Fort Worth Library, TX, Plans To Close Three Branches
By Lynn Blumenstein Aug 20, 2010Forced to take a ten percent budget cut, the Fort Worth Library (FWL), TX, aims to close three out of 16 branches by the end of this calendar year, as planned by Director Gleniece Robinson, City Manager Dale Fissler, FWL staff, Friends, and the library advisory board.
The final decision is up to city council members, who will decide the branches' fate on September 21.
Implementing cuts
Fort Worth faces a $77 million city deficit and FWL must cut $1.7 million, or ten percent.
Robinson, who announced her plan at an August 19 City Council meeting, also said the materials budget would be cut 20 percent cut, the first significant cut in ten years, and 26 FTE staff positions would be lost. Because FWL has held 40 positions vacant, no staff will be laid off.
Robinson presented what she termed a "sustainable budget," as it maintains accreditation. In 2008, FWL sustained more drastic cuts, reducing hours by 37 percent and losing 45 staffers. Any more service reductions would put state accreditation at risk.
To ensure that services are maintained, FWL will retain one branch in every city district and add Sunday hours to branches that are nearest to the locations of planned closures. FWL also will offer additional laptops for in-library use and beef up the amount of downloadable materials.
Expanding services
But it's not all bad news for FWL, as it will open the new Northwest Branch on October 30. The $5.3 million, 13,038 square foot facility will be FWL's largest branch and offer RFID, self-checkout, and an automatic returns sorter.
FWL also plans to absorb the Early Childhood Matters program, currently administered by the city's Community Relations Department, along with its four staffers.
Merger with Parks?
FWL has the additional challenge of a potential merger with the Parks Department. FWL was informed by Fissler just three weeks ago, Robinson told LJ, to prepare scenarios for this situation.
The plan places her in charge of both departments, according to the Star-Telegram. While the library advisory board, staff, and Friends are on board with the plan, she said, the Parks board may not agree. She sees the merger as a 50/50 possibility.
While this decision also will be made on September 21, it will take six months to come up with a plan to make the merger a reality, said Robinson.
Master Plan stalled
While FWL this past April unveiled a long term master plan, "20/20: Vision," several City Council members at the August 19 meeting referred to its lack of adoption.
Two councilors voiced caution over closing three branches without a long-term plan in effect. The plan called for closing two branches in the near term, while expanding services over the next decade, with six new buildings.
