The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is going to shutdown five branches as a way of reducing a $1.2 million deficit.
The five branches affected are:
Lawrenceville
Beechview
West End
Hazelwood
Knoxville and Carrick (merging)
But there is some bittersweet news with this announcement as the closing of the Lawrenceville library, which opened in 1898 and is the system's oldest library, will come on the heels of the opening of the renovated East Liberty library in 2010.
The Pittsburgh Comet has some interesting commentary on the closings
Lots to nitpick. The system was designed for a city twice the population of Pittsburgh today -- the city has remained exactly the same size however. Utilizing the library system will become much more difficult than at any point in its past, especially considering public transit has only worsened.
Also, did we only just discover this $1.2 million projected budget deficit? Has the board also been "doing its homework" in going after grants and stimulus dollars? Green libraries, anyone? I don't understand the need for self-described drastic quickness.
I would have to agree, here, mainly because I find it hard to believe that the higher-ups in Pittsburgh's libraries could not have foreseen a deficit because of the recent troubles in the economy.
Now, granted a city the size of Pittsburgh may have a library or two more than they can handle, but is it really necessary to close and/or merge this many branches?
The Carnegie Libraries will also cut 30 people from their staff and reduce operating hours by 28 percent starting next year. And to no surprise, fees and fines will increase to help tackle the deficit.
It's been a 100 days that Pennsylvania didn't sign a State budget, and now that they have, libraries are getting the shaft (along with many other programs I'm sure.)
ReplyDeleteLibraries are a great wealth to society. I actually cringe when I go to a library and I see most kids on the computers playing video games. Where has our interest to discover disappeared to? Every time I walk into a library I feel in awe, where I have this sudden (insane) desire to check every single book I touch.
They opened up a library in the North Side recently, very close to my house, but it's a shame to see all these other cultured neighborhoods lose their own. Especially Lawrenceville since it's recently been undergoing a facelift and coming back to life.