Please visit the Carnegie Library website for more information about what you can do to Protect Your Library.
I had originally planned to write my weekly blog post on teen book awards. It was going to be another factual did-you-know piece with a book list of prize winners tagged on the end because, well, who couldn’t use another booklist? But with the Library Town Hall meetings* coming up and the terrifying possibility of fewer books on the shelves for me to lovingly shove at you, I can’t help but push the library advocacy thing one more time.
Townhall Meeting Information
Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m.
CLP – Main; Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue
Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m.
Carrick High School; Auditorium, 125 Parkfield Street
Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m.
CCAC-Allegheny Campus;
SSC Auditorium, 808 Ridge Avenue
*****
The first of the three Town Hall Meetings is Thursday, July 16, 2009 (which is TONIGHT!) in the CLP Main Lecture Hall at 7:00p.m. Please go. And when you are sitting in the audience tonight, listening to the hard facts about budget cuts and underfunded programs, sharing the general feeling of sadness and frustration, you should know that the librarians and all of the library staff really care about the Library and that they really care, I mean, tears-in-their-eyes-willing-to-give-up-their-jobs care, about you.
*****
Yesterday morning, the Library conducted a run-through of the Town Hall Meetings with library staff from all branches and departments in attendance. When the moderators from the League of Women Voters asked for comments, every individual who got up behind the mike spoke about you, about the joy of serving you, of helping you, and of seeing you grow.
They wanted to keep the libraries open so that you would have somewhere safe to hang out after school. They wanted to keep libraries adequately staffed so that you would have someone to answer your questions. They wanted to keep all of the best available to you and to do that that they have given up parts of their retirement, pay raises, benefits, and more.
All these things, the library staff is willing to do for you, and I have immense respect for their service and sacrifice; however, you know as well as I do that all these things, the library staff shouldn’t have to do.
You can do something about it. Yesterday, the library staff spoke up for you. Now, it is time for you to speak up for them, for the Library, and for yourselves.
I’ll start.
What the Library Means to Me by Lily Xu
I learned how to read at the library. I learned from the book and cassette tape bags in the CLP Children’s section. I didn’t understand English very well then, and neither did my parents, but by second grade, with the help of the librarians, I had finally finished my first no-picture chapter book, Matilda by Roald Dahl. It was the happiest moment of my life. Since then, the library has given me the joy of endless stories, life-long friends, and the chance for a college education. I wrote my college application essay about growing up at the library, and after one wonderful year at Stanford, I’m back at the library because I can’t imagine a place where I’d rather be. The library is my happy place. If you see me smiling, you know that I am thinking about the library or the latest Suzanne Collins book (The Hunger Games), but you know where I got that from?! The Library.
So please support your Library. Please support the librarians and library staff. It’s worth your money and your time. It’s worth much more.
Okay. That’s enough from me. I know that you can do better, and oh look! It’s your turn. So…
Get up.
Go to the mike and let’s…
Get This Party Started.
*In case you had forgotten, the Town Hall Meetings are opportunities for you to tell the library administration what you love about the library and what we can all do to protect the library. For more information about the current situation, please see the Libraries for Life web page. Thank you.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Re: Libraries in Pittsburgh and Town Hall Meeting in Carrick July 18, 2009 10:00 A.M. — I attended the Town Hall Meeting in Carrick to hear about the financial woes of the CPL and what is in-store for the libraries and possible closing of some libraries. (In particular the Beechview Library.) Today, after doing some investigation, there is no reason for any library to close. The financial difficulties that the CPL says they are having now and in-store for within the next 5 years, were caused by nobody but CPL themselves by overspending and building new libraries and doing extensive renovating on other libraries while doing nothing for smaller lower class neighborhood libraries. Some of the libraries the have built and/or renovated will now be more expensive to maintain, using up more money. All the libraries could have stayed open and operational and more libraries could have been made/opened in areas that don’t have a library if they hadn’t spent so much unneccessarily in other neighborhoods. Why do those libraries rate so well while others are neglected???? Who is the CPL trying to impress in those neighborhoods or is it all political and CPL oriented, as to where the city and county and CPL want to improve the libraries that they choose. Where is the CPL being fair???????? (NOT!!) Some libraries with undecided fates are: Beechview, Knoxville, Carrick, and it could also possibly be Sheriden, West End, Lawrenceville, Hazelwood, Mt. Washington, South Side. (All lower class areas.) All libraries should be created equal. According to Mr. Carnegie, libraries were meant to be, a free places for people to go and study and