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Some of the guests who attended the Friends of the Englewood LibraryAppreciation Party for Library Supporters last May 18 at Mackay Cafe. |
Victory Party for Englewood Library Supporters
The Friends hosted a victory party for library supporters and sympathizers, for effectively reducing the library budget from the proposed 23% to actual 9%. In addition, the library secured funding for new books and programming, for $75,000. And Mayor Huttle is donating this year his $5,000 salary, which he normally waives since he assumed office.Last January, the city manager had proposed to the city council a library budget cut of 23% or $516,790, the minimum allowed under state law. This appeared onerous, considering the library represents 3% of the city budget.
So the Friends created an advocacy committee and elected Ann Sparanese as head of the new group. Encouraged by favorable editorials in local newspapers and the enthusiastic support of patrons and residents alike, the committee and their supporters attended council meetings and rallied in front of city hall, for weeks until the final council decision.
Under pressure, the library made a counteroffer of 12% cut or $268,000 saying that it would forego filling vacant positions due to retirement and resignation.
In a news report by Melissa Hayes of The Record: “Councilman Jack Drakeford said (the library) should instead fight for full funding because if it gives up 12% it will never get the money back.” And Councilman Eugene Skurnick said “all departments (including the library) should be treated equally, noting that the police and fire departments are seeing budget increases this year.”
Further encouraged by this response from the councilmen, the Friends campaigned for a full service library, including a $150,000 funding for new books and outreach.
In the end, the library got 9% budget cut instead of 23%, $75,000 funding for books acquisition and programming, and $5,000 donation from the mayor.
Congratulations for a job well done.
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