Algona Public Library to make changes due to state budget cuts
Remember all of the discussion about the "Reinvention Bill"? Well, it was passed by the Iowa General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Vilsack. The idea of "Reinventing" local government ended up being a way of removing revenue from cities and counties and giving it to the State. This will have an effect on our community in many ways-including the Algona Public Library.
Your public library has always worked to provide high quality service to you, our customers. Throughout the past few years we have managed to cope with budget crunches. Like other city departments, we have evaluated our expenses consolidating and eliminating whatever was necessary-and still tried to maintain services that are needed. Our local government has been undergoing the "Reinvention" process for the past couple of years. The fact that people weren't aware of it indicates that the job was well done.
For example, the State Library of Iowa negotiates vendor contracts each year for school and public libraries. Because of these contracts, we are able to make our tax dollars work efficiently by purchasing materials and supplies at reduced costs. Such services as Interlibrary Loan allow us to borrow from other libraries materials that we do not own. This permits us to utilize our materials expenditures in a way that benefits the greatest number of patrons. The Internet is proving to be a wonderful asset as a reference source. We review our resources yearly and have made expense adjustments in ways that have allowed us to meet past budgetary constraints in a responsible manner.
Your library has continually "Reinvented" itself-as has any responsible business.
The Algona Public Library will experience a $7,215 shortfall from city funding in the 2003-04 Fiscal Year budget. The status of county funds is not known at this time. Unfortunately this is not just a one year problem. It is something that we will deal with for several years.
As such, the Library Board and Director have had to implement some changes.
BEGINNING JULY 1, 2003 the Library will charge 50 cents for each movie that is checked out.
The Library will be closed on Sundays throughout the year.
The Library Board has reviewed various options and felt that this is the best decision. During the last Fiscal Year, the movie circulation was 28,000. Charging a small fee for them is a resource that the library can use and still provide the needed library materials and children's programs.
We are facing an unknown here as it is not determined what the movie circulation will be when the charge is implemented. Nor do we know what the county shortfall may be.
"A Library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life."
--- Henry Ward Beecher
