The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library Advocacy Committee celebrated the recent expansion of library hours after a concerted citywide advocacy campaign and public debate
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, March 25, 2015 — Bucking national trends, the Saint Paul Public Library recently extended hours at seven of its locations. The reinstatement of evening hours, effective March 1, came after an intense 2014 budget season in the City of Saint Paul. Spirited discussions and philosophical debates about library funding mechanisms led to a rare veto and an even rarer veto override by the City Council.
The issue was a centerpiece of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library’s 2015 advocacy platform. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman had initially proposed a flat budget with no increases for 2015. Members of The Friends’ Advocacy Committee then arranged individual meetings with their elected representatives to present the position paper and ask for their support. The priorities were: 1) $500,000 in new books and materials funding; and 2) $500,000 for expanded hours – making permanent what had been temporary Sunday hours at one branch, and adding evening and morning hours at seven of the system’s 13 branches.
After negotiations with the City Council, the Mayor agreed to include a $300,000 boost in one-time funding for books and materials, and approximately $55,000 for Sunday hours at one of the branch libraries. This $355K was a welcome and relatively large increase in the Library’s budget in one year, but no concession was made for increasing evening hours at the smaller branches.
The 2015 budget approved by the City Council, shifted parking-meter and -ramp revenue to restore some evening library hours cut during the recession. The Mayor, committed to maintaining a structurally balanced budget, vowed to veto the budget. “When you pay for those ongoing, year-in-and-year-out expenditures with a one-time infusion of cash, it sets you up for problems in the future,” Coleman said. “Leaving the potential for cuts in subsequent budgets is just not a good way to govern.” Residents want consistent services that will be sustained, he added.
Council President Kathy Lantry argued that the parking fund is sufficient for at least the next five years, even without assuming any increases in fees.
As the discussions heated up, others in the community weighed in. An editorial in the local newspaper noted Coleman’s commitment to the principle of structural balance, calling it “worthy, despite the appeal of more library access, particularly for the teens and young adults who are key users of libraries during evening hours.”
Both the Mayor and the City Council acknowledge the equity gaps in the city. “If we really want to walk the walk,” Lantry said, “we align our budget in a way that says we’re going to give kids something good and productive to do.”
“For years, we’ve heard about how critical those evening hours are,” said Peter Pearson, president of The Friends. “Students who don’t have computers and Internet access at home are at a huge disadvantage without those resources,” he said.
The Council vote to override the veto was 6 to 1. The final Council-adopted budget included an increase of $300,000 for materials and $400,044 for hours, making the overall addition to the library’s 2015 budget $700,044. The discussions marked one of the more memorable budget seasons in recent history, yet through it all, the legislative and executive arms of the city shared one universal belief: In Saint Paul, we love our libraries.
About The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library:
Currently celebrating its 70th year, The Friends is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is stronger libraries for stronger communities. The Friends has a nonprofit consulting group, Library Strategies, that provides services to libraries and library organizations across the country and internationally. As an influential voice for libraries, we will ensure the Saint Paul Public Library and our partner libraries are vital centers of engaged, educated and diverse communities. The Friends also leads the Minnesota Book Awards and serves as the Minnesota Center for the Book – the state affiliate of the National Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. For more information, contact The Friends at 651-222-3242 or visit www.thefriends.org.