California: Saving Pomona Library May Prove Taxing

From the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

Here’s where matters stand with the Pomona Public Library: The library is likely to remain open through June 2013, but on an even more limited basis than today, and without most of its veteran employees.
Meanwhile, there’s a strong chance Pomona voters will be asked to tax themselves to keep the library open after mid-2013.
The City Council on Monday looked at options for various taxes and expressed the most interest in a parcel tax – about $38 per year on homeowners – for the November ballot. A decision is due July 30.
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As you may recall, the Pomona library is limping along on 26 hours of service per week – half of what Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga’s libraries offer – and City Hall is too broke even to keep it going
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Rather than the usual $1.6 million, the library is getting $400,000 for the next year, and that’s only because City Hall cut $400,000 from street repaving and sidewalk repair.
How can the library stay open for $400,000?
Library Director Bruce Guter is putting together a plan that involves closing the basement level and being open fewer hours, with “minimal” staffing, after laying off most employees, his top manager and himself.

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Filed under: Libraries, Public Libraries