As officials at the Denver Central Library on Tuesday celebrated the completion of renovations funded by the Better Denver Bond Program, they also looked forward to a new series of civic meetings aimed at raising awareness of the library’s budget shortfall.
On Monday, they’ll start a series of meetings to gather community feedback on potential solutions.
“We’ll be talking about the current situation and where the road will lead if nothing changes,” said City Librarian Shirley Amore.
The $4.5 million for Denver libraries approved by voters in the 2007 Better Denver Bond Program included renovations at the Central Library, including interior building repairs, automated self-checkout stations and a new Community Technology Center.
Stimulus funds allowed the library to purchase an additional 70 computers for the tech center and seven computers for branch libraries.
According to a recent survey conducted by the library, 40 percent of people use the computers for job searches.
But all the new improvements and technology are threatened by impending 10 percent budget cuts. If the library system is forced to cut $2.5 million from its budget next year, up to half of Denver’s library branches could close.
“If we have to close libraries, I think that will have a very negative effect on (job seekers) in particular,” Amore said.
Reduced hours also could dilute the impact of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program, another use of stimulus funds, which the library is using to provide more free computer training at branches, especially in low-income areas.
“Across the country, libraries are all facing these same issues,” Amore said. “Different communities are coming up with different answers.”
One solution the Denver library has proposed is turning the system into a library district independent of the city so it can tax homeowners. Taxes would be about $56 a year for a home valued at $200,000.
Many libraries in Colorado are districts, especially in the Front Range, and they are not considering budget cuts or closures, Amore said.
“We think it’s a great time to engage the public on these issues,” Amore said of the public meetings, which will conclude with small-group discussions. “We’ll ask them what they think of the various options out there and if they have any others.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
