The Fishtown Community Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia was closed on March 13, 2009, so Fishtown library branch employees could cover staff shortages at other library branches in the city of Philadelphia.
Editorial Update:
Library Funding - Worth checking out
City Councilman Bill Green's proposal for dedicated Free Library funding isn't exactly far-fetched, so Mayor Nutter overreacted Friday when he branded the idea as "fiscally irresponsible."
In several other Pennsylvania counties and municipalities in this region, as well as across much of New Jersey, libraries receive some form of dedicated funding.
That doesn't mean Green's plan should be implemented, however. But it does deserve a serious review by Council, particularly given the critical importance of preserving viable library services in Philadelphia.
Green's proposal, cosponsored with five others on Council, is straightforward. Under state law, voters can be asked to approve a referendum that would dedicate a fraction of the city real estate tax millage to the Free Library.
"Let's ask the voters if libraries are such an essential service that we should have separate dedicated funding," Green explains.
The library earmark wouldn't represent a tax increase, since the city's overall tax rate would remain stable. Libraries, though, would be assured of their slice of the fiscal pie.
Green's intent would be to generate the same level of funding that Nutter is expected to propose in his new budget this week. That wouldn't solve all of the Free Library's money woes. The mayor still faces a challenge to keep the lights on in as many library branches as possible.
There may be downsides to the plan that should be weighed. For instance, a dedicated tax for libraries might only further tie the hands of the mayor in setting budget policy.
Under current rules, the mayor can balance the need for library funding against the whole array of other critical city services. He's fully accountable for all of those decisions, and there's a value in having that flexibility in crafting the city budget.
There's also the slippery-slope effect: While state law does not provide specifically for similar tax set-asides for other city services, officials could come under public pressure to declare set funding levels for fire stations, trash collection, and the like. That would erode further a mayor's ability to manage City Hall.
The practical effect of a dedicated library fund could be to delay or even postpone the broader, dispassionate review of the library system and staffing: Can and should all of the branches continue to be funded, given the city's population decline and revenue crunch?
At the same time, the city should work with the Philadelphia school district to see if joint funding is a solution, since the district essentially uses some branches in place of its own libraries. More broadly, the energetic group of advocates who rallied against 11 branch closings last year should develop a plan to adopt libraries and identify private funding to underwrite branches.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
published Tuesday, March 17, 2009