DC Public Library Cuts Staff as Static Budget Inadequate for Growth

The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) faces an essentially static budget in fiscal year 2011, so to open seven new libraries and add staff, and to accommodate other increasing costs, the library will have a net loss of about 25 full time employee positions.

Beginning this week, the library laid off 40 people (23.5 FTE), including part-time librarians, education technicians, library aides, security officers, and trainers. The Youth Outreach Program, among others, has been canceled. Another 18.4 FTE vacant positions have been eliminated. Meanwhile, DCPL, which has embarked on an ambitious new building program, plans to open seven new libraries next year, and will add 17 FTE positions. Library hours, which have been reduced twice in the past three years, will remain constant. The book budget, which was cut nearly in half last year, will remain at the diminished level.