Camden, New Jersey
Link to July 19 Philadelphia Inquirer article, "Funding cuts threaten Camden libraries".
Excerpt: Mayor Dana L. Redd is slashing more than two-thirds of city funding for Camden's libraries, a move that could close all three branches.
In the best-case scenario, according to a library board member, one library would remain open with limited hours and a skeletal staff.
But all three branches could shut down, leaving many children in New Jersey's poorest city with no place to do homework, and cutting off Internet access for residents looking for jobs.
"That's a distinct possibility," said board member Frank Fulbrook.
Last fiscal year, the libraries operated on $935,000 from the city, plus $88,000 in state aid. This fiscal year, which began July 1, the library will receive $281,666.64, about a third of what the library board requested, according to a letter Redd sent to the library's board of trustees last week. Part of that money, about $20,000, was already spent last fiscal year.
More bad news for Camden's Little Citizens with Big Dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment