To my FB friends in CONCORD and CABARRUS COUNTY: Imagine having your car packed for your family vacation and being told just minutes before your departure that you’ll have to make the journey on only three wheels. The Concord Public Library experienced a similar shock in June when the Cabarrus County Commissioners voted by a 3–2 margin to implement unexpected budget cuts which resulted in a 25% staff reduction. Four employees were promptly terminated and the remaining staff has had to stretch themselves to fill their absence. As a result, library checkout and reference lines are longer and the Lore History Room’s hours are shortened. Service time is further diminished when vacations or illnesses adversely affect already-burdened personnel. The library’s staff reduction may also impair the management of forthcoming programs such as the “Let’s Talk About It” reader discussion series, and the uncertainty of Saturday hours has forced the Concord Friends of the Library’s forthcoming “Movie Discussion Group” programs to be delayed from a September 2014 to a winter 2015 launch. Granted, sacrifices must be made during times of economic hardship, and I support our commissioners’ goal of decreasing our county’s budget deficit. But the Concord Library has yet to recover from budget reductions dating back several years to the recession, when Friday hours were eliminated. This recent budget decrease is another deep and harmful blow not just to the Concord Library and its dedicated staff, but to Cabarrus County as a whole. A public library isn’t a ledger line item—it’s a mirror of a healthy community. What do we want that mirror to reflect? My wish is to see a functioning, well-staffed institution that provides books, educational and social stimulation, and extended-learning programs to citizens of all ages. If you agree with me, please let your county commissioners know … and thank the Concord Library staff the next time you visit. Michael Eury President, Concord Friends of the Library, Inc.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:17:36 +0000