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Jun 22, 2009 6:48 pm US/Eastern
Carnegie Library Expects Budget Hole In Future
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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The library says the shortfall may mean fewer programs or outreach to schools or fewer books.
CBS
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh says in a few years it's facing a multi-million dollar shortfall and without changes it may have to cut services and possibly locations.
For years, officials at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh say they have been able to overcome the challenge of increasing costs and decreasing revenues by cutting expenses.
However, library officials say they're now at a point where they can no longer keep up their current operations with the revenue they receive.
"Andrew Carnegie, while he started this tremendous library system in Pittsburgh and gave our nation a great legacy of libraries across the country, did not endow our library system," says Dr. Barbara Mistick, president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
In this year's $23 million budget, the library is receiving 72 percent of its funding from the Regional Asset District.
Another 20 percent is coming from Pennsylvania.
The remaining 8 percent is coming from fundraising, investments and the City of Pittsburgh.
But revenue is not expected to rise. In fact, library officials are worried funding cuts may be in the works.
Looking five years down the road, the library says it faces a $6 million shortfall if no changes are made.
The library says the shortfall may mean fewer programs or outreach to schools or fewer books.
It may mean the library will be forced to cut staff or cut hours at its 19 different branches.
"Of course closing branches is really the last thing that we'd like to do. We feel each branch is critical to the communities they're in but we do want to say there is potential for branch closings or consolidations," says Mistick.
Next month, the library plans to hold three town hall meetings so the public can weigh in on the criteria that will be used to reduce costs.
The dates and times of those meetings will be announced at a later date.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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