Link to August 15 Dallas News article, "With cuts ahead, Dallas library honors summer's top young readers".
Excerpt: Research shows that a heavy dose of summer reading keeps children from backsliding in academics, said Corrine Hill, Dallas' interim director of libraries.
"These kids are ready to go," she said.
The summer reading program is privately funded, with Atmos Energy the key sponsor.
"These types of programs, they'll continue," said Mayor Tom Leppert, who attended Saturday's event.
But the Dallas Public Library is caught up in the city's recession-influenced budget woes, and the city recently sent layoff notices to 121 library employees. The library would get $18 million in the proposed city budget, down from $28 million two years ago.
Plans call for maintaining the current hours of operation for branches, though the Central Library's hours will be curtailed. Throughout the system, programming for children and others will have to be cut for lack of staff, Hill said.
That concerns some parents who had kids in the summer reading program.
"If you keep cutting programs, what will you have?" said Rafael Garcia, who takes his children Corban, Cassia and Peace to the Arcadia Park Branch once or twice a week.
Related articles:
City Manager's recommended budget includes lotsa library and park employee cuts. (8/9/2010)
Attention library budget cutters: These words still ring true. (5/29/2010)
From 'sacred cow' to 'sacrificial lamb'. (5/29/2010)
Axe is poised over library. (5/24/2010)
Friends of Library board chairman speaks out. (9/1/2009)
Dallas Public Library budget hacked (old-style). (7/23/2009)
No comments:
Post a Comment