Al-Naqba!

We heard the rumors. We've known of this for several months now. We just didn't believe it would actually happen. It is happening. Tomorrow, March 1, 2007. Our Catastrophe. Dark days ahead.

Sometime last year, our smiling ubiquitous Mayor, Vee-rr-aye-go-saahh (Antonio Villaraigosa)--part of some campaign promise--felt that all branch libraries in the city (that's 63 for those counting; not including regional branches), should be open longer or "extended hours". This is great for the public/patrons/transients/weirdos. Not so good for us understaffed library personnel. Opening the branch for an extra 12hrs a week to serve the public--wonderful! Keep those kids off the streets--wonderful! So what's the problem you say? Well, I'm glad you asked. You see, like much else that comes out of City Hall--good intentions, devilish details. (Keep in mind that the Los Angeles Public Library system is one of the biggest in the country--perhaps the world).

Here are the dreaded details:

2006-2007 Adopted Budget for the Library Department:*

2006-2007 Employee Compensation Adjustment -$1,699,952
Salary Step Plan and Turnover Effect -$588,706
Change in Number of Working Days -$213,447
Full Funding for Partially Financed Positions -$115,078
Deletion of Funding for Resolution Authorities -$110,160
Deletion of One-Time Expense Funding -$2,400,000
Deletion of 2005-2006 Equipment -$839,619
Transportation Increase-$7,000
Technology Infrastructure Support -$20,952 (positions) - 5 (i)
Systems Staffing (positions) -2 (i)
Branch Equipment -$409,225
Library Books and Materials -$3,000,000
Expanded Service Hours -$815,728 (Positions) - 53 (ii)
Creation of Commissioners Positions Category (Positions) - (5)

Total Changes (From 2005-2006) - +$1,916,103

2006-07 Adopted Budget: $72,599,403

What does it all mean? The library department budget for 2006-2007 has increased nearly $2 million over the previous year. Wow! Curb thy enthusiasm, FY '04 budget was $71.7 million. There was actually a cut in the budget in 2005-06, so what we really have is an increase of less than $900k since '04. How about staffing you ask? Library staff surely should have increased over the past few years as well right? Wrong. In FY 03, the department had 1,184 regular employees. For FY 07, the department has 1,129 regular employees. Now 55 less staff may not seem like much, but think of it as one less clerk in practically every branch library. This is huge. Staff shortages is the biggest issue in the department. Ask your local (freak) book stamper if she/he could use another clerk. This equates to more desk time, less time for all the other tedious work we do.

Now if you take into account that since 2002-2003 (Key Indicators of Workload), the department has seen increases across the board. Below is a partial list of the estimated (2005-2006 numbers are very close) 2006-2007 indicators:

(Increases since 2002-2003)
Items Circulated - + nearly 1 million
Number of people visiting library facilities - + 2 million
Automated reserves placed - + 420,000 (iii)
Number of hits on LAPL website - + 39 million
Number of books, packages, letters sorted by staff - + 3.350 million

Again, I must emphasize that most branch libraries, particularly in the West San Fernando Valley are terribly understaffed, coupled with the fact that this region of the city has the highest circulation of library materials compared to any other part of the city. In real terms--if one clerks calls in sick that day in a 12hr day; we're screwed.

(i) On the issue of Library Technology Infrastructure Support and Systems staff, there are a total of 7. Total.

(ii) The Expanded Service Hours staff positions are supposed to see an increase of 53 regular employees according to the budget; 1. I haven't seen it. 2. It would still be less than FY 03 numbers.

(iii) I've written about "holds" before, here. Nothing more time/resource consuming than delivery/reserves. And an increase of 420,000 is huge. Takes 2-3hrs every morning to process the "holds".

Little known obscure part of the mayor's budget was to give every branch library an extra $1,000 to go towards new DVD movies! Small mercies. Turned the library into a video store. Okay, free movies are nice...so I shouldn't complain too much.

What to do? It's quite obvious. We need more staff. Now.

Okay, gotta be at the library tomorrow morning. Will let you know how it goes. At least we don't have to pay overdue fines and we've had a good run I guess...no more 12:30 openings and 5:30 closings...

Branch libraries to be open 4 nights a week 'til 8:00pm. Remaining 2 nights 'til 6:00pm. (No mention--as usual, on lapl.org).

*(All budget details from the Overview of 2006-2007 Adopted Budget for the City of Los Angeles: Prepared by the City Administrative Officer--available at your local library).