learn, not to be a showplace. The CPL should be ashamed of crying POOR MOUTH when they created their own financial woes by spending elaborate amounts on some libraries, leaving nothing for the other libraries except for the decision to close them or merge them into one of the other libraries. Beechview certainly doesn’t deserve that. They have had a very major decline every since Bernardo Katz and the Politicans involved did Beechview in. The Politicians nor the news media, never investigated Bernardo Katz and Holly Katz and Bernardo Katz’s cronies involved. before giving them and okaying all that money. My daughter and I tried to tell them at the Beechview Block Meetings, and there were politicians at some of these meetings, about Bernardo Katz after researching him and finding out that he was a slum landlord in Florida and his properties were cited many times and he was fined many times, and more penalties added on for not correcting serious problems and not paying the fines, and more. It wasn’t hard to find out the info on Bernardo Katz. All you had to do was type in his name and all kind of stuff appeared about him. He may possibly have done things in Arizona also. My daughter and I gave up researching and investigating him, since no one would listen or pay attention to us, at the meetings, and actually acted like we were crazy and didn’t know what we were talking about. They wouldn’t even look at the literature that we had accummulated on him. Mr. Katz sure “BUFFALOED” everyone. Now Beechview is left in a shabbles with vacant deteriorating buildings and the people moving into the neighborhood are mostly Section 8 people because there again, the politicians, the city, the county does not investigate the Section 8 housing nor follow up on it and they don’t put a limit on how many Section 8 houses and/or apartments are permitted in an area. Also many of the people buying the homes are making them into 2 or 3 apartments without having them rezoned from single family to multi-family which is not allowed (illegal) but nobody from the city, county, section 8 or politicians nor the Beechview residents do anything about it nor investigate what these people are doing. They just come into Beechview and do what they want and now, to do more harm to Beechview, they would like to take the Library away. Beechview has nothing now and they certainly need the Library. SHAME ON THE CPL, THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE POLITICIANS FOR LETTING ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. What are the incomes of the CPL Employees and the Board? Are they willing to sacrifice?????????????
The city and county doesn’t have money for the libraries but they have money to build and run all the new sports stadiums and casino and host the many countries convention that is coming up and pay all the additional cops that are needed for this function. Where is that money coming from?? They can find the money somewhere for those things but not to increase their amounts to the libraries, that need it so badly so they can be saved from being closed. HELP IS DESPERATELY NEEDED TO SAVE THE BEECHVIEW LIBRARY. PLEASE SAVE THE BEECHVIEW LIBRARY.
A concerned and disgusted resident of Pittsburgh.
A common question is about why Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh spends money to renovate buildings yet faces a shortage of dollars to keep our buildings, our programs and our staff at their current levels.
Funding for operations (service hours, programs, materials and salaries) comes from a different source than funding for construction and renovation. Much of the funding for construction and renovations come from bonds and grants specifically designated for buildings. These funds cannot be used for operating expenses such as salaries .
In 2000, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) began a capital improvement program with the intent of renovating/renewing the full system. The locations chosen to be renovated first were ones that had the highest percentage of county use, since the initial funding was from a county bond issue. The next set of renovations were based on opportunities that arose for public funding and support. At the time, the order of the renovations did not seem to matter, since the Library’s intent was to renew the entire system.
The renovated locations are actually more efficient to run and in the long run, save operating dollars. In addition they allow the Library to provide better services .
As our 2007 – 2011 Strategic Plan indicates, the Library has realized for some time the need to review the services and locations we offer in order to best serve the community with the funding that we have. With both types of funding limited – that for buildings and renovations (capital) and that for hours, staff and materials (operations) – we know we face some tough decisions.
As for the salaries of our board and employees, the board is entirely volunteer and do not get paid for their services to the Library. The pay of the entire staff was frozen in 2009 due to the widening budget gap.
We appreciate your passion for your neighborhood and for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and thank you for your comments.
Trina Walker
Director of Communications and Creative Services
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
You can check the figures at guidestar.org they allow you to look at the organizations Form 990, I apologize if I got something wrong, I’m new to this. I have questions after looking at each organizations Form 990.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Oakland (CLP) the current director received compensation in 2005 of $86,072, 2006 $168,665, 2007 $165,643, is that correct.
