Hoboken Library Faces Cuts

Gov. Chris Christie's proposed $3 billion state budget cuts were a harsh wake-up call to public schools, but there is another educational outlet that is being hit even harder: public libraries.

Christie has proposed a 74 percent cut of state funded library programs, which will save the state a little more than $10 million.

"We are devastated," said Hoboken Public Library Director Lina Podles. "Library funding has been flat for the last few years."

Hoboken Public Library is part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), which means that Hoboken cardholders can visit any of the BCCLS partner libraries and receive full service. For the libraries, this means that the leverage of a group enables them to receive discounts on materials and drastically cheap shipping of books between member libraries.

According to the budget cuts, Regional Library Cooperatives like BCCLS will be dissolved on or after June 30.

"It's a system that we were relying on for so long," said Podles. "That's a whole system of support that will no longer be there."

Also on the chopping block by June 30:

- Interlibrary loans and delivery, which allows people to borrow books from other area libraries, shipped to their home library free of charge.

- Databases like RefUSA, Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, EBSCO, Gale Custom Newspapers and Informe.

- New Jersey Connect, which provides in-house Internet service to library patrons. It also hosts library Websites and email for staff.

- Talking Book and Braille Center, which provides talking books and a radio reading program to patrons in need.

After the summer, the Statewide Summer Reading program, which provides prepared programs, graphics and forms to help librarians, will be eliminated.

"I understand that things can be cut and should be cut, but it's not like we've ever enjoyed economic wealth," said Podles with a sigh.

The patrons that will feel the cuts are most likely those with less advantages. Resume workshops and career training programs that the library previously held, also may not be able to hold up under budget woes. Plus, many rely solely on the library for Internet and computer access, Podles said.

"Libraries are a fundamental part of a society," she said, "and not something we can afford to lose."