Wed, Dec 28-
The Greenburgh Town Board has released its 2012 adopted budget. The newly released budget includes a cut of $250,000 on top of the original $320,000 cut imposed on the Library in the tentative budget published on October 31, 2011. These drastic cost-cutting measures translate to an 18% reduction in the Town’s 2012 appropriation to the Greenburgh Public Library, as compared to the 2011 appropriation.
The Greenburgh Public Library Board of Trustees has decided to maintain a schedule of six days per week. Consequently the budget for books, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, newspapers, and magazines was eliminated. In addition, three part-time employees were laid off. The very popular online service used by students, Tutor.com, was cancelled. These painful decisions were based on the Trustees’ commitment to maintaining the current schedule of providing six-days per week service rather than further reducing our schedule to five days per week.
As recently as 2009 the Library was open seven days a week. Further reducing hours jeopardizes the Library’s charter, as the New York State standard minimum hours are not being met. Furthermore, the Library Trustees recognize the evolving role of libraries in the community as a place to meet, learn, study and explore.
The Greenburgh Public Library Trustees are working with the Friends of the Greenburgh Library and the Greenburgh Public Library Foundation to establish a book-buying campaign in order to fill the library shelves with new materials.
The adopted budget as published by the Town does not reflect the changes to the particular budget lines mentioned in this press release.