Other CLP compensation Deputy Director in 2006 $109,272, 2007 $115,914.
Dir Info Technology (acting) 2005 (female) $70,750,
2006 (male) $106,409, 2007 (same male) $122,178.
Dir Development 2005 69,470, Development Director 2006 $101,631, 2007 $104,518.
Sen Mgr Info tech 2006 $74,643, 2007 $84,137.
Finance Admin Dir 2006 (male) $92,760. Director Finance Admin 2007 (female) $52,979…are these correct.
Why when a woman is hired to replace a high paid male her salary is lower, and a male hired to replace a female the salary is higher….
Why has contracted services and independent contractors increased so much? One Company went from 2006 $88,797 to 2007 $220,661.
Another $843,251, 2007 $1,305,995,
and an independent contractor went from 2006 $189,129 to 2007 $1,780,000…is this correct.
RAD and ACLA raises questions as well,
The ACLA Director compensation in 2005 increased $11,000 from $76,000 to $87,000, 2006 increased $3,000 and 2007 increased $6,000..is that correct.
Just thought I’d ask about the numbers…thanks.
The IRS Form 990 provides a static snapshot of numbers for a calendar year, but does not provide the context for those numbers.
Salaries reported on Form 990 reflect those paid in a calendar year. For example, when a new person is hired (or leaves) midyear, only the portion of his or her annual salary paid during that calendar year is reported. Overall, salary increases follow a natural progression and are based on job requirements and responsibilities as well as the skills and experience of the incumbent. The assumption that the Library pays females less than males to perform the same job is incorrect.
The numbers reported for contracted services also cannot be accurately compared without context. Many of the contracted services reported on Form 990 are for architectural services for building projects. These numbers fluctuate depending on the various stages of projects occurring in a given year. Also, several companies have similar names, so closer examination reveals that the contractor who was paid $189,129 in 2006 is not the same contractor who was paid $1,780,000 in 2007.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh carefully examines and monitors its expenditures in all categories. Especially during times of decreasing revenues, the Library is diligent in stewarding its resources wisely. Salaries and contracted services are among the many expenses that are being reviewed as the Library continues to look for ways provide necessary services within a balanced budget.
Comments provided by CLP Directors of Finance, Human Resources and Communications
You are aware that these salaries are higher then some elected officials get? But hey they are running a library not a governing entity. Could you provide the context for the numbers? Some of the pay raises were close to 14%, I’m sure no one else would have the same rating on their yearly evaluation as that outstanding individual. If you have a rating scale of 1 to 5 there usually is a percentage tied to that so people that score 4.5 get X% and people that get 2.5 get X%. That way it’s fair and based on the individuals evaluation. I think there is a lack of fiscal responsibility and if there are any librarians left they shoud start acting like librarians and put the community needs in perspective and stop asking for more money and giving out huge raises to themselves and friends. I know you could hire people to do the job for less and I know they would be better librarians. The downside is they wouldn’t be good at politics and inflating their salary and supporting the “regime”…but once again that would be good for the community and CLP has shown by actions where their concerns are…in their own pocketbook. Shame on CLP and anyone supoporting these salaries and actions of these directors.
Thank you for your continued interest in CLP funding — I can tell by your comments that your library is very important to you. I encourage you to post your questions to the Libraries for Life: Sustaining our Future blog at http://blogs.carnegielibrary.org/future/ or email to director@carnegielibrary.org. The departments that maintain that blog are better able to answer questions such as these. CLPTeensburgh is a blog maintained by a group of Teen Specialists, librarians who work directly with teens, and our focus is on teen books and other resources, services and programs aimed towards teenagers, information of interest to teens in the Pittsburgh area, and advocacy efforts in which teens are participating. While we encourage comments on this blog, questions regarding library funding that are not directly related to Teen Services are more appropriate in a different forum.
If you are a teen or have teenagers in your life, I encourage you to peruse the other posts on this blog for information about all we are offering for teens at the library. CLP – Main is planning a teen advocacy day for August 19th. If you are a teen and are interested in participating, I’m happy to send you more information as it becomes available.
Thanks again,
Karen Brooks-Reese
Teen Services Coordinator