Recently I was exploring the City of Goleta web site and discovered some interesting documents regarding the Goleta Library. One in particular grabbed my attention. It is called Background Report No. 4, Library Services. [UPDATE: Since this was posted the City of Goleta seems to have removed the document from its web site. If anyone wishes the full text please contact me by email.]
This report was written in 2003 as part of the research for the Goleta General Plan. Here are some facts library users should know. (Bold text supplied by me.)
"The Goleta library opened at 500 N. Fairview Avenue on January 28, 1973 and has remained virtually unchanged."
"The Goleta library is popular and heavily used. As of June 2003, 34,562 people held library cards where the Goleta branch is their nearest library. And, in the same month, the 'gate count' indicated that 29,303 people had entered the library. In addition, the library is frequently used by many people who work in Goleta, but live in other areas. Commuters from Ventura, Oxnard, Lompoc, Santa Maria and other cities use the library on their lunch hour and after work."
"The number of volumes, which includes all types of materials in addition to books, is estimated at 90,000.. This equates to .96 volumes per capita for the Goleta area, based on a population of 86,539. [Footnote: The nationwide average for public libraries is 2.8, according to the National Center for Education Statistics "Public Libraries Survey Highlights."
"In 1999 the County commissioned an AB 1600 Fee Justification Study which was performed by David Taussig and Associates. A part of that study focused on the Goleta library facility. The study concluded that the facility had a current deficit of 155,855 volumes and needed an additional 26,330 square feet of space at an estimated cost of $6,281,716 (1998 dollars). It also estimated that an additional 22,547 volumes and an additional 3,809 square feet at a cost of $908,666 (1998 dollars) would be required for new development, assuming a 'build-out' scenario in the Goleta Planning Area of 30,028 equivalent dwelling units (EDU's)."
This means as long ago as 1999 it was known the library was insufficient in volumes and space. Why is it taking so long for this situation to be remedied? Part of the reason is that most people didn't know about the deficiencies. Probably the library users who want all the newest books and place early requests noticed that the copies they borrowed came from other libraries. Some people may have noticed that the shelves of new books were a bit sparse. Some people may have noticed that there weren't as many books on tape, videos, and DVDs as they would like.
I am not usually one of those people. I am not as interested in best sellers and have my favorite authors for whom I request their latest books. But I did notice that four books I checked out recently at Goleta were not purchased by the Goleta Library. They are:
Gordon, Alan. The Lark's Lament.
Sedley, Kate. The Three Kings of Cologne.
Dickinson, David. Death on the Nevskii Prospekt.
Davis, Lindsey. Saturnalia.
By the way, I recommend all these authors, especially if you like historical mysteries. I paid 50 cents each for the privilege of borrowing these titles from another library--cheap at the price. It does not begin to cover the cost of the library's getting these books for me. If those books had been purchased by the library, more borrowers would have spotted them on the shelves for new books and enjoyed them.
These observations do not mean that the library is terrible. I think that the library administration is doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. Remember, you can't buy books without funds. These observations mean that we could do better, and I think Goletans deserve better.
Showing posts with label City of Goleta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City of Goleta. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Library Needs Money
Yesterday evening the Goleta City Council met to decide, among other things, whether to raise the special library tax by 3.5%. The resolution passed. The council members made some positive comments about the library. Jim Downing, Goleta's representative on the county library committee, asked that the increase be doubled. The response was that the council was prohibited by Proposition 218 from increasing the tax more than the cost of living.
The city's budget for 2007-2008 projects revenue from the library special tax to be $212,843.
Here is a quote from the document online (see the link above) which gives background on the resolution:
"However, overall costs for the upkeep and maintenance of library operations and the facility continue to run at a deficit. The aging building continues to require expensive repairs, including a new roof scheduled to be installed this year, which will cost around $100,000. Staff will return to Council shortly to address the concern over the library budget and service levels, and discuss potential solutions to the deficit problem."
On July 17 the County Board of Supervisors approved an increase of the special library tax for the unincorporated areas served by the Goleta Library. This increase was projected to bring in $158,087.
Last spring when I met with the Santa Barbara Library Director who administers the Goleta Library I was informed that the County of Santa Barbara pays $6.21 per capita to fund county libraries. The Goleta Library is supposed to serve approximately 90,000 people. If my calculations are correct that should provide $558,900.
That makes a total of $929,830 in revenues.
BUT, in March I asked the Goleta librarian for statistics on the Goleta budget. The projected expenses for FY2007 amounted to $1,153,008. This means a deficit of $223,178!
Okay, I'm sure that the finances are more complicated than I have outlined. These figures may not be accurate. I have tried to get the facts from online documents and by asking the librarians. Corrections and comments are welcome
So, what does a librarian do when expenditures exceed income? One seeks further financial support or one cuts services. Librarians hate to cut services. Service is what librarians live for.
As property owners in Goleta my husband and I pay $19.63 a year for the special library tax. There are three people living in our home. Therefore the county pays $18.63 a year for our library service. That means we pay $38.26 a year for the privilege of using our library.
You may say, "Well, that buys 1 book." The irony of it is that only about $30,000 of tax money goes to the books and materials fund for the library. The Friends of the Library raise about $40,000 a year to add to that amount. However, even if the book fund was increased there might not be enough room to shelve the new purchases.
To me, it is a disgrace that the library doesn't get enough financial support. In a subsequent entry I will explore what others have said on the topic.
The city's budget for 2007-2008 projects revenue from the library special tax to be $212,843.
Here is a quote from the document online (see the link above) which gives background on the resolution:
"However, overall costs for the upkeep and maintenance of library operations and the facility continue to run at a deficit. The aging building continues to require expensive repairs, including a new roof scheduled to be installed this year, which will cost around $100,000. Staff will return to Council shortly to address the concern over the library budget and service levels, and discuss potential solutions to the deficit problem."
On July 17 the County Board of Supervisors approved an increase of the special library tax for the unincorporated areas served by the Goleta Library. This increase was projected to bring in $158,087.
Last spring when I met with the Santa Barbara Library Director who administers the Goleta Library I was informed that the County of Santa Barbara pays $6.21 per capita to fund county libraries. The Goleta Library is supposed to serve approximately 90,000 people. If my calculations are correct that should provide $558,900.
That makes a total of $929,830 in revenues.
BUT, in March I asked the Goleta librarian for statistics on the Goleta budget. The projected expenses for FY2007 amounted to $1,153,008. This means a deficit of $223,178!
Okay, I'm sure that the finances are more complicated than I have outlined. These figures may not be accurate. I have tried to get the facts from online documents and by asking the librarians. Corrections and comments are welcome
So, what does a librarian do when expenditures exceed income? One seeks further financial support or one cuts services. Librarians hate to cut services. Service is what librarians live for.
As property owners in Goleta my husband and I pay $19.63 a year for the special library tax. There are three people living in our home. Therefore the county pays $18.63 a year for our library service. That means we pay $38.26 a year for the privilege of using our library.
You may say, "Well, that buys 1 book." The irony of it is that only about $30,000 of tax money goes to the books and materials fund for the library. The Friends of the Library raise about $40,000 a year to add to that amount. However, even if the book fund was increased there might not be enough room to shelve the new purchases.
To me, it is a disgrace that the library doesn't get enough financial support. In a subsequent entry I will explore what others have said on the topic.
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