Federation of Friends

The DCPL Board of Library Trustees held a special meeting on Monday, October 31, 2005 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. The meeting was to discuss the proposed FY2007 budget request. The system’s Chief Financial Officer presented a slate of “enhancements” the library’s base budget that totals $17 million and includes:

1. An additional $5.6 million to support seven interim branches in FY2007 (the four currently in development and three more for Georgetown, Mt. Pleasant and Francis Gregory)
2. A significant increase in the system’s maintenance budget.
3. $1.8 million in technology upgrades that will provide up to 400 PCs at the main branch and at least 6 PCs in each branch
4. $4.5 million in the collections budget. This will place the collections budget to between 15-20% of the entire operating budget. That is in line with national averages.
5. Increases in the security budget to hire 11 more security guards
6. $281,000 in increases for 3.5 new employees and additional funds for library programming.

These increases do not include additional requests for increases to the capitol budget for library facilities. While a specific amount was not mentioned, the library director did say that there are significant increases in capitol funds requested in FY2007 as well.

In closing, the Board ended their meeting with a commitment to form a Committee of the Board to review and propose changes to the structure of the library’s base budget for FY2008 and beyond.

Councilperson Kathy Patterson has scheduled a town hall meeting at the Wilson Building to bring together the affected four branch library communities. The discussion will center on “What comes next” after the recent cancellation of the design/build contract for those facilities. The meeting will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 6:30pm, Wilson Building, Room 412.

The meeting is to bring together the four branch library communities who are undergoing rebuilding efforts - Anacostia, Benning, Tenley-Friendship, and Watha T.Daniel/Shaw. DC property management and
procurement representatives will also be attending.

The Mayor is conducting a Citizen Summit at the DC Convention Center from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2005. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals from across the District to speak out on what needs to be done in our communities.

Advocates for libraries can join residents from their neighborhoods and Wards to discuss ways the District government needs to change to address pressing needs oin our communities. You are encouraged to register for the Citizen Summit by visiting http://www.citizensummit.dc.gov.

In the past, DCPL has supported library advocates with t-shirts and literature. The Federation will be working with DCPL staff to determine how we can make an impact at this important meeting. For more information or to volunteer to get the library’s voice heard, please contact Richard Huffine at richardhuffine@yahoo.com.