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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak today announced his commitment to support the Minneapolis Public Libraries with $1.1 million in City bridge-funding and pledged to help find a long-term budget solution for libraries. In a written statement emailed to constituents today, Mayor Rybak shared his thoughts and proposal for supporting Minneapolis libraries:

Statement from Mayor Rybak:

Libraries are critical to our community. Libraries provide an essential service to Minneapolis residents and visitors. In particular we must prioritize longer hours and programs, like Homework Helper, that help those most in need. The current situation, with some of our libraries open only three days a week, is not worthy of a great city. We need to fix this.

We must be honest about library finances. Every level of government shares responsibility for the current state of our libraries, including us at the local level. The library referendum passed in 2000 funded only capital improvements, but with no money for operating those same libraries. This was exacerbated by drastic cuts in state funding. Now, with the Library Board trying to open all 15 libraries for the first time in three years, they are feeling the full impact of state funding cuts made in 2003, just like the City has. Unless we make changes, the new North Regional and East Lake libraries will not open as scheduled in 2007.

Longer hours and programs for youth are more important than bricks and mortar. We would love to have 15 libraries open 7 days a week. But financial reality means we have to set priorities. For example, if closing the Webber Park library means we can open the neighboring, and larger, North Regional library with longer hours to serve more residents, that is a tough, but responsible choice. Likewise, if closing the Roosevelt library means we can open the neighboring, and larger, East Lake library with longer hours to serve more residents, that is also a tough, but responsible choice.

Libraries need more money right now. I propose to cut back on the recommended Minneapolis 311 phone helpline hours and contribute all the City’s share of the Planetarium loan to the Libraries. This will mean 1.1 million in one-time new City dollars for libraries. In addition, I will support converting capital and referenda dollars from any closed libraries into operating dollars for longer hours.

We need both long- and short-term solutions.

Short-Term Solutions: The $1.1 million I have outlined above is a short-term solution. I intended this money to address the Libraries’ 2007 budget shortfall, but I understand the Library Board’s responsible strategy to spread this out over several years. Whether or not such one-time dollars are used to provide ongoing, but smaller, annual benefits could depend on our progress toward a sustainable long-term solution. For example, if state government continues to be run by those who unfortunately consider libraries a “luxury,” the Library Board’s current approach is likely the only responsible choice.
Long-Term Solutions: Multiple sources of new funding are needed over the long-term. Since there are many users of Minneapolis libraries from outside the City, regional support is needed – at least for the Central Library. The Library Board has established an advisory group, including Council Member Betsy Hodges to represent the City Council, to come up with long-term solutions. I support that action and I believe the group should seek County participation. Particularly since Minneapolis contributes more to the state treasury than it gets back, we should not hesitate to demand complete restoration of the $2.7 million in annual library funding cut by the state.

We have a great Library Board and they deserve our support. I have been working with the Library Board for several months to help keep our libraries open longer and I am committed to standing with them to navigate these challenging budget decisions. I will continue working with the Library Board to find ways to extend library hours in Minneapolis. There are no simple solutions to this budget challenge and more than ever we need creative solutions. I commend the Library Board for honestly laying out the options, for involving the public, for undertaking long- and short-term budget planning and for their commitment to maintaining high standards for our libraries.

City of Minneapolis

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