Jacksonville - Bookworms may have less to check out at the library

Bookworms may have less to check out at the library

The Florida Times-Union
August 8, 2008 By DAVID HUNT, The Times-Union

Rising book prices, combined with a decreasing materials budget, might shrink selection at Jacksonville's public libraries next year.

In the past four years, the number of card-carrying library users has jumped by 185,000, or roughly 46 percent. In the same time, the amount of money for books and audiovisual items such as CDs and DVDs has increased only 12.6 percent.

The library system's proposed materials budget for next year would be a 13.4 percent decrease compared to the same line item in 2004, the first year Mayor John Peyton oversaw library budget planning.

City officials say Jacksonville spends $45 on its library system for each resident - a per-capita figure that tops the list of public library funding statewide. But the combined effect of more users and a shrinking budget has some worried that quality could soon drop.

"It's kind of like putting off maintenance. It's a mistake because it does come back," said Harry Reagan, president of Friends of the Library.

Although city officials say the money will be replaced by state funds, Bill Scheu, a library trustee, said the amount still would be hundreds of thousands of dollars less than what the library got in 2006-07.

"This is supposed to be a first-class library, but it's gradually being whittled down to a second-class system at best," Scheu said.

What's more, stocking the library is getting pricier.

According to library figures, the average book cost was $13.96 in 2006-07, compared to $16.20 this year. Nonprint items, such as CDs and DVDs, cost an average $25.46. That rose to $27.48.
Between the same two years, the number of cardholders increased by nearly 48,000 and circulation jumped by more than 400,000.

Reagan is heading a petition drive to get more funding. While Peyton said he respects Reagan's effort, he argues that the library budget is nearly double what it was when he took office.
Scheu is quick to counter that the library's bigger budget is a product of former Mayor John Delaney's Better Jacksonville Plan, which added six branches.

Before those additions, the library's annual materials budget was more than $4 million. Next year, the city would be pledging $3.6 million.

That's if the City Council approves Peyton's overall city budget proposal, which would boost public safety spending to put more police on the city's streets.

Scheu said he thinks Peyton "virtually abandoned" social programs, such as libraries, that might help prevent crime by providing structure for at-risk youths.

Peyton, who has prioritized literacy throughout his time in office, defended his budget proposal. He said city officials were able to hold library spending comparable to the current year's figure even at a time when property tax reform, combined with general economic woes, forced all city departments to stretch dollars.

"Everyone has had to make concessions. The library has been treated fairly," Peyton said. "We give them a sizeable amount of money and rely on their expertise to determine how to use it."
Council Vice President Richard Clark said he's unsure how much debate will focus on library spending this year. Last year, the council shot down a proposal to save money by cutting library hours. So far, that idea has not been revisited.

"Any core service is going to be up for discussion," Clark said. "That goes for libraries, parks, fire or anything else."

david.hunt@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4025
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080808/met_315604377.shtml.