When lifelong Jersey City resident Daoud David Williams addressed the City Council at their July 14 meeting, he argued passionately for funding to be restored to the Community Awareness Series (CAS), a monthly program at the Jersey City Free Public Library in which musicians, activists, and others give performances and discussions. But as with many libraries in the state of New Jersey, the massive Jersey City Public Library system saw its budget cut this year – by more than $500,000. The city, facing its own reduction in state aid, included the library cuts in its budget.
The Jersey City Free Public Library’s 12 branches employ 113 people, with more than half of those in the Main Library on Jersey Avenue.
Thirty-six part-time employees have been laid off as the result of funding cuts, and two library branches have been closed.
“In the event that I have to lay off employees or close branches, all programs will be eliminated.” – Priscilla Gardner
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Budget matters
The library operated on a $7 million-plus budget in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Besides the more than $500,000 cut from the city budget, the library also saw a state aid cut of more than $13,000.
As a result, since January, the Pearsall branch in the city’s Greenville section has closed. Another branch, the Biblioteca Criolla, has relocated from its home on First Street to the fourth floor of the Main Library.
Gardner is not sure things will improve. A few weeks ago she met with the city’s business administrator, Jack Kelly, to request an $8 million budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
“I was told that the library’s budget will not be increased, and that I may have to lay off some of our full-time employees,” Gardner said.
Looking at library’s future
Gardner said she wants to save all library programs. Unlike some city agencies, the library is allowed to seek private donations. She has encouraged programs like CAS to seek grants, to apply for their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and to have fund-raisers like the library foundation does.
“It may not be the same amount that [CAS] received in previous years, but programs at this time have not been eliminated,” Gardner said. “However, in the event that I have to lay off employees or close branches, all programs will be eliminated.”
Current programs include the Historical Project (a project celebrating Jersey City’s rich history through slide shows and oral presentations), the Summer Reading Club for children and young adults (considered the library’s most popular summer program), and the Miller Branch Young Adult programs for young children and teens.
The Jersey City Free Public Library Foundation holds two annual fund-raisers. The most recent one was in June. Gardner could not estimate how much was raised from the fundraiser.
Money raised has gone toward purchasing the library’s new Bookmobile, as well as for security cameras installed at four branches.
Gardner said a second fund-raiser scheduled for later this fall may not happen, since it will ask for $100 donations, and she fears that with the bad economy, fewer people may come out than with the $25 fund-raiser in June.
Resident concerned
Williams, who worked in the public library system for 27 years, is hoping that the CAS program along with other programs will not be cut due to budget decreases as Gardner suggests.
“These programs gives people of all ages a place to be culturally exposed to many different things in their learning experiences,” Williams said. “These are such positive alternatives for the community to feel holistic and good about themselves.”
However, Williams doesn’t think library programs will be cut back. He said he believes Gardner’s threats are just a “smokescreen” to justify cutting the entire budget for CAS, as he and Gardner have squabbled over funding for the program over the years.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.