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Editors, Daily Planet:  

The Berkeley Public Library—your library—is at a crossroads, and as a Berkeley voter, your vote on Measure L will determine what kind of library our community has. 

Here’s the background: The Berkeley Public Library is funded by a parcel tax established in 1980 after Berkeleyans experienced continuing and severe cuts to Library services, then financed by the City’s General Fund. Now, no part of the City’s General Fund finances library services, and no part of the library tax can be used in the General Fund. Only the parcel tax pays for library services, a system allowing Berkeley’s library to be directly responsive to community needs. Parcel tax increases, capped by the regional fiscal indexes of CPI or per capita Personal Income Growth, were taken only when needed during the past 24 years. 

Since 1980, the Library has delivered award-winning teen and children’s programs; Internet access for all; online databases that allow library access from home; and a literacy program that’s taught hundreds of adults to read. Berkeley residents use the Tool Lending Library—the first in the country, love the reading programs and events, make the most of CDs, videos, and new novels, and constantly access the new online resources. Homebound users—seniors, the disabled, and the infirm—have the library brought to them through outreach services.  

Because the Library belongs to California’s universal library access system, Berkeleyans can use other California libraries including Oakland’s branches or Alameda County’s Albany Library, accessing their special collections at no cost. 

Daily, over 4,000 Berkeley residents walk through the doors of Berkeley’s five libraries and receive friendly, helpful service. For many disadvantaged citizens, adults and children alike, the library is the only place where there is access to the Internet and the world of information. In a city with few certified school librarians, it is the public library that introduces Berkeley children to the world of books and helps them develop the skills necessary to bridge the digital divide. The library provides research resources and training for teens including those bound for college.  

This past year, library users checked out 1.6 million items, an 8 percent increase over the previous year. New online features have essentially created an e-branch library where patrons can efficiently request books or perform research 24 hours a day. 

Here’s the problem: Conditions totally outside the Library’s control have prevented the continuation of this level of services without a modest increase in the parcel tax. Why? In the past half-decade, the state retirement system performed poorly during the economic downturn, and health insurance and workers compensation costs skyrocketed. In 2002 the City Council signed a costly six-year contract with city unions. Although the City Council approved these contracts, the Library is bound by them. 

Here’s what the Library has done: In July 2004 the Library Board cut $1.2 million from the library operating budget: staff took a 3 percent salary deferral, staff positions were frozen as they became vacant (now 25 positions, including deputy director, head of branches, and 23 line staff), and Library hours were drastically reduced. Finally, 25 percent of the book budget—$300,000—was eliminated.  

When the Central Library was renovated and the building doubled in size, the Library Board didn’t seek increases to the operating budget. Instead, library staff implemented new technologies in order to work more efficiently and to improve services so the library could live within its existing budget. 

At the Library Board’s request, a city audit of purchasing procedures was completed to assure alignment with city practices. When the City Auditor suggested minor changes, all were implemented within four months of the report. The auditor found no gross failings in the library’s procedures. 

Employee unions worked closely with library management to create a safety program that reduced Workers Comp costs by 60 percent, generating long-term savings. 

These creative efforts, effective, efficient, and coupled with painful cuts in hours, staffing, and materials, are now at the limit of coping with the budget shortfall. The Berkeley Library needs your help. 

Here’s what you can do: Vote for Measure L, which proposes a modest increase in the parcel tax, an annual $41 increase for an average residence. It restores the library’s operating budget, returns library hours to their previous full schedule including Sunday operation at the downtown location, re-establishes a 100 percent book budget, and expands the Berkeley Reads Literacy program to meet demand. 

This election also offers a choice for the future of one of Berkeley’s most beloved institutions. Vote YES on Measure L, and reaffirm the existing library programs with a YES vote on Measure N, the Gann override, for your Berkeley Public Library. 

Jeffrey Shattuck Leiter, former Mayor, City of Berkeley 

Dion Aroner, former Assemblymember, State of California, 14th District 

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