June 11, 2003
FINAL REPORT
OF CITY COUNCIL LIBRARY STUDY COMMITTEE
(Voted on and Unanimously Approved by the Committee Wednesday, June 11th,
2003)
- Areas Addressed by the Committee
-
Determination as to Feasibility
- Looking Forward
- Mason Square Branch Library
- Conclusion
On February 10, 2003 the
Springfield Library and Museums Association (hereinafter called SLMA) announced
that it was firing 42 employees (18 from the libraries and 24 from the museums)
and closing the Forest Park, East Springfield and Liberty branch libraries
because of being informed that its budget was being reduced by $200,000 for the
balance of fiscal year 2003. The closing
of the three branches was done without any notice to or consultation with the
City Council or any of
Several protest gatherings took
place followed by a City Council meeting on
The City Council order
provided that each neighborhood council and civic association could designate
one member of the committee and that the nominations should be completed on
April 1. On
Your study committee held regular and lengthy open, public meetings on April 9, April 23, May 7, May 21 and June 11. The attendance by the members of the committee was excellent. In addition, it is important to acknowledge the attendance and participation of many members of the general public who fully participated in the above listed meetings even though they did not have the right to vote.
Areas addressed by the Committee
In a very compressed time frame of two months, the committee sought out and informed itself on the following issues, topics or matters of interest:
a) examination and analysis of the SLMA financial statements for each of the last 20 years as given in their annual reports
b) a determination as to the annual City appropriations to the SLMA for each of the last 20 years
c) a determination and analysis of all bond funds supplied to the SLMA for renovation of library buildings over the last 10 years
d) a finding that the SLMA over the last seven fiscal years had cumulative surpluses totalling $18,090,031
e) a finding that over the same seven year period the SLMA’s net assets rose from $18,176,256 to $57,123,545
f)
examination of architectural and engineering reports
relative to needed repairs or renovations at the
g) a physical, on-site viewing of each of the three closed branches
h) examination
of the lease for the
i) examination and analysis of all grants or revenues received over the last five years from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
j) conference with the Chairman and top deputies of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
k) examination and analysis of all grants or revenues received over the last five years from the federal government
l) examination and analysis of the 45 page contract between SLMA and Local 1809 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
m) examination and analysis of job descriptions for all positions in the library system
n) examination and analysis of the libraries’ tables of organization in 2001, 2002, and 2003 along with an enumeration of all full and part-time positions which were filled during said years
o) examination and analysis of all revenues and expenses for the library system for 2002
p) detailed review of handbooks and library system literature on the use of volunteers
q) consideration of a plan to encourage volunteerism by means of a tax credit granted by the municipal government
r) consultation with school department officials as to the subsidy for Brightwood branch over the last several years
s) examination and analysis of listing of circulation and number of visitors in each library facility for each of the last five years
t)
conference in
u) conference
in
v) conference
in
w) examination
of three branch libraries in
x) examination
of Gates Foundation awards of computers for each of
y) examination
and analysis of SLMA-Urban League agreement for the purchase and sale of the
z) participation at meeting of McKnight neighborhood council concerning the Mason Square Library
aa) conference with Henry Thomas, President of Urban League and Craig Brown, its counsel
bb) conferences with various members of City Council and with State Representatives Swan and Rivera
cc) conferences with Donald D’Amour and David Starr of the SLMA Board of Trustees
dd) conferences with Joseph Carvalho and Richard Dunbar of SLMA
ee) conferences with Library Director Emily Bader and her deputy Lee Fogarty, in preparation of a city budget for 2004
ff) conferences with Mayor Albano, Joseph Napolitan, City Auditor Basile, and administrative chief, Joseph Dougherty
gg) conferences with Wayman Lee of City Law Department
hh) examination and analysis of City’s line item budget for SLMA for 2001, 2002, and 2003
ii) examination and analysis of actual staffing requirements of the library system for 2001, 2002, and 2003
jj) researching the probate court records of Annie Curran’s estate and also the personal history of this prime benefactor
Determination
as to Feasibility
What began as a charge to investigate and merely recommend on the issue of feasibility was superceded by the events of the week of May 11. Meetings on May 12 and May 16 between Mayor Albano, Mr. D’Amour and Mr. Starr of the SLMA Board of Trustees and the Chairman of this committee resulted in a conceptual agreement that the City of Springfield would assume control of the entire library system as of July 1, 2003 with the SLMA devoting its efforts to the operation of the Museums. The agreement provided that going forward the appropriations for the library needs vis a vis the museums’s needs would be apportioned to reflect the same ratio which has prevailed in the recent SLMA budget from the city.
