Library Supporters Attend Meeting to Oppose Cuts

The was packed on Thursday evening for a town hall meeting to discuss potential funding cuts to the Anne Arundel County library system.

While the library administration currently anticipates that County Executive John Leopold will institute a 10 percent budget cut, library administrator Hampton "Skip" Auld presented the Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation's plan to request a 4 percent cut instead. With any cuts more than 4 percent, Auld said that library branches would need to cut hours, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

"We're not going to close any branches, but we would have to reduce hours across the library system," said Auld.

During his presentation, Auld said that the library has already faced myriad cuts that have caused reductions in service, circulation and staffing.

Several of those in attendance expressed their support for the library system, encouraging the system to continue at its current level of service.

"Your services ... there are no words," said Wendy Lembach, a mother who supports the Book Buddies program at the Linthicum library. "I greatly thank you for what you do every day."

Lembach discussed the importance of the library services.

"Upon going to the library, I was prepared to pay monthly to rent out a room," said Lembach. "The librarian said that instead she'd see what she could do to implement [Book Buddies]. I would be a poor example to my daughters if I wasn't here to show my support toward the library, toward the librarians and to let people know that this is a huge issue."

"Maybe the county executive should take a 10 percent pay cut instead of [the] librarians," added Lembach.

Several community members suggested that the library begin charging for services such as computer use or checking out books, but Auld said that these solutions were not acceptable.

"That would be the opposite of what our mission is," said Auld. "Our mission is to provide access to the community on a broad scale, especially during a time when people are using our computers to try to find work and some income."

Auld said he believes that the community is eager to support the library system.

"People are writing [Leopold] already. I've been copied in on some of Leopold's responses to them," said Auld. "He said it's a tough year and he has tough choices to make. He's not really showing his hand."