Public Libraries: How Jacksonville (FL) Library’s Proposed Cuts Would Affect Services

We first posted about the possible cuts on July 9, 2012.
New on Jacksonville.com:

A planned $4.6 million cut to the Jacksonville Public Library’s budget next fiscal year will result in fewer books, fewer operating hours, less services and a reduced staff, adding up to greater inconvenience for patrons, library officials said Monday.
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Library officials said the cutback in hours will mean:
– 189,000 fewer computer sessions per year.
– 750,000 fewer opportunities to visit the library per year.
– As many as 1.3 million fewer books, digital video disks and compact disks annually will be borrowed.
– 6,000 fewer community group meetings held at the library.
There will be a $500,000 reduction in expenditures on books, movies, music, which will result in:
– 10,000 fewer copies of new books for adults.
– 5,000 fewer copies of books for children and teens.
– 1,000 fewer new DVDs and 560 fewer music CDs.
Other cuts will impact the library as follows.
– Almost 45,000 fewer individual hours of literacy instruction per year.
– 2,700 fewer programs for children, teens and adults per year.
The proposed cuts reflect an 11 percent reduction of the library’s budget and the elimination of 71 full-time positions, which is a 20 percent reduction.

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