An analysis of the 2002 and 2003 City budgets for SLMA indicates that approximately 85% of said budgets were for library use and 15% for museum use.
Using that as a criterion, significant work has been accomplished in the last two weeks to prepare a 2004 budget for the consideration of Mayor Albano and the City
Council.
On June 5 and 6, copies of the proposed 2004 Budget were given to the City Council and the City Auditor. The proposed budget provides for the operation of the main library for seven days a week totalling 54 hours and for the operation of every branch for 6 days a week totalling 40 hours. The cumulative hours of library operation in 2003 will be 10,021 hours while 18,700 hours are programmed for under the 2004 budget.
A copy of the budget draft is made a part of this report and is marked Exhibit1. The analysis of total 2003 hours is Exhibit 2 and the recitation of total 2004 hours is Exhibit 3.
Warm thanks and appreciation are extended to Emily Bader and Lee Fogarty for their excellent work in the preparation of the proposed budget and to City Auditor Tony Basile for his counsel and advice on a host of questions relative to the budget process.
It is
recognized that the Mayor and City Council will have to review our submission
and weigh it in conjunction with all the budgetary needs of the City. Because of the City’s present financial
position, the budget as submitted reflects a voluntary 10% cut from the
net 2003 library appropriation. Said
voluntary reduction from 2003 levels represents a cut of $574,724. We are gratified that we have been able to
show that the City can do substantially more in the operations of the system
with substantially less money. Such a
result is significant proof of the feasibility of the operation of the
libraries by the City of
Special acknowledgment must be given to the City Council for a) its courage and vision in creating this committee, b) voting 8 to 1 in favor of an ordinance creating a new Library Department and c) generally supporting the efforts of the study committee and leading the way to this profound change with respect to the operation of Springfield’s library system.
Lastly, this committee wishes to thank Mayor Albano for his leadership in bringing together the parties and effectuating this very significant transfer of authority relative to the operation of the libraries. His support has been and will continue to be absolutely essential. We are confident that the results of the city’s assumption of responsibility will justify the faith that the mayor has shown in our efforts. We ask the Mayor to appoint a 5 person commission which will reflect the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of our city and which will be composed of men and women who have shown in their past a deep commitment to our libraries.
It is with deep concern that we state that in spite of all the gains that have been made, we remain unsatisfied with the result as to the Mason Square Library.
The gift of
Annie Curran to the SLMA has been abrogated and the trust she reposed in that
organization has been violated. This is
further compounded by the fact that the City has been excluded from sharing in
the proceeds of the sale and even though it has paid the operating cost of the
building for 48 years and only 2 years ago floated a 20 year bond for $575,000
in renovations. The most tragic
consequence however is that the City through the Council’s unanimous vote of
March 9 signalled that it was very much interested in ascertaining the feasibility
of City control of all the library branches and yet the SLMA moved ahead
to put the Mason Square library beyond the City’s control. The primary losers are the people of the
The proposed 2004 City budget prepared by the Library Director with the full participation of the Study Committee chairman provides funds for a comprehensive program and full staffing of the Mason Square library.
It is fervently hoped that the Urban League and SLMA will come to recognize the scope and the permanence of the harm that will be done by the transfer of this facility. The Urban League especially will be the recipient of overwhelming and universal praise if it walks away from this deal. One immediate result would be the coming together of the whole community to support and assist the Urban League in its search for new quarters. A generous act of forbearance on the part of the Urban League is needed; if it is forthcoming, that generosity will be rewarded many times over.
The analysis of the financial aspects of the City’s budget and the library’s proposed program makes it clear that from a monetary point of view, the change to city control is eminently feasible. What is equally important, however, are the intangible benefits of the new relationship. It not only signals a coming of age, but it also unleashes an opportunity for the people of Springfield to rally around, support and enhance this most precious posession.
The study committee envisions a new energy and commitment on the part of our fellow citizens which will be manifested from the South End to Indian Orchard and from 16 Acres to Brightwood. The libraries are the most unifying institution in our society; people of all ages and persuasions treasure the environment and the effect of each and every one of our libraries.
A realization that we have come so close to losing so much of this heritage only makes the contemplation of the future that much more rewarding and satisfying.
We close, one and all, by thanking the City Council for the unique opportunity we have been given to collaborate in service to our city.
The City Council Library Study Committee
By:
Charles V. Ryan, Chairman
Eric a Walsh
Mary Rivest
Helen Boyle
Michele Webber
Pam Wroblewski
Melinda Pellerin Duck
Janet Denney
Ben Swan, Jr.
Leon Gaumond
Frank Buntin
Juan Gerena