More programs, operating hours at risk as Tacoma libraries take hit in proposed budget
Tacoma Public Library is asking for public help as it faces $2.2 million in cuts in the City of Tacoma’s 2021-22 budget proposal.
The Tacoma Needs Strong Libraries campaign was launched in light of the proposal, which could lead to reductions in programs and services and elimination of 22 library staff members, including three library managers and 18 public services staff.
“This is speaking to a longer term disinvestment in our community,” Tacoma Public Library director Kate Larsen said by phone Wednesday. “The library just can’t continue taking this kind of hit and be a strong library.”
The City of Tacoma’s proposed general fund budget for 2021-22 is $505 million, with Tacoma Public Library’s general fund portion at $27,571,808. The department employs roughly 120 people across eight branches.
The budget is being reviewed by the City Council and is scheduled for adoption Nov. 17.
Larsen and other library staffers are asking the public to advocate for their services by sending letters to City Council members or speaking out at one of the upcoming budget hearings, including a budget town hall scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 21 via Zoom.
Tacoma is facing a deficit of $40 million in the 2020-21 budget, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In preparation for the new budget, staff asked departments across the city to create plans to cut their departments by 15 percent.
If the cuts happen, Larsen said, services across the board could be reduced, including access to materials, early literacy programs, job and computer classes and printing services.
The cuts also could mean a “rolling closure of branches,” meaning libraries might have fewer open hours or have fewer days of the week they are open. They’re currently open 40 hours a week.
Larsen said some cost-savings measures were already made, including canceling a private security contract for the main library branch at 102 Tacoma Ave. S.
Near the start of the pandemic in April, 85 Tacoma Public Library workers were furloughed through July 25. They’ve since returned and have started offering curbside and virtual services.
Tacoma City Council members say it’s been a difficult budget year for all departments.
“My colleagues and I will be paying close attention to impacts throughout the budget process and doing our best along with (City of Tacoma) staff to minimize impacts to our community, while focusing on economic recovery in all areas, even while the Pandemic continues to impact everyone,” Council member Catherine Ushka said in an email.
“Everyone is facing cuts right now so the next couple of weeks will be all about figuring out how to best support our community amidst the $40 (million) downturn,” Council member Kristina Walker said via email. “I believe our library – specific presentation is in two weeks so we’ll have more detail then. We are definitely in discussions about ways to make these library cuts less deep. I certainly value libraries and want to see them succeed.”
Council member Robert Thoms said he feels it’s important to maximize the use of the city’s libraries with consistent and dependable hours for the public.
“As a father of three who like to visit Wheelock Library, my biggest concern is protecting the available hours/days of service for families to use our wonderful libraries,” Thoms said in an email. “... No one likes to set out to visit the library to see it closed on a weekend or close at 6 p.m. on evenings, many working families can’t go during working hours and depend on weekends to catch up.”
The city’s proposed 2021-22 budget addresses some other changes to the Tacoma Public Library budget, including the addition of a new Equity and Engagement Officer to “lead an initiative to consistently address inequities in public service programs as well as in institutionalized practices” and eliminating late fines for materials.
The proposed budget also proposes that in 2021-22 the main branch library open its second floor to community and grass‐roots service organizations to “reduce expenses.”
“A portion of the Reference, Youth Services, Adult Fiction materials and public computers currently housed on the 2nd floor would be moved to the first floor,” the draft budget states. “These changes will allow the 2nd floor to be used as a permanent space by community or grass‐roots organizations that are currently at risk of losing their own spaces.”
Larsen said she hopes the Tacoma Needs Strong Libraries campaign helps reduce its cuts, at least a little bit.
Tacoma Public Library struggled in past years to boost its funding after decades of cuts.
“It’s awful,” Larsen said of the potential cuts. “And I look at it from the long-term history of this library, and I can see the last 20 years of cuts have done significant damage.”
