Budget woes to shut down library branches for week

TURNING THE PAGE: Steve Kumins, left, development director of Providence Community Library, speaks with Tim McGinn, circulation supervisor at the Rochambeau Library. / PBN PHOTO/DAVID LEVESQUE
TURNING THE PAGE: Steve Kumins, left, development director of Providence Community Library, speaks with Tim McGinn, circulation supervisor at the Rochambeau Library. / PBN PHOTO/DAVID LEVESQUE

Three years ago, the Providence Public Library’s threat to close its neighborhood branches resulted in a bitter public debate over who should manage the system.
About six months ago, Providence paid $5 million to PPL for seven of those branches, saving them from closure. Then, not quite two months ago, the city cut fiscal 2013 funding to Providence Community Library, the nonprofit formed to manage the branches, by 6 percent, forcing PCL to cut staff benefits and, on a small scale, patron services.
So, is splitting library management and funding still the best solution for Providence?
“Honestly, yes,” said Tonia Mason, marketing and communications director at PPL. “We’re in a difficult economy. I think it’s going to be difficult still to support that many branches, but it’s something the city has to decide how they want to go forward [with]. It’s just going to have to work itself out. We’re moving ahead in another direction.”
The PCL will close its branches from Monday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 15, in order to help compensate for a $250,000 funding cut.
Employees agreed to forego 401(k) contributions and matches for one year to make up the funding difference.
The city originally proposed cutting 10 percent of its $3 million contribution to the system’s $4.8 million operating budget.
“They were generous in restoring a portion of the cut. They’ve really done what they could to help us,” said Laura Marlane, PCL executive director. “We recognize the city is in a very [bad] financial situation.”
The Providence mayor’s office did not respond to several requests for comment last week.
The city has, over the last three years, contributed about 73 percent of PCL’s budget, which Marlane described as “bare bones.”
The state has contributed about 6 percent and the rest has come from donations.
As a relatively new organization, PCL has no substantial savings or endowment, putting it in stark contrast to PPL, which relies on those sources, as well as donations, for most of its funding.
PCL was formed in 2009 to manage nine community branches, five of which PPL planned to close in the wake of its own funding difficulties. City library funding that had gone to PPL instead went to PCL. While PPL continued to operate its flagship Empire Street location, the new nonprofit for over two years leased the branches for $1 a year, managing to keep them operational.
But tensions mounted on both sides as PPL sought financial compensation for the buildings and PCL grew frustrated at not being able to move forward with facility improvements.
The city agreed to purchase seven branches – it already owned one and another is owned by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence – in December 2011.
Both sides say that, despite still being saddled with financial struggles, it was the best idea possible.
“We’ve been successful raising funds and we’ll continue to do that,” said Steve Kumins, PCL director of development. “[But] we’re not looking to fundraising to plug this hole in our budget for this year. [That’s] a difficult thing to do and that’s not appealing to funders.”
Kumins said he and the rest of the PCL team feel they’ve been successful as a nonprofit startup and that the organization would continue to seek grants and conduct its annual appeal, as well as hold fundraising events.
The focus will remain on operational funds for now.
“Frankly, if someone gives us a dollar it’s more useful as operating funds than to be set aside [as savings],” Kumins said. “PPL is sitting on multiple millions in endowed funds and a certain kind of savings. It would be nice to have some of that.”
Mason said PPL is now able to focus on statewide services, including promoting its “vast” historic and special collections, as well as its children’s collection and events.
Its “Opening Doors” campaign to refurbish the library and be able to open it as an event space has been successful, Mason said, and work should be completed by December.
PPL hopes to welcome wedding receptions, as well as corporate events and meetings to its building.
“It’s changing times for libraries in general,” Mason said. “Libraries nationwide are having issues.” •

No posts to display