robbing Peter to pay Paul” has become the norm as Free Library branches loan staff to each other so they can keep their doors open. Philadelphia’s public libraries are now operating with skeleton crews, short 150 staff positions system-wide, due to unremedied attrition.

Last weekend, Walnut St. West Librarian Bruce Siebers worked Saturday at the Cecil B. Moore branch, along with three others borrowed from other branches. According to Siebers, Cecil B. Moore Library only has four full-time employees.

Libraries are required to have at least four staff present to open, including a guard. If four are scheduled and one calls in sick… you get the picture. It happened 375 times last year. When neighborhood libraries open late, or not at all, people stop using them. 

Additionally, libraries are plagued by closures from decades of deferred maintenance to roofs, and heating and air-conditioning systems. Funded by the soda tax, ReBuild Philadelphia is gradually addressing these building issues. But daily operating expenses come from the Mayor-given, City Council-approved, annual City Budget.

Alice Wells, Friend of Walnut West Library, at City Hall Rally for Full Funding for Libraries.

Back in 2008, the City cut back an already modest budget for the Free Library of Philadelphia, due to the recession. Since then, materials, resources and programs, as well as staff, have been drastically reduced. At the end of twelve years of nominal annual increases, the 2008 pre-cut budget was finally restored in this year’s Free Library budget of $41.2 million.

But taking inflation into account, those 2008 dollars should be $49.7 million in today’s dollars and, according to library staff, even that would not be enough to provide robust library services in a 2020 world. They are adamant: Restoring 2008 dollars is not enough! However, Mayor Kenney has responded to recent emails that restoring 2008 dollars is enough.

Last Fall the Mayor held an ask the Mayor twitter session. Frustrated, Philadelphia’s public librarians responded loudly with #FundOurLibraries. Neighborhood library Friends groups added their support. Two hundred library Friends and staff joined forces at a Full-Funding rally in City Hall, delivering petitions to Council Members and the Mayor. Several articles have appeared in The Inquirer.

In response, Mayor Kenney stepped in and reallocated the library’s current year budget items, taking money from staff overtime, and materials and resources, in order to add/redeploy enough staff so 35 of the 54 branches are now open on Saturday (but some only for four hours).

Wanting a more permanent and workable solution, the Free Library has proposed to Mayor Kenney a 2020 budget with library funding increases of $15 million, the minimum it feels is required, largely to cover additional full and part-time staff positions without taking money from materials and resources, and provide for six day weeks at all
branches.

On March 7, after crunching the numbers, Mayor Kenney will present City Council with his proposed 2020 budget for the City, including for its 54 branch and regional libraries. Library Friends ask Philadelphians to let the Mayor know NOW that they want full funding – $15 million more – for public libraries.

Meanwhile librarians, short-handed, have little time for collection management, neighborhood outreach and special program development. At Walnut St West Library, the managing librarian comes in early, on his own time, to process books. Penn students and neighbors volunteer to shelve books. An active Friends group spends 1000’s of dollars each year on items like extra children’s books and programs, and cleaning or replacing frayed furniture and flooring. This year it even was asked to purchase bathroom and cleaning supplies.

What happens at the branches where there is no Friends group, or if the neighborhood can’t afford that level of support? Surely all areas of Philadelphia deserve great libraries!

Tell Mayor Kenney and City Council members that Philadelphia deserves fully funded libraries, dependably open at least 6 days a week, with full resources. Explain how libraries have improved life for you or someone you know. Ask your friends and family to do the same. Remind our leaders that in May you’ll remember their support for libraries as you vote in the mayoral and council primary election. Mayor Kenney: Email: james.kenney@phila.gov. Phone: 215 686-2181.

– Alice Wells – President, Friends of Walnut St. West Library